Marietta Weekly Leader, March 9, 1886
There are few sections of our country in which the historic and the picturesque are more intimately associated than is that portion of the State of Ohio which lies along the Ohio River from the city of Marietta to a point opposite Buffington Island inclusive, a distance of perhaps 65 miles. The strip of territory mentioned is not over two miles wide at its broadest, and in some places the width is but a few hundred yards. The land lies in beautiful wide plains, which rise, one above the other, like great steps, from the river brink to the lofty, rocky and forest-crowned hills. Within the bounds referred to, the first white settlement in Ohio was made in 1788, by old soldiers of the Revolutionary War under the lead of Gen. Rufus Putnam. Here to-day, may be met Israel Waldo Putnam, great grandson of General Israel Putnam, and the Stones, Tuppers, Curtises, Ames, Oakes – all descendants of Revolutionary heroes. There the Indian raided, plundered and massacred the whites. The Burr-Blennerhassett scheme was hatched here, and from these parts an ill-starred crew started in flat boats for – who knows where? Through this region John Morgan of Confederate notoriety passed on his memorable raid, and at the mouth of Little Hocking river, breastworks are yet to be seen behind which a crowd of honest yeomen of the vicinity tremblingly, they admit, awaited the raider’s approach. Mounds and earth works of some pre-historic race are to be seen in a fine state of preservation in many parts of this section.
About twenty miles down this strip of land, in an uncultivated field lying back from the river perhaps three hundred yards, is a high hill which is termed by the people living near “Mount Observation.” From the top of this hill on a clear day in spring or summer a person may obtain a fine view of Ohio river scenery. Looking in a northeasterly direction he beholds rich plains on either side of the river, dotted here and there by handsome dwelling houses, large barns, orchards and vineyards, the distant forests on the steep hillsides serving well as a background to the beautiful picture. The water shimmering in the sunlight as it moves on in gentle waves between its curved banks, old Blennerhassett Island looms up nearly four miles distant, and just beyond the island is seen the busy little city of Parkersburg, W. Va. Now and then packet boats and “tows” are seen puffing their way to or from Cincinnati, Louisville, New Orleans and intermediate points. Looking directly across and down the river, the Virginia bottom-lands are seen, running back to hills that rise, almost perpendicularly to great height. These lands were presented by the Government to Gen. Washington, and were surveyed by him in person. “Washington’s Bottom” was the name given to the entire tract. He cut up this tract into large farms, some of which he sold, and the remainder he gave to favorite kinsmen. The last descendant of Washington moved away shortly after the close of the late “unpleasantness” between the States.
An ordinary country road leading to Athens, O., has been cut around the south side of the “Mt. Observation” hill, and just below this hill runs the Cincinnati, Washington & Baltimore railroad, one of the main branches of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The railroad has been built through this part of Washington county within a comparatively few years, and runs on the bed of what was the first wagon road made by the early settlers, which will explain to a stranger why so many dwelling houses appear close to the railroad. Just south of this railroad, and perhaps a hundred yards from the foot of the hill mentioned, are the ruins of an old two-story frame dwelling-house, painted red, and a small barn, which was always well filled with hay and straw. In ante bellum days the tenants of this place were comparatively little known in the community. They would move in, stay a short time, and depart; soon another family from some place up the river would take possession, stay awhile, then go as had their predecessors. Such changes were frequent. The fact was, these tenants were engaged in what was unlawful work – running off slaves from their masters; helping slave negroes to reach Canada. The tenants were wise in not making acquaintances, and in not staying very long in that place, for had it become known around what occupation they followed, they would have found that river-side residence a very unhealthy location from other causes than malaria.
It was a long time before white persons, except those engaged in the work, suspected the character of the place, but the negroes just across the river, through some subtle means, had learned much concerning it, and often looked toward the spot with longing yet cautious eyes. Hundreds of negroes living many miles away had heard of its existence. It was the first “Underground Railway” station established in Ohio. The main stem of this railway in the West ran from the ruins above mentioned to the village of Belpre, O., directly opposite Parkersburg, W. Va. The watchful, but ever appearing innocent manager of the road in this section was Col. “Jack” Stone, a man of ample means and well known, who resided in Belpre. He died about a year since, aged nearly ninety years. He was never caught secreting slaves, but so much was he suspicioned, that at one time he was warned not to come to Parkersburg under the penalty of being shot. The line of freedom was so near to the negroes of this section of slavery that ultra measures were resorted to in order to keep the slaves, and harsh means sometimes used on those who expressed much opposition to established institutions.
Many negroes succeeded in reaching the Ohio shores despite the watchfulness of their masters. Usually they crossed the river by night and down by the somewhat secluded station, now in ruins. Once over, they cautiously made their way to the station, where, in some manner, they made the agent aware of their presence. If it were not too near morning they were conducted at once to Belpre. In other cases they were put under the hay or straw in the barn, or taken to some caves which were in the not distant woods and there kept, being fed from the agent’s table until an opportunity offered for a move forward.
Some years ago, when they were building the C. W. & B. R. R. a contractor needed a large stone for some purpose, and seeing such an one on the hillside partly hidden by trees, he concluded to remove it. He did so, and a cave was disclosed in which were the skeletons of a man, woman and child. It was supposed they were of runaway negroes who had been concealed there and either starved or froze to death. At one time a man lived at the station who proved recreant to his trust. On several occasions he, instead of assisting the slaves to escape, awaited the coming of their masters which usually followed in quick order after any were received, and for good compensation agreed to search for the missing ones. He generally found them. Sometimes, however, this same fellow took the money and did not find the negroes. He would, too, on hearing that certain slaves from a distance were on their way toward Ohio, and that a large reward was offered for their capture, take the first negroes arriving thereafter that appeared to answer the description of the runaways, send them to the caves, and there keep them until called for by the owners. It has been thought that the skeletons mentioned were of slaves intended to return, but they freezing to death on his hands, he let them remain, said nothing, and closed up the cave.
Col. Stone’s assistant at Belpre was a Mr. Neal of Virginia, the owner of Neal’s Island, in the Ohio river. He is now a merchant in Parkersburg. Although his family were slave-owners, he was a fearless, loud-spoken Abolitionist. His wife was an aunt of “Stonewall” Jackson, and Jackson was reared by Neal. The taciturnity and temperance principles of Jackson, however, were – must have been – inherent. Neal was a much more daring man than Stone, and, though small in person, often openly defied parties that would threaten him. He never acknowledged in the past, however, that he was a conductor on the “Underground Railway.” On one occasion, when a lot of slaves mysteriously disappeared from the vicinity, Neal was seen putting out in a boat from Belpre. A crowd soon gathered at the Parkersburg wharf, expecting Neal to land there. When about half way across, he turned his boat up stream, much to the chagrin of the lookers-on. “Stop, stop!” the latter shouted; “stop, or we will fire,” several drawing pistols. “Fire and be ----,” replied Neal, as he paddled on to his home. Several shots were fired at him, but he was not struck.
There were various means tried to catch Col. Stone napping. Could it have been proved that either he or any of the others were instrumental in getting slaves into freedom they would have received, according to the law then in existence, severe punishment. On one occasion several men from Virginia, disguised as negroes, went over to Stone’s late at night, and knocking apparently in a timid way, awoke him. Col. Stone asked him from his bed what they wanted. “Slaves, massa, slaves; we’s dun runned away.” “Then get out you black rascals! How dare you come near my house?” and jumping from his bed he seized a gun standing in the corner of his room, threw open his door and raised a window, when he saw several men making a hasty retreat for the river. “If I catch you I’ll carry you to Parkersburg,” he shouted loud enough to be heard by them. He then closed the window and went to bed. They had not given the proper signal. From Stone’s place the negroes were conducted to Pennsville, O., a Quaker settlement about twenty miles north of Belpre, and then on through obscure places to Canada. The slavery question in this country is settled forever; the citizens of Parkersburg have built up an extensive trade with their Ohio neighbors; good feeling prevails on both sides of the Ohio river at these points, and the “Underground Railway” has long been numbered with the many other interesting incidents and events of this historic region. The most material things left of the railway are the ruins of its first station in Ohio.
M. L. H.
There are few sections of our country in which the historic and the picturesque are more intimately associated than is that portion of the State of Ohio which lies along the Ohio River from the city of Marietta to a point opposite Buffington Island inclusive, a distance of perhaps 65 miles. The strip of territory mentioned is not over two miles wide at its broadest, and in some places the width is but a few hundred yards. The land lies in beautiful wide plains, which rise, one above the other, like great steps, from the river brink to the lofty, rocky and forest-crowned hills. Within the bounds referred to, the first white settlement in Ohio was made in 1788, by old soldiers of the Revolutionary War under the lead of Gen. Rufus Putnam. Here to-day, may be met Israel Waldo Putnam, great grandson of General Israel Putnam, and the Stones, Tuppers, Curtises, Ames, Oakes – all descendants of Revolutionary heroes. There the Indian raided, plundered and massacred the whites. The Burr-Blennerhassett scheme was hatched here, and from these parts an ill-starred crew started in flat boats for – who knows where? Through this region John Morgan of Confederate notoriety passed on his memorable raid, and at the mouth of Little Hocking river, breastworks are yet to be seen behind which a crowd of honest yeomen of the vicinity tremblingly, they admit, awaited the raider’s approach. Mounds and earth works of some pre-historic race are to be seen in a fine state of preservation in many parts of this section.
About twenty miles down this strip of land, in an uncultivated field lying back from the river perhaps three hundred yards, is a high hill which is termed by the people living near “Mount Observation.” From the top of this hill on a clear day in spring or summer a person may obtain a fine view of Ohio river scenery. Looking in a northeasterly direction he beholds rich plains on either side of the river, dotted here and there by handsome dwelling houses, large barns, orchards and vineyards, the distant forests on the steep hillsides serving well as a background to the beautiful picture. The water shimmering in the sunlight as it moves on in gentle waves between its curved banks, old Blennerhassett Island looms up nearly four miles distant, and just beyond the island is seen the busy little city of Parkersburg, W. Va. Now and then packet boats and “tows” are seen puffing their way to or from Cincinnati, Louisville, New Orleans and intermediate points. Looking directly across and down the river, the Virginia bottom-lands are seen, running back to hills that rise, almost perpendicularly to great height. These lands were presented by the Government to Gen. Washington, and were surveyed by him in person. “Washington’s Bottom” was the name given to the entire tract. He cut up this tract into large farms, some of which he sold, and the remainder he gave to favorite kinsmen. The last descendant of Washington moved away shortly after the close of the late “unpleasantness” between the States.
An ordinary country road leading to Athens, O., has been cut around the south side of the “Mt. Observation” hill, and just below this hill runs the Cincinnati, Washington & Baltimore railroad, one of the main branches of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The railroad has been built through this part of Washington county within a comparatively few years, and runs on the bed of what was the first wagon road made by the early settlers, which will explain to a stranger why so many dwelling houses appear close to the railroad. Just south of this railroad, and perhaps a hundred yards from the foot of the hill mentioned, are the ruins of an old two-story frame dwelling-house, painted red, and a small barn, which was always well filled with hay and straw. In ante bellum days the tenants of this place were comparatively little known in the community. They would move in, stay a short time, and depart; soon another family from some place up the river would take possession, stay awhile, then go as had their predecessors. Such changes were frequent. The fact was, these tenants were engaged in what was unlawful work – running off slaves from their masters; helping slave negroes to reach Canada. The tenants were wise in not making acquaintances, and in not staying very long in that place, for had it become known around what occupation they followed, they would have found that river-side residence a very unhealthy location from other causes than malaria.
It was a long time before white persons, except those engaged in the work, suspected the character of the place, but the negroes just across the river, through some subtle means, had learned much concerning it, and often looked toward the spot with longing yet cautious eyes. Hundreds of negroes living many miles away had heard of its existence. It was the first “Underground Railway” station established in Ohio. The main stem of this railway in the West ran from the ruins above mentioned to the village of Belpre, O., directly opposite Parkersburg, W. Va. The watchful, but ever appearing innocent manager of the road in this section was Col. “Jack” Stone, a man of ample means and well known, who resided in Belpre. He died about a year since, aged nearly ninety years. He was never caught secreting slaves, but so much was he suspicioned, that at one time he was warned not to come to Parkersburg under the penalty of being shot. The line of freedom was so near to the negroes of this section of slavery that ultra measures were resorted to in order to keep the slaves, and harsh means sometimes used on those who expressed much opposition to established institutions.
Many negroes succeeded in reaching the Ohio shores despite the watchfulness of their masters. Usually they crossed the river by night and down by the somewhat secluded station, now in ruins. Once over, they cautiously made their way to the station, where, in some manner, they made the agent aware of their presence. If it were not too near morning they were conducted at once to Belpre. In other cases they were put under the hay or straw in the barn, or taken to some caves which were in the not distant woods and there kept, being fed from the agent’s table until an opportunity offered for a move forward.
Some years ago, when they were building the C. W. & B. R. R. a contractor needed a large stone for some purpose, and seeing such an one on the hillside partly hidden by trees, he concluded to remove it. He did so, and a cave was disclosed in which were the skeletons of a man, woman and child. It was supposed they were of runaway negroes who had been concealed there and either starved or froze to death. At one time a man lived at the station who proved recreant to his trust. On several occasions he, instead of assisting the slaves to escape, awaited the coming of their masters which usually followed in quick order after any were received, and for good compensation agreed to search for the missing ones. He generally found them. Sometimes, however, this same fellow took the money and did not find the negroes. He would, too, on hearing that certain slaves from a distance were on their way toward Ohio, and that a large reward was offered for their capture, take the first negroes arriving thereafter that appeared to answer the description of the runaways, send them to the caves, and there keep them until called for by the owners. It has been thought that the skeletons mentioned were of slaves intended to return, but they freezing to death on his hands, he let them remain, said nothing, and closed up the cave.
Col. Stone’s assistant at Belpre was a Mr. Neal of Virginia, the owner of Neal’s Island, in the Ohio river. He is now a merchant in Parkersburg. Although his family were slave-owners, he was a fearless, loud-spoken Abolitionist. His wife was an aunt of “Stonewall” Jackson, and Jackson was reared by Neal. The taciturnity and temperance principles of Jackson, however, were – must have been – inherent. Neal was a much more daring man than Stone, and, though small in person, often openly defied parties that would threaten him. He never acknowledged in the past, however, that he was a conductor on the “Underground Railway.” On one occasion, when a lot of slaves mysteriously disappeared from the vicinity, Neal was seen putting out in a boat from Belpre. A crowd soon gathered at the Parkersburg wharf, expecting Neal to land there. When about half way across, he turned his boat up stream, much to the chagrin of the lookers-on. “Stop, stop!” the latter shouted; “stop, or we will fire,” several drawing pistols. “Fire and be ----,” replied Neal, as he paddled on to his home. Several shots were fired at him, but he was not struck.
There were various means tried to catch Col. Stone napping. Could it have been proved that either he or any of the others were instrumental in getting slaves into freedom they would have received, according to the law then in existence, severe punishment. On one occasion several men from Virginia, disguised as negroes, went over to Stone’s late at night, and knocking apparently in a timid way, awoke him. Col. Stone asked him from his bed what they wanted. “Slaves, massa, slaves; we’s dun runned away.” “Then get out you black rascals! How dare you come near my house?” and jumping from his bed he seized a gun standing in the corner of his room, threw open his door and raised a window, when he saw several men making a hasty retreat for the river. “If I catch you I’ll carry you to Parkersburg,” he shouted loud enough to be heard by them. He then closed the window and went to bed. They had not given the proper signal. From Stone’s place the negroes were conducted to Pennsville, O., a Quaker settlement about twenty miles north of Belpre, and then on through obscure places to Canada. The slavery question in this country is settled forever; the citizens of Parkersburg have built up an extensive trade with their Ohio neighbors; good feeling prevails on both sides of the Ohio river at these points, and the “Underground Railway” has long been numbered with the many other interesting incidents and events of this historic region. The most material things left of the railway are the ruins of its first station in Ohio.
M. L. H.
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