OHIO & SLAVERY
THE JOHNNY APPLE SEED OF THE OHIO & ERIE CANAL
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SPRING HILL - A VITAL PART OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD - A STEPPING STONE TO FREEDOM
January 1,1863. Announcing, all persons held as slaves within the rebellious area are and henceforward shall
be free. -President Lincoln.
November 19,1863. Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation,
conceived in liberty, dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Ohio. A slave-free state or not? There were no laws or legislation to protect runaway slaves who hid out every
mile making their way into Ohio hoping to find freedom. Once here, they found their road to freedom was just a
little longer. Freedom was in Canada. Slave trackers from the south came to Ohio because it was the hot spot to
recollect the men and women who escaped and take them back. The good people of Ohio organized and helped
these unfortunate people who owned no more than the clothes on their back that many times were nothing but
rags and it would be rare to find one who actually had shoes. The Quakers helped organize the Underground
Railroad, risking life and home, clothing and feeding the runaway slaves, trying to get these people to freedom.
Can you imagine having no control of your life or your destiny; to be moved away from your family here or there
without any say-so whatsoever?
This was common practice throughout the days of American slavery. Their tortuous plight began for many at
birth, brought into a society of hardship and unfairness. Through the years, as America was moving into the
mechanized age, slavery was looked down upon from Americas neighboring countries. Slavery dated far back
beyond the Egyptian times but was still being practiced in America but secretly, groups were forming and
momentum was building to abolish this cruel and horrible practice. Many places like Spring Hill, treated their
brother Negroes as equals in the eyes of God and it was a salvation and the link to freedom for many. The
Emancipation Proclamation contained the most wonderful words to the many Negro slaves who in their lifetime
would have never thought that glorious day would ever come.
Spring Hill is located near Massillon, Ohio off of Rt. 241 (Wales Rd.). I have included many photographs, some
of which include the hidden stairwells and passages necessary to hide the runaway slaves. Within Spring Hill,
all men were equal.
Please enjoy the photographs taken by Jeff Maximovich, courtesy of the Spring Hill Historic Home, Inc.
Director, Jeri K. Johnson.
CLICK THE PICTURES FOR LARGER VIEW
January 1,1863. Announcing, all persons held as slaves within the rebellious area are and henceforward shall
be free. -President Lincoln.
November 19,1863. Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation,
conceived in liberty, dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Ohio. A slave-free state or not? There were no laws or legislation to protect runaway slaves who hid out every
mile making their way into Ohio hoping to find freedom. Once here, they found their road to freedom was just a
little longer. Freedom was in Canada. Slave trackers from the south came to Ohio because it was the hot spot to
recollect the men and women who escaped and take them back. The good people of Ohio organized and helped
these unfortunate people who owned no more than the clothes on their back that many times were nothing but
rags and it would be rare to find one who actually had shoes. The Quakers helped organize the Underground
Railroad, risking life and home, clothing and feeding the runaway slaves, trying to get these people to freedom.
Can you imagine having no control of your life or your destiny; to be moved away from your family here or there
without any say-so whatsoever?
This was common practice throughout the days of American slavery. Their tortuous plight began for many at
birth, brought into a society of hardship and unfairness. Through the years, as America was moving into the
mechanized age, slavery was looked down upon from Americas neighboring countries. Slavery dated far back
beyond the Egyptian times but was still being practiced in America but secretly, groups were forming and
momentum was building to abolish this cruel and horrible practice. Many places like Spring Hill, treated their
brother Negroes as equals in the eyes of God and it was a salvation and the link to freedom for many. The
Emancipation Proclamation contained the most wonderful words to the many Negro slaves who in their lifetime
would have never thought that glorious day would ever come.
Spring Hill is located near Massillon, Ohio off of Rt. 241 (Wales Rd.). I have included many photographs, some
of which include the hidden stairwells and passages necessary to hide the runaway slaves. Within Spring Hill,
all men were equal.
Please enjoy the photographs taken by Jeff Maximovich, courtesy of the Spring Hill Historic Home, Inc.
Director, Jeri K. Johnson.
CLICK THE PICTURES FOR LARGER VIEW
