Historians have found it difficult to document the Underground Railroad activities. It is like writing a biography of Jesse James - folks were quite good about covering their tracks and little evidence was kept. Just like the Underground Railroad! Those involved only knew a few conductors or stops in their area. For their own protection, parents hid their involvement from their children.

Years later, as stories were told they were distorted. Many families claimed they were part of the Underground Railroad for family pride and a good story. It was like putting a Joe Biden sticker on your car after the 2020 election.

Many were 1st generation pioneers still trying to build lives with all their struggles. Slavery might have been casual conversation at the supper table in 1850. But later these pioneers and sons would be called upon to join Neponset, Wyanet, Princeton, and Kewanee Infantry Companies to defend the union. Many would not come home.

Elijah P. Lovejoy was a Presbyterian minister, newspaper editor, and abolitionist in St Louis, Missouri. In 1837, Lovejoy’s press and abolitionist materials were safely stored across river in Alton, Illinois. It didn’t make any difference. A pro-slavery mob burned his warehouse, and he was shot and killed.

Francis Murdoch, the district attorney of Alton, prosecuted Lovejoy’s murder. The jury foreman had been a member of the mob and was wounded in the attack. The presiding judge also doubled as a witness to the proceedings. These conflicts of interest resulted in a “not guilty” verdict.

Lovejoy was considered a martyr by the abolition movement. After his death, his brother Owen Lovejoy entered politics and became the leader of the Illinois abolitionists. In 1838, Owen wrote a book about Elijah, which was published, and widely distributed among abolitionists in the nation. With his murder symbolic of the rising tensions within the country, Elijah Lovejoy is called the “First casualty of the Civil War.”

Owen Lovejoy moved to Princeton in 1838 where he was a minister for a Congregationalist Church. Even more committed after his brother’s death, Lovejoy used the pulpit to further the abolitionist cause and believed that slavery could be abolished through political action.

After two unsuccessful attempts at running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1840s, Lovejoy was elected to the House in 1856 where he gained a reputation for his fiery anti slavery speeches. During the 1840s and 1850s, Lovejoy also used his home to harbor slaves on their way north and faced prosecution several times.

He was quite proud of his opportunities to help slaves flee to freedom and admitted this publicly, not as a boast, but to defy the supporters of slavery. In an 1859 speech in Congress that drew national attention Lovejoy addressed his role in the Underground Railroad directly with, “Owen Lovejoy...aids every fugitive that comes to his door and asks it.”

Most of the hidden freedom network, though, still was a painstakingly well-kept secret among slaves and their sympathizers -- like the Congregationalists who settled in Geneseo that year.

“It’s evident the people had this passion to do something that was positive,” said Geneseo Historical Museum curator Angie Snook. “Because they were Congregationalists, they all believed alike and had the same values and morals. They felt very strongly in their beliefs.”

George and Ann Richards were abolitionists who traveled to the newly founded Geneseo, Illinois from New York. They built a house that is today the town museum. It the 1850′s, it housed runaway slaves as part of an underground railroad station. The home / museum features the actual hiding holes for runaway slaves. There is barely any room to move, you can’t stand, and it housed as many as three runaway slaves at a time. They would stay up to three days before moved to the next stop. They were at great risk by breaking federal law to help the slaves.

“They broke every rule there was in the country, as far as their church, the government, and many times their families were also against them. So, when they came here, they gave up everything,” says Snook.

The underground network was vast and complicated by design. The 450 mile Great Sauk Trail was a natural path to Canada. In fact, there is a plaque in Merrillville, Indiana celebrating as many as 4500 slaves that traveled the trail to freedom.

On our local trail, 3 miles west of IL Rt 78, stood an 1840 former stagecoach stop. A young lady visited the area a while back and spoke with Angie Snook. She shared that her great -great grandmother was a young female slave in the old south. Being alone, probably separated from her family and in fear of abuse, she decided to escape.

With 2 male slaves, they traveled the Underground railroad to a station in Kewanee Township. For reasons unknown, her companions abandoned her and hid out in the huge Barren Grove woods east of her (now Johnson’s Sauk Trail Park).

About this time Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and she was free. She stayed at the stagecoach stop and worked as a housekeeper. Later she met another former slave, married and moved to Kewanee, as her great-great granddaughter recalls.

My earlier short stories have ended with a modern day lesson or perspective. The practice of slavery and human trafficking are still prevalent in modern America with estimated 400,000 Americans being trafficked within the United States every year. 80% of those are women and children. In fact, in today’s world there are more people in modern day slavery than in 1860.

For example, Today, “Susan” is a shy grade school student in the United States. Her identity came to light after a dedicated detective from a U.S. Police Department pursued an anonymous tip relating to the online solicitation.

This investigation identified the predator as a very popular schoolteacher in the community. When confronted by investigators, the teacher disclosed information about 16 previously unidentified victims. She was one of these children.

All victims both boys and girls were located and identified and are now receiving the aftercare services they need to heal from the damage inflicted by this sex offender. The offending teacher is now looking at a lengthy prison sentence.

Today the Underground Railroad is part of history. Our country needs to remember the risks and sacrifices people made, regardless of race, that made a difference to future generations.

They believed in freedom and human justice and focused their lives on those goals. We can be honest with our past and move forward to help those today that suffer under slavery. Perspective and awareness are the first steps.