Reply #13: my Quaker ancestors

[kainah]

were involved in the underground railroad in Ohio. They lived up above the Ohio River and the little town of Martin's Ferry, OH where abolitionists (both Seceder Presbyterians and Quakers) managed to buy up the entire riverfront facing what was then Virginia (now WV). Any slave who could manage to get across the river at Martin's Ferry knew s/he would land on abolitionist lands and be helped. The riverfront folk got the escaped slaves safely on their way to the Quaker (and Seceder Presbyterian) town of Mt. Pleasant. Today, Mt. Pleasant is a wonderful place with lots and lots of historic buildings, including the old Quaker meeting house. On many of these old homes, you see widow's walks along the roof. Why a widow's walk when you are so far from the sea? They were used to watch for the flags down in the valley, next to the river, that told them if there were escaped slaves en route.

Here's to the bravery of my McGrew, Carr, and Wallace ancestors.