The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 69

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050

USA > Wisconsin > Waukesha County > The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc > Part 69

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" The first that people in Milwaukee knew about the affair, lawyers came, about a week after her arrival, from her master to take her back. They came upon Titball and asked him if he knew anything about Caroline. He told them that she was at his house. He then managed

459

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

to send a boy who was working with him, with orders to take Caroline to a certain place. He intended to get some money out of the lawyers, but the boy (who had also been a slave), did not take her to the place designated by Titball.

" The St. Louis lawyer, Spencer, desired to proceed according to law, and therefore con- sulted H. N. Wells, an Anti-slavery Democrat, who afterward became a Judge. Although Aboli- tionism had not then entered into politics and Mr. Wells was a Democrat, he would have nothing to do with Spencer and the other St. Louis lawyers, but visited the office of Finch & Lynde, and laughed about the affair with them, who, being thus set upon the track, hid the girl away in the grubs and brush until night. I am not sure whether Mr. Lynde (the ex-Congressman, Will- iam Pitt Lynde), aided his partner, Asahel Finch, or not.

"Spencer not getting help from Wells, went to another lawyer, Jonathan E. Arnold (who had run for Congress on a Whig ticket the year before), who turned right in with them. They then went to Titball, and he took them to his house, but, of course, did not find the girl. The lawyers were afraid they would lose Caroline, and offered the barber $100 to produce her. So he took them to where he supposed she was hidden, but, not finding her, the lawyers thought the darkey was fooling them, and were going to kick him. He convinced them, however, of his honesty of purpose to help them, and saved himself a kicking, which he no doubt richly deserved-but he lost his $100.

" At night, Asahel Finch took her across the river, and the story was she was headed up in a barrel, but it was a sugar hogshead or crockery cask, which stood between the road and sidewalk, between what is now Grand avenue and Kilbourn Town. The cask stood in front of a darkey's one-story house, which was raised up from the ground so that a person could see under it from the street. The house was so small one could look all through it from the side- walk, the doors standing open, for it was the month of August. The people would slip some- thing to eat under the cask when no one saw them, which enabled Caroline to remain hidden under the cask until night, when she fell into the hands of Samuel Brown, father of the present Mayor of Milwaukee, who then lived on a farm a mile or more from the city, but whose farm is now part of the city. He took her home, and kept her there one night. The next night, he · started to Pewaukee with her, in an old rickety wagon, which he was afraid would break down before he reached his destination.

"Just before he struck the main road, Mr. Brown heard voices and stopped till some men on horseback passed. The party proved to be Jonathan E. Arnold, Alexander F. Pratt, the lawyer Spencer, and one or two others. They had been to Prairieville (now Waukesha), 'that Abolition hole,' as it was then called, to find Caroline, having lost track of her in Milwaukee. Mr. Brown's wagon did break down before he reached Pewaukee, and he placed the saddle, which he had taken the precaution to put in his wagon, on the horse and took the girl on with him. He took her to Father Dougherty's, who lived between two and three miles north of Pewaukee Village, where she was kept concealed two or three weeks.

" In the mean time, the parties who wanted her were searching all over the country, offering rewards for her capture. They made their headquarters at Peter Jones' tavern, the 'Prairie- ville House,' thinking she must be in Prairieville or near there, it was so strongly impregnated with Abolitionism. They did not leave a stone unturned to find her, keeping watchers out at night on all the bridges and roads leading to the place. A young lady while going to watch with a sick girl (who afterward died), at Rev. O. F. Curtis', was followed and the house watched to find out if she was not Caroline.

"Two men, who afterward held the highest position in the State (that of Governor), were found employed watching an opportunity to deliver a poor slave girl to her master. They did not watch boldly and openly, but on the sly. One of the wealthy citizens of Prairieville went to a new house just outside the village, pretending to want the plan, but really to see if he could get some trace of Caroline, the $300 reward offered for her capture being a great temptation. Although there was so much excitement among the pro-slavery people at this time, who were all stirred up and rushing from one place to another, trying to stir up the people and find Caroline,

460

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

the Abolitionists were as quiet as might be, seeming to take no interest whatever in the matter, and the pro-slaveryites could gain nothing from them. The St. Louis lawyers and their friends, among whom were several of the prominent citizens of Milwaukee and Prairieville, defied the Abolitionists to keep Caroline away from them, saying the law was being violated by so doing, and vengeance would soon be visited on their heads. But Caroline's friends could not be pro- voked into any conversation or argument. The hangers-on at the Prairieville House were watching the every movement of every Abolitionist. The gang went to Deacon Mendall's, threatening him with some sort of violence, as he was a stanch anti-slaveryite, and supposed to know something of Caroline's whereabouts. They found him in the field engaged at hilling potatoes. The lawyers demanded to know the Deacon's opinion of his crime of law-breaking Why,' replied the Deacon, 'I didn't know as hilling potatoes was breaking the law.' 'You are harboring that slave-girl, which is against the law.'

""'Well, a bad law is sometimes better broken than obeyed,' said the Deacon, glancing at his rifle which lay near by in the grass.

" The Deacon's glance at his rifle cooled the slavehunters somewhat, who finally summoned courage to beg permission to search the house. "

'No, sir, you don't search my house for any slave, ' said Deacon Mendall sternly, and the crowd, afraid of the rifle, marched back to Prairieville. A man over sixty years of age had frightened them away, single-handed.

" By some hook or crook, some one got sight of Caroline at the Doughertys', and brought the news straight to the lawyers. They made a rush one Saturday afternoon to effect the cap- ture. One or two roads turned off before reaching the house, and this Saturday Caroline sat by the window looking up the road from which she had an unobstructed view of a mile or more. She saw several men on horseback coming in that direction ; as they kept straight on toward the house, she knew they were after her and slipped through the cellar, which was at the back of the house, and out toward a cornfield, to which she crawled on her hands and knees, and hid in the back of it till her pursuers went away. The men went into the house bold enough, and inquired of Mrs. Dougherty if a colored girl was there, and getting no satisfaction from the old lady, asked to search the premises. She consented, and it did not take long to look through the house, which was a large claim shanty ; not much chamber nor cellar. They left very reluctantly, after searching everywhere on the premises, as they supposed. They came to what is now Pewaukee Village, and passing by Elder Wheelock's, A. F. Pratt told them that ' whatever the Elder said would be true. He might not tell all, but what he did say could be depended upon.' They therefore began to talk with him ; asked him if he knew if there was a slave girl around. He said he had heard there was. They told a plausible story-said they had talked with Deacon Clinton ; that they understood she wanted to go back, and she could go with them if she wanted to. If not, they would give her free papers ; and the Deacon said if that was a fact, and she wanted to go back, it was his duty to give her up if he knew where she was ; thought that was honorable. Then they said to the Elder:

"' Do you know where she is ?'

"' 'No. '

"' Can you find her ?'

"' I think I can. I have a great deal of confidence in the Deacon's judgment. I am going down to Prairieville to preach to-morrow, and I'll talk it up with the Deacon. Wait till I get my horse. '

The men thought that very favorable to their prospects, though had they known as much as they found out afterward, they would have come to a different conclusion. As they came into Prairieville, the Elder left them and said he would go up to Deacon Clinton's, who lived on his farm just out of the village, and have a talk with him, and would meet them at night at Jones' tavern (the Prairieville House), by 10 o'clock, with the Deacon. He meant to keep them away from Pewaukee neighborhood as long as possible. He then went to Deacon Clinton's and told them to send a boy for Deacon Mendall. Deacon Mendall came. The Elder told him to

461

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

take a man with him, get the girl away from Pewaukee, and keep out of the roads as much as possible, for these men might be prowling around, but to lose no time in getting her away. The Elder and Deacon Clinton went as agreed to the Prairieville House at 10 o'clock that night, and talked and gassed with the men till about 12 o'clock, and finally came to the conclusion that they would have nothing to do with the matter in any way. Deacon Mendall was a man of whom the people stood in awe. He had been something of a fighting character in younger days, but at this time was a good Christian man and a member of the church. He took a man by the name of Jewett with him, and went to Mr. Dougherty's and brought the girl to Prairie- ville to Deacon Allen Clinton's (brother to Deacon Edmund Clinton, who also lived on his farm two miles from the village). That Sunday all of Allen Clinton's folks went to church except his wife, who stayed with Caroline. That morning a man came to me at church and tried to tell me about the girl; but I did not want to hear. I told him that the fewer people there were who knew about it the better ; but in the afternoon Daniel Chandler came to me after church and told me to have my team ready that night at a place designated a mile west of the village in oak openings. I did not dare to take my own horses out, for I was watched; but I told him I would be at the place with horses. So I went to Daniel Chandler and said: "' Mr. Chandler, I want your horses to-night, and I don't want you should ask me a question.' He let me have his team, a splendid one, of which he thought everything. I took the horses after dark, and went to the woods according to promise. After awhile I heard a whistle and answered it. By-and-by I heard it again in another direction, and I answered as before. Deacon Allen' Clin- ton then made his appearance on horseback, Caroline riding with him. Two or three others came also-Chandler and Deacon Mendall. Caroline was given into my hands. I chose Dea- con Mendall as company and we started with Caroline curled down in the straw in the bottom of the wagon for-we had no idea where, but any place of safety. On the way we stopped and got James Rossman to accompany us. I drove down through Mukwonago and toward Spring Prairie, thirty miles from Prairieville. We reached Spring Prairie about daylight, and stopped at Charles Thompson's. He said he would have thrashers that day and it would not be safe to have the girl there, but he took us to another place in the vicinity, where we left her and turned toward home as quickly as possible. On the way home in moving my feet around in the straw, I hit something hard ; on picking it up it proved to be the longest butcher knife I ever saw (Deacon Mendall, in his earlier days, had been a famous butcher.) I says, 'Deacon, what's this ? '

"' O, it's something I brought along to pick my teeth with,' said the Deacon.

" You can guess what he intended to do if any one had attempted to capture us. We came home by a different route from that on which we went, and found everything serene. We had not been missed from Prairiville. Those fellows were satisfied she had left the place, and for two or three days a few friends of us talked of the affair, and concluded that though the peo- ple the girl was with were stanch Abolitionists, we did not know how good managers they were. The more we talked, the more fearful we were she would be found. Finally, we decided that one of us should go and take the girl through to some station on the underground railroad, and they pitched upon me, being an old bachelor with no family to keep me from going, as the proper one to do the job. At this time, money was not plenty in Prairieville, as every one was paying for his land. I had to start away with very little money. I rode my horse up to Deacon Edmund Clinton's, as I always did when I wanted to get him shod, with a rope halter on, so as not to look suspicious. It was about dark. I told the Deacon I wanted his saddle, bridle, and all the money he had. 'I am going on a skeerup, and I may be obliged to pay the Queen a visit before I get back.' He handed me $5, all the money he had by him. That made $8 with what I had, to start with. I mounted my horse, and started for the oak openings. Went through North Prairie, Eagle, and through to West Troy. Before reaching the last place it began to rain, and it was the darkest night I had ever seen. Lost my way two or three times, and did not reach my destination till 7 or 8 o'clock in the morning. Had scarcely a dry thread on me. I had breakfast, baited my horse and dried my clothes till noon. I was startled to find Caroline

462

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

gone. I was more easy, however, when I found they had moved her Tuesday night to Gardner's Prairie (two miles from Burlington), where she was left ; but they didn't know at whose house. I started for Gardner's Prairie to hunt her up, and on the way stopped at Elder Manning's. He had brothers living at Prairieville, and I knew he was a good Abolitionist. He had not heard there was such a girl as Caroline, and knew nothing about the excitement con- nected with her case, having been confined to the house by illness. He declared his intention of going with me to the Prairie to find the girl, in spite of the pleadings of his wife, who thought it too great a risk to his health, this being his first day out of bed. The weather had cleared, and we started, the Elder going straight from his bed to his horse. We rode to Mr. Peffer's, who, knowing the Elder, npon being questioned, said the girl was there. I was acquainted with the brothers Arms, Abolitionists, and went to them. They called in two or three other friends to consult what to do, and, while talking, Dr. Dyer, father of Judge Charles E. Dyer, and still a resident of Racine County, came along. He proved to be the Commander-in-chief-a strong Abolitionist, the greatest and best friend to humanity. We could not keep the Doctor from see- ing the girl ; so we all went down to where she was, and held another consultation, when it was decided I should take Mr. Chenery's buggy and harness, and continue the journey to safety and freedom. Dr. Dyer went home and made preparations. He came back with a pillow-case full of cakes, pies and cheese, to be used in case of an emergency. He inquired into my finances. I told him what I had. He commanded the friends to draw their wallets, and he took up enough to make $20 with what I had. The Doctor gave me a recommendation, the best I ever read, and an appeal to friends of humanity to assist me without question to the extent of my asking. I believe there never was an appeal like that written by mortal man before or since. It would almost stir the heart of a stone.

" While at this place, just before night, who should we see coming up the hill but Arnold and Spencer, still wearily but doggedly pursuing the fugitive girl. Caroline and myself, as well as the balance, were unfortunately out in the yard, and the road was in plain sight, but we were not seen.

" When night came on, we started from Dr. Dyer's, Caroline on the buffalo in the bottom of the buggy, which covered her so no one would know but that I had a sheep or a quarter of veal.

"Mr. Chenery accompanied us to the house of Mr. Perkins (who has a brother now living -a great sheep farmer-in Mukwonago). We could not stop there, as he was to thrash that day ; so he took us to Elder Fitch, of the Christian denomination, who secreted us and our horse and buggy till night, when I started on again. The Elder started with us. It com- menced to rain when we were but a few miles away, and, as we could not go through to Dundee as we wanted to, a prairie a few miles from McHenry was crossed, though it was so dark we . could not see, on the road to a Christian Methodist named Russell, not an Abolitionist; but we had to stop somewhere. Mr. Russell was perfectly willing to assist a slave to freedom. If that was being an Abolitionist, he was one. He never knew before what Abolitionism was. I made him a station-keeper on the underground railroad, which I established along the route.

"In the morning, Elder Fitch went back home, and Russell went with us, through Dun- dee, to Dr. Root's. That was the first that we traveled by day. He was a double Abolitionist, like Dr. Dyer. His brother was a minister, and he sent for him and several friends, who came to see us while we dried out clothes, which were still wet. Started from there at about 2 o'clock, and went to Naperville, fifteen or twenty miles distant. Did not reach there till after dark. We went to Deacon Fowler's, as the Doctor had told us. There were some young ladies present of about Caroline's size, and they gave her some clothes, her dress having been badly torn. They gave her gloves and a thick vail, and also a small reticule into which to put her jewelry ; so we started from there pretty well stocked. Caroline, being well dressed, after that sat in the seat.

" As I said, we traveled in the daytime now. I fell in with a Mr. Freeman, who directed me toward the underground railroad. We went through Lockport, a few miles from Joliet,

463

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

while the people were eating dinner, and of course so occupied that they did not notice us. Drove eight miles, to Deacon Beach's, which was on the original underground railroad. Mr. Beach had gone to a church-meeting, it being Saturday afternoon, and the women were very suspicious, thinking I might be trying to break up the line ; but they gave us dinner and fed my horse. I went to the place at Hickory Grove they designated, and found myself on the right road.

"The next day was Sunday, but I thought we had better travel and get away from Chi- cago vicinity as soon as possible, as Hickory Grove was only about forty miles southeast of that place. We then made for Beebe's Grove. The people we went to were just starting for church, so we went to Mr. Beebe's. He made us welcome. He was a very intelligent man, and had just returned from Chicago, where he saw an advertisement on the docks, '$300 reward for a colored girl,' but did not pay much attention to the description, though it was no doubt offered for Caroline. The clerk of the steamboat on which Caroline left St. Louis was visiting all the lake ports to advertise her, for the company would be compelled to pay $800 to her master in case she was not found. This sum they were finally obliged to pay.

" After dinner, we started on our journey, Mr. Beebe accompanying us as far as the school- house, where their meetings were held. Sunday-school was just out. Beebe said they were all Abolitionists at the schoolhouse, and he wanted the people to see Caroline. So we stopped and he told the people her history. Several young ladies, Sunday-school teachers, came out after church to see Caroline and talk with her. Near by stood one of the 'liberty poles,' so called, which are common to Northern villages. Turning toward it, she asked them what it was. They replied properly. 'What is it for?' 'To commemorate the birth of liberty in America,' they answered. ' What do you do with it?' 'Oh, look at it,' was the reply. 'Who may look at it ? ' 'Everybody,' said the girls. 'But you said it was a liberty pole; can a slave look at it ? How can it commemorate liberty in a country where there are slaves ? Have you repealed the law [the Fugitive Slave Act], and raised this pole to mark the event ? Do those who have their liberty have their names written on the pole or in some book ? If not, how do you know who the pole is for ?'

" These and similar searching questions so confused the young ladies that no replies could be made to Caroline, and their Pastor attempted to reply for them but was not fully equal to the occasion. She had thoroughly befuddled her visitors, who were glad enough to call her attention to something besides liberty poles, and their connection with liberty and the Fugitive Slave Act.

" The next night, a terrific storm brought darkness unusually early, and made it impossible to reach the next station. I had been told that, in cases of emergency, the Germans were the next best to Quakers for protection, and we stopped at a big claim shanty occupied by a German and his wife, begging shelter from the roaring storm that was almost upon us. 'We have no bed for you, no fires, no wood, and no candles,' said the German, 'but will do what we can for you.' The horse, which had been half a day without water, was hitched to the fence as quickly as possi- ble, and when we went in Caroline had already gone to bed with the German's wife. He and I slept on the floor, or rather I reposed there, not being able to sleep much on account of my poor horse. As the German had no water, I arose early, hitched up, called Caroline and started on our journey before daylight, and to this day that kind German woman does not know she slept with a colored girl who was fleeing from bondage, nor does her husband.

" From La Porte we traveled three days, I think, wholly among Quakers. The men were all absent from home, attending a Quaker meeting in Ohio. The women refused everywhere to say anything about any underground railroad, though they usually said : 'Thee can have what thee wants.' Their homes were, of course, stations on the road, but, fearing I might be an impostor, they would not let me into any secrets. They would, however, tell me where the next Quaker's house was to be found at a convenient distance. After leaving the Quaker settlement, I was compelled to stop over night about five miles from Climax Prairie, in Michigan, with a man who did not treat us well. Caroline was given a room in which was an old-fashioned loom.

464

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

On this she hung her reticule, in which were her jewels and the few dollars in money I had given her for the future. In the hurry of next morning the reticule was forgotten, and the loss not discovered until we were twenty miles on the journey. The horse was then too tired, and my destination yet too distant to think of turning back, making forty miles more of travel. I determined, therefore, to go on, secure the jewels on my return, and forward them to Caroline. So we pushed on. At Ann Arbor, we were entertained by the editor of the Abolitionist paper published in that place. Before reaching Detroit, we came across a fleshy colored woman, who said she had been a slave, but for some time refused to say where she had been in bondage. Finally, on being shown Caroline's face, she acknowledged being from St. Louis, from which place she and her husband had escaped in a most romantic and miraculous manner. It was soon discovered she and Caroline were old acquaintances.

"I also met a gang of thirty-two escaped slaves, on the underground railroad, near Mar- shall and Battle Creek. They were led by three stout fellows, who went several miles in advance, engaging work and searching out and marking stations. One of the women weighed over four hundred pounds, and could not walk. She traveled only in the night. As large as this gang was, every one was perfectly safe anywhere in the Quaker settlement. Whatever may be said against the Quakers by those who do not like them, I must say I never saw or heard of one who was not an Anti-slaveryite. The same may be said of the Germans, except of some of them who had become Yankeefied.

" We passed through Detroit at 6 o'clock on Tuesday night-about three weeks from home- while the streets were filled with workmen on their way home. We were not discovered, and arrived safely at Ambler's, who kept the last station this side of the Detroit River, his house being only separated from that stream by a narrow street. He was absent, but we were well cared for, and his wife sent two men-one of whom I had known in the East-to take us over the river. To him I paid twelve shillings, the first money I had paid out in the whole journey, which, on account of the circuitous route followed by the underground railroad, had extended over a distance of between five and six hundred miles. After crossing the Detroit River, Car- oline began crying, and clutched me by the arm, asking if it was possible that she was being taken back to St. Louis. I talked and explained, but it took some time to clear her mind, that side of the river appearing to her like the country across from St. Louis. I left Caroline with Rev. Haskell, or at his house. He was a missionary at Sandwich, Canada.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 69

Author: Western Historical Co., pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050