Research Question


Gone, gone, --sold and gone

To the rice-swamps dank and lone,

From Virginia's hills and waters, --

Woe is me, my stolen daughters!"

(Whittier in Hamilton, pg. 105)

Families torn apart, humans sold on auction blocks, using humans for animal labor. 
These tragedies along with the words of the Quaker poet John Whiittier are just the 
beginning when trying to explain the motivation for abolitionists helping to free 
slaves.

 The Underground Railroad was a path to safety and freedom for thousands of slaves 
before the Civil War. Escaping from the chains, confinement and abuse of slavery 
was no easy task and it took the cooperation of many people to make escape possible. 
The anti-slavery movement created this path to guide and protect escaped slaves on their 
way to Canada, the freedom land. Many slaves traveled through Ohio on their journey 
and were assisted by Ohio residents. My research paper will answer the question: 
What role did Washington County, Ohio, play in the success of the Underground Railroad?

Limitations and Delimitations



While there were many states, slaves and abolitionists involved in the Underground 
Railroad, certain restrictions must be placed on the research.  The research in this 
paper will only cover four stations and their conductors from Washington County, 
Ohio.  The paper will take you on  a trip through this county from a slaves point of view. 
 Although the history and origin of slavery will not be covered in this paper, the 
feelings and thoughts of the slaves on their journeys will be depicted.

Fugitive slaves, or runaway slaves, were fleeing a life of hardship and confinement 
for a life of hardship and freedom.  Although their life was not going to be easier 
and they would risk their life trying to escape, the thought of freedom was enough. 
 The Underground Railroad was the path that slaves took while escaping.  It consisted 
of stations or "depots" (houses), " conductors" (those who lived in the homes), "tracks" 
( the actual trail they took) and even " station masters" and "presidents" who led 
the efforts in their area.  The railroad analogy was used to describe many aspects 
of this anti-slavery activity.  The code helped those involved in freeing the slaves 
communicate with each other without others understanding.

Sources and Methods



The research in this paper will come from three basic sources. The first source is 
over the internet. Using the key words Underground, Railroad and Ohio, articles and 
books will be found. The library will be the second source. Again the key words, 
Underground, Railroad and Ohio will be used to find and books and newspapers containing valuable 
information. A local specialist by the name of Mr. Henry Burke will be the third 
source for this paper. He will provide newspaper articles and stories that he discovered during his research. Interviews with him will also provide valuable insights into 
the knowledge he has gained throughout his research. 

Format of the Paper



The paper will begin with a Review of the Research. This section will summarize all 
the information gathered for this paper. Here the background will be given and the 
foundation laid for the rest of the report. Next will be the Application of the Research. This is where all the information gathered will be analyzed. It will contain the 
interpretation of what the information means to the author. After this will be the 
summary. This will be a narrative written to help make the information more real 
to the reader. The conclusion will follow the summary. Here the paper will  be drawn to a close 
and finished. The addenda will follow the conclusion. All of the relevant newspaper 
articles, reward posters and pictures found throughout the research will be located 
at the close of the paper.