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378
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
principle's sake to give their services, time and money to these fugitives,
though at the risk of prosecution and pecuniary loss. The charter was
of divine authority and its command was, "Do unto others as ye would
that they should do unto you." Its conductors, agents and managers
believed that they should obey God rather than man. The.road was
secretly operated. It published no reports, it declared ho earthly
dividends to its stockholders, and to all its passengers it supplied, without
charge, free through tickets to the land of freedom in Canada, including
lodging and meals. They established across the State of Ohio a line of
stations, from the Ohio River oh the south, to Lake Erie on the north.
These stations were generally at or near farm-houses, and nearly always
the homes of friendly abolitionists. Here the fugitive wasi? concealed
during the day, and at night carried in covered conveyance to the next
station and there turned over to other friends AVIIO would care for them,
and in turn give them into the hands of some one else for like treatment.
In this Avay the tedious journey was made across the state, and finally
at Sandusky, passage was procured for Canada—"the goal of their
„ desire, the niecca of their hope."
It must be remembered that prior to 1850 there Avas no line of steam
railroad completed between the river and lake, and that a distance of
250 miles had to be traversed in wagons at night, in the midst of a
people largely opposed to any interference with slavery, and with
prejudice against fugitives. These facts, together with the laws then in
force, rendered the escape of a slave a difficult matter, and the act of
aiding or abetting such an escape dangerous to one's person and property.
The men Avho engaged in these friendly offices said, "duty is ours, consequences
are God's," and they deserve our highest praise for bravery
and devotion to Avhat they considered their duty, and an impartial
posterity will award them the credit they so justly merit. It is one thing
to champion a cause Avhen it is in disfavor, quite another .when it has
become popular and strong with the people. Humane and generous in
its conception, thorough and complete in its simple methods, this institution
accomplished much good and brought everlasting happiness and
joy to .the heart of many a human soul. The first white man upon the
Firelands then in the old County of Huron, and residing in Huron Township,
and one of the first men in the State of Ohio to aid fugitive slaves,
was Judge Jabez Wright, one of the three first associate judges who held
the first term of court in old Huron County in 1815. He never failed
when opportunity offered to lend a helping hand to the fugitives, secreting
them Avhen necessary, feeding them when hungry, clothing and employing
them—a rarely good and excellent man.
The first runaway slave to reach Sandusky Avas in the fall of 1820.
lie had come on foot'across the state, and on the same day that he
arrived, bis master, named Riley, also came on horseback in close pursuit.
The slave bad been secreted by Capt. P Shepbard, aided by "John" the
black hostler, in the barn belonging to the tavern, then kept by C. W.
Marsh, on the same spot where Scott's hotel stood. For three days the
master, aided by Captain Shepbard (to whom he had offered $300 in gold