USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Chester > History of the Underground railroad in Chester and the neighboring counties of Pennsylvania > Part 4
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In 1870, an article by Phebe E. Gibbons, entitled "Pennsylvania Dutch," appeared in the " Atlantic Monthly." It was followed by other articles that ap- peared in "Harper's Monthly" and other periodicals, aud were gathered by their author into a volume a few years later, under the title of " Peunsylvania Dutch and Other Essays." A visit to Europe, made in the summer aud autumn of 1878, resulted in the contributing of a number of articles to the magazines. These and others were collected, soon afterward, into a volume under the title of " French and Belgians." Both these works were published by J. B. Lippincott & Co., of Philadel- phia.
Dr. Joseph Gibbons practiced his profession for about five years after his marriage. For four years, from the Eighth month of 1861 to about the close of 1865, he was an officer in the Custom House in Philadelphia. For some years prior to 1873 his attention had been di- rected to the lack of a literature in the Society of
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Friends that would make its principles and testimonies familiar to the young by presenting theni in an interest- ing form and combined with valuable reading of a gen- eral character. He felt that this lack of suitable liter- ature, especially of a periodical kind, was one of the causes of the decline of interest seen in the Society and its failure to increase in numbers. These reflections re- sulted in the establishment, early in 1873, of The Journal, a weekly paper devoted to the interests of the Society of Friends and to the cultivation of literary taste, and the dissemination of general information of a useful character among its members. Its motto, " Friends, Mind the Light," shows the liberal spirit in which it is edited. Considering that it is an individual concern in which Joseph Gibbons and his family have labored with very little assistance from outside sources, it has enjoyed a considerable success and has aroused much interest in the Society of Friends. In the editing of The Journal he has been assisted by his daughters, especially the eldest, whose training and experience while connected with daily newspapers have fitted her for this work.
Two or three traits in the character of Joseph Gib- bons may be worthy of mention in this connection. The first is his consistent carrying out of his early princi- ples. Educated by his parents in an intense opposition to American slavery, he always advocated its extinction by political action, to which many of his friends were opposed. He did not, indeed, cast his first presidential vote in 1840 for the candidates of the Liberty Party, then first nominated, because he was not convinced of the expediency of formning a third political party, but,
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in the year 1844, his doubts having been removed, he voted for Birney and Morris. To his faithful adherence to the Liberty and Free Soil parties is duc the fact that he never voted for a successful presidential candidate until the election of Abraham Lincoln.
He has also remained consistent in his opposition to intemperance, opposition to which he learned as soon as he was able to learn anything from hearing the subject discussed by his parents at home. He has participated in many debates on this subject, but has always felt that it would be unwise to attempt the founding of a sepa- rate temperance political party, the political organiza- tion that sustains the rights of his colored fellow-citizens being, in his opinion, worthy of his vote and continued confidence.
It may interest some to learn that, brought up by parents who were both elders in the Society of Friends, and with warm social feelings and no tinge of asecticism, he has never drunk a glass of ardent spirits, never used tobacco in any form, never been within the walls of a theatre (even when a medical student and in four years of public office in Philadelphia), never played a game of cards and never read a novel.
DR. J. K. ESHLEM.\N. (Born March 2d, 1810.)
Dr. J. K. Eshleman, a warm sympathizer with the negro in bondage, and a willing assistant to those who were escaping, lived and practised his profession near Strasburg, Lancaster county. His Underground Rail- road work began in 1840. He was physician in the family of Thomas Whitson, whose labors in that line of travel began about the same time. They were warm
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personal friends, and frequently visited each other soci- ally. Yet, as Thomas Whitson was extremely reticent upon Underground Railroad matters, the subject was rarely, if ever alluded to in any of their conversations, although it was to him the doctor sent fugitives. He received them from Daniel Gibbons.
The neighborhood in which he lived contained many bitter opponents of the anti-slavery cause who sought opportunity to annoy and persecute abolitionists in any way which could gratify their animosity, even to the extent of burning their barns. A rich field for the en- joyment of their coarse and lawless propensities was in the disturbing and breaking up of these anti-slavery meetings. On one occasion when Lindley Coates took Charles C. Burleigh to lecture in that vicinity a num- ber of this clan pelted them with decayed eggs and threw stones through the curtains of their carriage on their way home.
The doctor rarely ever asked fugitives any questions. He cared to know nothing about them, further than to ascertain who sent them. If they were men, they gen- erally came on foot, with a slip of paper containing directions and telling where they came from. If women and children, they were brought always in close car- riages, if danger was immediate, and were conveyed from his place to other stations by the same means.
In 1848 he relinquished practice and moved near to Downingtown, in Chester county. Here he received fugitives from agents in both Chester and Lancaster counties, and invariably sent them to John Vickers, either on the night they arrived or the following night.
Like all others who assisted the fleeing slave, he
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passed through many exciting and dangerous scenes, but discretion and promptness of action carried him safely through the perils even of Scylla and Charybdis, where, epccially in later times, the Fugitive-slave Law on one side, and close pursuit on the other, required skilful piloting.
At one time after moving to Chester county, he had occasion to drive to Belle Ayer in Maryland. He over- took a young man near the Brick Meeting-house, and inquired of him the way. The man said he was going ncar there, and if not encroaching on his kindness he would be glad to ride. The doctor took him in. On the way the subject of slavery was alluded to. The young man said " it was a nuisance and that slavehold- ers were better off without their slaves," in which opin- ion the doctor heartily concurred. He said it was only recently that the last of theirs ran away ; they did not pursue them ; they were satisfied to let them go. It happened to be the very lot the doctor had helped a short time before.
A colored man in the western portion of Chester county was in the practice of going into Maryland to sell salves. While there he obtained from slavcholders a description of all their runaway slaves. On his re- turn, if he saw persons along the northern routes corre- sponding to the descriptions given, he informed the owners, who sent a constable, had them taken legally and sold to go South. He followed this for a number of years. Finally his treachery was discovered, and a number of colored people assembled and gave him a terrible beating, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. His last illness was supposed to have been the result of this severe punishment.
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After the Christiana riot three men who had been en- gaged in it came to Dr. Eshleman's place, were kept in the barn until next night, and then sent further on.
A whole family came in a four-horse wagon just after the battle of Gettysburg. They had formerly been slaves, but at that time owned a farm between York and Gettysburg. They were very much frightened, and thought if they remained at home they might be killed, or if the rebels gained Pennsylvania they might all be made slaves again. They proceeded as far as Norris- town; and hearing there that the rebels had been re- pulsed, they returned.
After Dr. Eshleman moved to Chester county, Thomas Whitson moved to near Christiana, and their former visits were continued.
His house was ever open to the Burleighs and all other leeturers on anti-slavery and temperance.
THOMAS WHITSON.
CHAPTER V.
THOMAS WHITSON .- Member of First National Anti-Slavery Conven- tion .- Incidents .- JACOR BUSHONG .- Incidents .- JEREMIAH MOORE. -Incidents.
THOMAS WHITSON.
(Born Seventh mo. 2d, 1796-Died Eleventh mo. 24th, 1864.)
Thomas Whitson, of Bart, Lancaster county, was oue of the most prominent and respected champions of the anti-slavery cause. His connection with the Under- ground Railroad began about, or prior to, 1841. Al- though he passed great numbers of slaves, it was quietly done, and but few reminiscences are to be gleaned of his wo k in that direction. His greatest labors were ae- complished above ground. A minister once said, speak- ing of the life of Jesus Christ, "It can be given in a few words 'He went about doing good.'" The life of Thomas Whitson might be condensed in a similar manner.
He attended and spoke at anti-slavery meetings throughout the country; was eloquent and cogent in thought, sound in logic, wise in counsel, and his broad and advanced humanitarian views commanded for him the respect of all, and placed him in the foremost rank of the earnest and able opponents of negro slavery. He was decidedly original, witty, jocose, one of the most apposite in thought and expression, and had a great faculty for " splitting hairs" in a close argument. When he and Lindley Coates, who was also remarkable for
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this talent, were engaged on opposite sides in debate, their fine drawn distinctions, close questions, terse an- swers, and clear ratiocination fron irrefragable facts ad- duced, were at once amusing, edifying and exalting.
At a convention where he, William Lloyd Garrison and others spoke, his speech was characterized by such a flow of wit, good humor, elear logic, sententious ex- pressions, and sometimes sarcasm when the subject evoked it, that Garrison arose at the close of the meet- ing and said "the speech of the day must decidedly be accorded to Whitson."
He had not the advantage in early life of acquiring more than the rudiments of an education. Arriving at manhood's estate, he studied the principles and objects pertaining to the higher welfare of man, as presented to him in his daily observations and intercourse with men, developing his own faculty for originating thought, in- stead of directing his time and attention to the study of written lore. One amusing feature of his speeches was that his grammar was exclusively his own. It knew no rules, nor did he care for any.
Benjamin S. Joncs said of him in a little volume of word-pictures of the prominent anti-slavery leaders :
Friend Whitson, Friend Whitson, Like " dunder and blitzen," Thy fists and thy words both come down ; A diamond thou art, Tho' unpolished each part, Yet worthy a place in the crown, Friend Whitson ! Yet worthy a place in the crown.
He gave freely of his means whenever needed, regard- ing neither time nor cost. He attended the first con- vention of the American Anti-Slavery Society, held in
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Philadelphia on the 4th, 5th and 6th of December, 1833, of which Arthur Tappan was president. As soon as the "Declaration of Principles" were adopted he stepped up to the desk and affixed his signature, as he had to withdraw from the convention immediately to return home. He thus became the first signer to those "Principles" adopted by the national organization of the earnest, able and indefatigable advocates of univer- sal liberty-principles which gained warm moral ad- herents and steadfast friends, but which met with the staunchest opposition throughout the entire North, as well as in the South, until the mandate of God, "Let my people go free," went forth and was obeyed by a nation then deluging its soil in fratricidal blood.
As an Underground Railroad agent Thomas Whitson was remarkably reticent. Hundreds of fugitives were taken care of and assisted on their way, but no record was kept. The children saw colored people there fre- quently, but they were not permitted to ask any ques- tions, or to know anything about tlicm. He spoke of his management to but very few friends.
The fugitives who came to his place at night were chiefly sent by Daniel Gibbions, in care of a trusty colored man, who knew how to awaken Thomas without arousing others of the family. Those who came in day- time from Daniel Gibbons had a slip of paper upon which was written, "Friend Thomas, some of my friends will be with thee to-night," or words varying, but of similar import. No name was signed. The general advice of Daniel Gibbons to the colored people was to "be civil to all, and answer no questions of strangers who seemed eager to get information."
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Thomas frequently procured places for them to work in the neighborhood. Although widely known as an anti-slavery man his premises were never searched by slave-hunters. Even the notorious William Bacr, who hunted up and reported fugitives in the neighborhood, never approached the premises of Thomas Whitson. After the Christiana riot, when "special constables," furnished with warrants and piloted by pro-slavery men of that section, were scouting the country and ransacking the houses of abolitionists and negroes, his house was not molested. On hearing that a party of these deputized officials were carrying off a colored man who had worked for him, he pursued and overtook them, and asked for the man's release. They refused to grant it. One of them on being told who he was ad- vanced toward him with a volley of Billingsgate, and flourishing a revolver asked if he were not one of the abolitionists of that neighborhood.
"I am," said Thomas, "and I am not afraid of thy shooting me. So thee may as well put thy pistol down."
The officer continued his invective, and turning to another, said: "Shall I shoot him?"
"No," was the immediate response, "let the old Quaker go ;" and they left him, convinced that he was not a man to be frightened by bluster or to renounce a principle in the face of an enemy. He went next morning to a neighbor who had seen the colored man at the hour the riot was going on, several miles distant from the scene of the tragedy, and in company with him went to where the officers had the man under guard, proved that he had no connection with the riot and ob- tained his release.
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JACOB BUSHONG.
(Born Seventh mo. 7th, 1813 .- Died Fifth mo. 28th, 1880.)
Jacob Bushong, of Bart, Lancaster county, a quiet but devoted laborer in the cause of freedom, relates the case of one Hamilton Moore who settled in his neigh- borhood. He was peaceable and respected, and to all appearances a white man. Not a tinge of African blood was discernible in his complexion, nor had any one the least suspicion that there was any. He married a white woman and became the father of three children. After the lapse of several years a number of men came to his dwelling and claimed him as a runaway slave ; the leader of this gang being Hamilton Moore's father.
Although that was a pre-slavery community, the man's purely Anglo-Saxon appearance and good character had so won the estcem of his neighbors that they would not submit to what they termned an outrage upon him, but arose en masse and rescued him from his captors. He was then taken to the house of Henry Bushong, Jacob's father, in Adams county, who assisted him to a place of greater security.
About the year 1831, a person calling himself Wil-
. liam Wallace, but whose slave name was " Snow," came to Wm. Kirk's in West Lanipeter township, Lancaster county. Here he worked for some time, then went to Joshua Gilbert's in Bart township, and afterwards was employed by Henry Bushong, who had now removed to Bart township, and whose place became one of the Un- derground Railroad stations. After remaining there two years, his wife and child were brought to him from one of the Carolinas. He then took a tenant house on the place, in which he and his family resided two years
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longer. While there another child was born to then.
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In the summer of 1835 while he and Jacob Bushong were at work in the barn they observed four men in a two-horse wagon drive into the lane, accompanied by two men on horse-back. Jacob thought them a "sus- picious looking crowd," and told Wallace to keep out of sight while he went out to meet them. They inquired if Mr. Wallace lived there. Jacob replied in the nega- tive, satisfying liis conscience by means of the fact that William lived at the tenement house, but worked for him. Pointing towards Wallace's house they asked if his family lived there; to which he made no reply. Leaving their horses in charge of two of the men, they went to the house, tied his wife, brought her and the oldest child to the wagon, loaded them in, took them to the Lancaster county jail, and lodged them there. The youngest child being born on free soil was left with a colored woman who happened to be in the house at the time. From there they went to John Urick's, a colored man, whose wife had escaped from slavery with Wal- lace's wife. They bound her, took her to jail also, and had the two women placed in the same cell while they started out on another hunt.
The startling news soon spread throughout the coun- try, and was immediately carried to that foremost friend of the slave, Daniel Gibbons. Very early next morn- ing the two women came to his house. The family would not have been more surprised had an apparition come suddenly into their midst. When asked how they came, one of them said, " I broke jail."
" How did you do it?"
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"I found a case-knife, and got up from one room to another until I got next the roof, when I cut the lath. and shingles and broke through ; got out and down to the roof of an adjoining house, and thence from one house to another until I came to one that was low enough, and then I jumped from it to the ground." They were taken to the wheat field and provided with blankets and food, and next night were taken by Dr. Joseph Gibbons, Daniel's son, and Thomas Peart, seve- ral miles to the house of Jesse Webster. From there they were taken to Thomas Bonsall's, thence to John Vicker's, and thus on to other stations.
The account given by the women seemed so strange and incredible that Dr. Gibbons interviewed that eccen; tric character "Devil-Dave" Miller, who was then sheriff, and lived in the jail. When asked how it hap- pened that he allowed two negro women to slip through his fingers, he winked and laughed. It was afterwards discovered that he opened the jail door and let them walk out. This was the only black woman known to Daniel and liis son who persisted in keeping her own secret.
In 1832, a colored woman and her daughter came to Henry Bushong's. The back of this poor woman was a most revolting spectacle for Christian eyes to behold. It had been cut into gashes with the master's whip until it was a mass of lacerated flesh and running sores. Her owner was exasperated to this deed of cruelty on ac- count of one of her children having successfully escaped, and she, knowing its whereabouts, refused to tell. To compel her to reveal this secret, they bound her down in a bent position, and five hundred lashes with a cat-o- D
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nine-tails were inflicted upon her naked back. Yet with the faithfulness and devotion of a mother's love she endured it all. Seeing that no amount of whipping could induce her to betray her child and thus return it from freedom to slavery, and fearing her own life might ยท be lost by further infliction, they ceased plying the lash upon that quivering back, which was now a mass of mangled flesh and jellied blood. As soon as she had sufficiently recovered she determined to risk her life in an attempt to free herself from the cruelty and tortures of a slavery like this. After being kindly and tenderly cared for in the home of Henry Bushong she was taken to a station further east.
About the same year there came two slaves, named Green Staunton and Moses Johnson, belonging to differ- ent masters. They had been sold to slave-traders and lodged in the jail at Frederick, Md., for safe-keeping during the night ; their owners sleeping in an apartment above them. With pocket-knives and other small imple- ments they commenced at once picking out mortar and removing stones, determined if possible to escape before morning. They succeeded, and both men ran to the plantation of Staunton's father, who had been his master. Mr. Staunton had not intended to sell him, but being on the brink of insolvency was compelled to do it. Having compassion for him he gave them both victuals and assisted them on their way to Daniel Gibbons. From there Johnson went to Allen Smith's, and Staun- ton to George Webster's, both in Bart township. After some time Johnson removed to Thomas Jackson's, at the " Forest," in the northern part of Lancaster county, and Staunton, remaining in the neighborhood, sent to
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Maryland for his wife, who was a free woman. In 1835 he removed to the tenement of Jacob Bushong. Just at daylight on the morning of August 31st, 1837, six men entered his house, tied and gagged him. His wife infuriated at this assault, seized an axe and was about to deal a blow upon the head of one of the assailants, when she was caught, thrown to the floor, and held there until her husband was borne away. He was placed in Lancaster county jail to await further action.
The news of his arrest was conveyed at once through- out the neighborhood. Several of his friends who had long known him as an honest, peaceable and industrious man, could not allow him to be carried back into slavery, deprived of the rights of manhood, to be sold and driven to work like beasts of the field, if any effort of theirs could prevent it. Accordingly Lindley Coates, George Webster, George Webster, Jr., William Rake- straw, Henry Bushong, Jacob Bushong, John Bushong, Samuel Mickle, Gainer Moore and John Kidd, Esq., agreed to contribute whatever sum might be needed to purchase his freedom. They went to Lancaster, had an interview with his master, and secured his manu- mission upon the payment of six hundred and seventy- five dollars. He returned to his home, and resolved to compensate his friends as far as possible for the amount they had paid for him. Shortly after this, his wife died. He married again. He remained at that place several . years and then removed to Conada, and died. Before he left, he had reinbursed his friends to the amount of one hundred and forty dollars.
Moses Johnson returned from the "forest" in the spring of 1836, and was working for Henry Bushong
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at the time of Staunton's capture. Hearing of it, and knowing the party was searching for him, he requested some friends to negotiate with them for his freedom. An interview was had with the slaveholders, and as he was not yet in their possession, and there was a doubt linger- ing in their minds as to whether or not he would be, they agreed to accept $400, which was paid. In a few years, by industry and economy, he returned the full amount, and then acquired sufficient capital to purchase a small farm with good buildings. He died in 1873.
About the year 1848 there lived in " Wolf Hollow," near Pine Grove Forge, Lancaster county, a free colored man, who had married a slave woman. They had sev- eral children. Early one morning, after he had gone to a neighbor's to work, some men drove up in a covered wagon, entered the house, dragged the wife and children out of bed, bound them, loaded them in the wagon with others they had kidnapped, some of whom were free, and drove off at a rapid rate toward Maryland, eight miles distant. Their actions were witnessed by a person near by, who immediately informed the neighbors, and Joseph C. Taylor, James Woodrow, Joseph Peirce and others mounted their horses and gave chase. Overtaking them near the Maryland line, Taylor dashed by, then wheeling his horse and facing them, he raised to his shoulder an old musket without a lock, and ordered - * them to surrender. Not liking the appearance of the deadly looking weapon pointed at them, they halted, and the others of the party just then coming up took the kidnappers, with the colored people they had stolen, pris- oners. They locked them up in Lowe's tavern and went to Lancaster to procure legal authority to arrest them for
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kidnapping free negroes. Before they returned the kidnappers had escaped, carrying with them their load of human plunder.
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