THIS MYSTERIOUS ROAD
LEVI COFFIN
“President” of the Underground
Railroad
“I learned that the fugitive slaves who took refuge with these people
(free colored people) were often pursued and captured, the colored
people not being very skillful in concealing them, or shrewd in making
arrangements to forward them to Canada. I was pained to hear of
the capture of these fugitives, and inquired of some of the Friends
(Quakers) in our village why they did not take them in and secret them,
when they were pursued, and then aid them on their way to Canada?
I found that they were afraid of the penalty of the law. I told them that I read in the Bible
when I was a boy that it was right to take in the stranger and
administer to those in distress, and that I thought it was always safe
to do right. The Bible, in bidding us to feed the hungry and
clothe the naked, said nothing about color, and I should try to follow
out the teachings of that good book.
 In the
winter of 1826-27, fugitives began to come to our house, and as
it became more widely known on different routes that the slaves fleeing
from bondage would find a welcome and shelter at our house, and be
forwarded safely on their journey, the number increased. Friends
in the neighborhood, who had formerly stood aloof from the work,
fearful of the penalty of the law, were encouraged to engage in it when
they saw the fearless manner in which I acted, and the success that
attended my efforts. They would contribute to clothe the
fugitives, and would aid in forwarding them on their way, but were
timed about sheltering them under their roof; so that part of the work
devolved on us. Some seemed really glad to see the work go on, if
somebody else would do it. Others doubted the propriety of it,
and tried to discourage me, and dissuade me form running such risks.
They manifested great concern for my safety and pecuniary interests,
telling me that such a course of action would injure my business and
perhaps ruin me; that I ought to consider the welfare of my family; and
warning me that my life was in danger, as there were many threats made
against me by the slave-hunters and those who sympathized with
them.
After listening quietly to these counselors, I told them that I felt no
condemnation for anything that I had ever done for the fugitive
slaves. If by doing my duty
and endeavoring to fulfill the injunctions of the Bible, I injured my
business, then let my business go. As to my safety, my life was
in the hands of my Divine Master, and I felt that I had his
approval. I had no fear of the danger that seemed to threaten my
life or my business. If I was faithful to duty, and honest
and industrious, I felt that I would be preserved, and that I could
make enough to support my family. At one time there came to see
me a good old Friend, who was apparently very deeply concerned for my
welfare. He said he was as much opposed to slavery as I was, but
thought it very wrong to harbor fugitive slaves. No one there
knew of what crimes they were guilty; they might have killed their
masters, or committed some other atrocious deed, then those who
sheltered them, and aided them in their escape from justice would
indirectly be accomplices. He mentioned other objections which he
wished me to consider, and then talked for some time, trying to
convince me of the errors of my ways. I heard him patiently until
he had relieved his mind of the burden upon it, and then asked if he
thought the Good Samaritan stopped to inquire whether the man who fell
among thieves was guilty of any crime before he attempted to help
him? I asked him if he were to see a stranger who had
fallen into the ditch would he not help him out until satisfied that he
had committed no atrocious deed? These, and many other questions
which I put to him, he did not seem able to answer
satisfactorily. He was so perplexed and confused that I really
pitied the good old man, and advised him to go home and read his Bible
thoroughly, and pray over it, and I thought his concern about my aiding
fugitive slaves would be removed from his mind, and that he would feel
like helping me in the work. We parted in good feeling, and he
always manifested warm friendship toward me until the end of his days.
Many of my pro-slavery customers left me for a time, my sales were
diminished, and for a while my business prospects were discouraging,
yet my faith was not shaken, nor my efforts for the slaves
lessened. New customers soon came in to fill the places of those
who had left me…The Underground Railroad business increased as time
advanced, and it was attended with heavy expenses, which I could not
have borne had not my affairs been prosperous. I found it
necessary to keep a team and a wagon always at command, to convey the
fugitive slaves on their journey. Sometimes, when we had large
companies, one or two other teams and wagons were required. These
journeys had to be made at night, often through deep mud and bad roads,
and along by-ways that were seldom traveled. Every precaution to
evade pursuit had to be used, as the hunters were often on the track,
and sometimes ahead of the slaves. We had different routes for
sending the fugitives to depots, ten, fifteen, or twenty miles distant,
and when we heard of slave-hunters having passed on one road, we
forwarded our passengers by another…
PLAY: Follow
The Drinking Gourd
Seldom a week passed without our receiving passengers by this
mysterious road. We found it necessary to be always prepared to
receive such company and properly care for them. We knew not what
night or what hour of the night we would be roused from slumber by a
gentle rap at the door. That was the signal announcing the
arrival of a train of the Underground Railroad, for the locomotive did
not whistle, nor make any unnecessary noise. I have often been
awakened by this signal, and sprang out of bed in the dark and opened
the door. Outside in the cold or rain, there would be a two horse
wagon loaded with fugitives, perhaps the greater part of them women and
children. I would invite them, in a low tone, to come in, and
they would follow me into the darkened house without a word, for we
knew not who might be watching and listening. When they were all
safely inside and the door fastened, I would cover the windows, strike
a light and build a good fire. By this time my wife would be up
and preparing victuals for them, and in a short time the cold and
hungry fugitives would be made comfortable. I would accompany the
conductor of the train to the stable, and care for the horses, that
had, perhaps, been driven twenty-five or thirty miles that night,
through the cold and rain. The fugitives would rest on pallets
before the fire the rest of the night. Frequently, wagon loads of
passengers from the different lines have met at our house, having no
previous knowledge of each other. The companies varied in number,
from two or three fugitives to seventeen.
 The care
of so many necessitated much work and anxiety on our part, but
we assumed the burden of our own will and bore it cheerfully. It
was never too cold or stormy, or the hour of night too late for my wife
to rise from sleep, and provide food and comfortable lodging for the
fugitives. Her sympathy for those in distress never tired, and
her efforts in their behalf never abated. This work was kept up
during the time we lived at Newport, a period of more than twenty
years. The number of fugitives varied considerably in different
years, but the annual average was more than one hundred. They
generally came to us destitute of clothing, and were often
barefooted. Clothing must be collected and kept on hand, if
possible, and money must be raised to buy shoes, and purchase goods to
make garments for women and children. The young ladies in the
neighborhood organized a sewing society, and met at our house
frequently, to make clothes for the fugitives.
Sometimes when the fugitives came to us destitute, we kept them several
days, until they could be provided with comfortable clothes. This
depended on the circumstances of danger. If they had come a long
distance and had been out several weeks or months – as was sometimes
the case – and it was not probable that hunters were on their track, we
thought it safe for them to remain with us until fitted for traveling
through the thinly settled country to the North. Sometimes
fugitives have come to our house in rags, foot-sore and toil-worn, and
almost wild, having been out for several months traveling at night,
hiding in canebrakes or thickets during the day, often being lost and
making little headway at night, particularly in cloudy weather, when
the north star could not be seen, sometimes almost perishing for want
of food, and afraid of every white person they saw, even after they
came into a free State, knowing that slaves were often captured and
taken back after crossing the Ohio River.
PLAY: Let Me
Cross Over
When I went to the banks of Jordan
I wanted
to see its chilly waters
..wanted
to see the other side
Jordan
stream was chilly and wide
Get away!
Get away
to Jordan!
Let me
cross over,
to the
other side.
Sallie Martin Singers
Such as these we have kept until
they were recruited in strength, provided with clothes, and able to
travel. When they first came to us they were generally unwilling
to tell their stories, or let us know what part of the South they came
from. They would not give their names, or the names of their
masters correctly, fearing that they would be betrayed. In
several instances fugitives came to our house sick from exhaustion and
exposure, and lay several weeks. One case was that of a woman and
her two children – little girls. Hearing that her children were
to be sold away from her, she determined to take them with her and
attempt to reach Canada. She had heard that Canada was a place
where all were free, and that by traveling toward the north star she
could reach it. She managed to get over the Ohio River with her
two little girls, and then commenced her long and toilsome journey
northward. Fearing to travel on the road, even at night, lest she
should meet somebody, she made her way through the woods and across
fields, living on fruits and green corn, when she could procure them,
and sometimes suffering severely for lack of food. Thus, she
wandered on, and at last reached our neighborhood. Seeing a cabin
where some colored people lived, she made her way to it. The
people received her kindly, and at once conducted her to our
house. She was so exhausted by the hardships of her long journey,
and so weakened by hunger, having denied herself to feed her children,
that she soon became quite sick. Her children were very tired,
but soon recovered their strength, and were in good health. They
had no shoes nor clothing except what they had on, and that was in
tatters. Dr. Henry H. Way was called in, and faithfully attended
the sick woman, until her health was restored. Then, the little
party were provided with good clothing and other comforts, and were
sent on their way to Canada.
Notwithstanding the many threats of slave-hunters and the strong
prejudices of pro-slavery men, I continued to prosper and gained a
business influence in the community. Some of my customers, who
had left me several years before on account of my anti-slavery
sentiments, began to deal with me again.”
Excerpts from Reminiscences of Levi Coffin, the Reputed
President of
the Underground Railroad, Western Tract Society, 1876
THE RANKIN HOUSE
Overlooking the Ohio River
 
Freedom
Stairway
Rev. & Mrs. John Rankin
Reverend John Rankin was a Presbyterian minister who lived in
Ripley, Ohio. He wrote the Letters
on Slavery which influenced many early Abolitionists.
See: John
Rankin
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