A Little piece of Paradise… College Hill, Ohio - SELFCRAFT

walnut that still has traces of the bark left. It remained in the Wilson family until 1926, when it waspurchased by the O’Neil family that still occupies the house today. The last Wilson to live there was‘Miss Harriet’ who taught and was the principal of the Pig Eye College Hill school. She started teachingin 1841 at the Findley Street school which was outside the city limits of Cincinnati at that time. Shetaught in College Hill from 1860-1871. Harriet was the author of a letter to Professor Siebert on theactivities of the Underground Railroad.The Wilsons were Presbyterians and left Reading because of opposition to their strong anti-slaverybeliefs. Their children were abolitionists and one son, Jesse, died in the Civil War. The Wilsons wereprominent educators, several teaching locally at Farmers’ College and the Ohio Female College. JosephA. Wilson taught ancient languages and literature, Rev. J. H. Wilson taught ancient languages andagricultural chemistry, John M. Wilson taught practical agriculture and Mrs. Mary Jane Pyle taughtbotany and geography.David Wilson cast the first abolitionist ballot in Ohio. Their friends included the Beechers and theStowes as well as others in the abolition movement. Harriet Wilson’s letter reveals just how involved wastheir family and College Hill in the abolitionist movement. She was a teacher in her brother David’sdowntown school, commuting via omnibus to College Hill on the weekends. Prior to her trips home,Harriet was given the number of slaves on route to College Hill so that the ‘stations’ were ready for theirarrival.Mary Jane Pyle was a humanitarian as well as a teacher. She was known for her kindness. In hermemorial program Jan. 3, 1888 she was eulogized by Mrs. Arthur H. Pounsford of College Hill whorelated this incident: One case there was of a poor but respectable colored family who before the war hadescaped from slavery with shattered health; one young girl soon dying with quick consumption. Mrs. Pylecarried clothes and dressed her for the grave. When the plain coffin was to be carried there were not mento assist the driver, so she lent a hand, and under a burning August sun walked some distance with theheavy burden..The house originally stood on four acres, with the home facing Hamilton Avenue. This was longbefore there was a side street that was first named Tacoma, and later renamed Aster Place. The barn thatsheltered sleeping slaves is gone and the land subdivided. The two-story Greek Revival style house isnow covered with green siding and the dirt floored basement is gone but the cabin timbers can still beseen as well as the hand hewn lintels and door frames.Members of the Wilson family referred to in the Siebert letter (Chapter 14) are: Theophilus - lived inIndiana and was a state senate representative for Jay County, David Morrison - attended Farmers’College, Lane Seminary and was ordained at College Hill by the Presbytery of Cincinnati in 1847. (Onthat same afternoon he was married to Emeline Biddle Tomlinson of Mt. Healthy. They served abroad asmissionaries for many years); Jesse Parsons - died during the Civil War; Mary Jane - married Rev.George W. Pyle. Mrs. Pyle was a teacher for most of her life and was a teacher for 20 years at the OhioFemale College; Harriet Nesmith - lived ninety-five years; Joseph Gardner - attended Farmers’ Collegeand later was a teacher there, relocated to Oregon to practice law and became a State ProsecutingAttorney, Clerk of the Supreme Court, served as Circuit Judge, Judge of the Oregon Supreme Court and aU. S. Congressman from Oregon.Harriet Wilson’s description of these times might not have been written but for the efforts ofProfessor Wilbur H. Siebert of Ohio State University. He aroused the interest of his history studentsregarding the Underground Railroad and that some of them were descendants of abolitionists. Siebertcollected names and addresses, sent questionnaires about Underground experiences to parents andgrandparents. He started his research in 1891 by grouping replies by counties and, using his vacations,traveled through Ohio counties, one east-and-west tier after another, collecting data and talking to oldresidents, discovering abolitionist centers and escape routes.The Wilson House is an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture. The house’s main wingexhibits a symmetrical three bay front facade that is distinguished by a large Doric portico. Its slightlyrecessed entrance is enhanced by a four pane transom and three pane sidelights. All four corners of themain wing are delineated by wide Doric pilasters while a deep frieze panel accentuates the simple62