While I recognize that ignorance still rears its ugly head in Ohio (evidenced by the Confederate flag), I will still stand as a proud Ohioan for the sacrifices men and women made as the center of the Underground Railroad and as a state that committed sixty percent of all the men between the ages of 18 and 45 (320,000 men) to a Civil War that was needed to eradicate the vile practice of slavery.
5
New Richmond, OH is also on the river along route 52 and also has an Underground Railroad historical site.
Here's an account by a slave who sheltered with cousins of his former slave owner in Ohio after he escaped across the Ohio River from Kentucky. Not all of the Claypools were going to hell. Fred Douglass published his account, that hot ticket Trump's been gushing about.
http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/jacksona/jacksona.html
http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/jacksona/jacksona.html
I have most certainly seen Confederate flags in Geauga County, well north of the Ohio river.
1
My family is from the northern KY/Cincinnati area. I lived there for a while but grew up in different states, too. I love the National Underground Railroad Freedom Museum. I always go there when I visit, and I am a member. The slave holding pen that was discovered in KY and dismantled and rebuilt for permanent exhibition is intensely disturbing. The current exhibitions depicting discrimination and slavery of all kinds are profound. And when I see the "eternal" flame on the museum deck from the KY side, I am in awe of the significance of the Ohio River. Everyone should go to this museum.
Re- the Confederate flag. When I lived in Jacksonville, FL in the 1970's, it seemed that white redneck Lynard Skynard devotees had these in their trucks. There was often little thought or regard to racist implications. However, when I have seen that flag in New England over the years (and it is not common here), there is little doubt about intention. It has been too often used as a symbol of hate to mean anything else. And I have seen many of them flying in Ohio when I drive to see family. Hate, ignorance and bigotry in the contemporary USA is everywhere---in some places more than others.
Thank you for Parker's story. It's so very important.
Re- the Confederate flag. When I lived in Jacksonville, FL in the 1970's, it seemed that white redneck Lynard Skynard devotees had these in their trucks. There was often little thought or regard to racist implications. However, when I have seen that flag in New England over the years (and it is not common here), there is little doubt about intention. It has been too often used as a symbol of hate to mean anything else. And I have seen many of them flying in Ohio when I drive to see family. Hate, ignorance and bigotry in the contemporary USA is everywhere---in some places more than others.
Thank you for Parker's story. It's so very important.
5
The reporter must have grown up on US Highway 68. There hasn't been a state route 68 in Ohio since 1933.
1
Very informative and inspiring. Fulton County, NW Ohio where I grew up also had a number of UGR places.
One very minor correction . Poplar is a soft wood, so should have read
"wood floors"
"The hardwood floors, in poplar, are from the original construction."
One very minor correction . Poplar is a soft wood, so should have read
"wood floors"
"The hardwood floors, in poplar, are from the original construction."
Oopps! Poplar is technically a hard wood, but a very soft one.
I know of what you speak concerning the Confederate flag. In these parts the flag is closely associated with poor whites who most probably migrated from Kentucky and Appalachian areas. I would view these types as probably poorly educated and very clannish (preferring to stick closely to their families and other kni). I am not sure you would call them racists as they have much in common and suffer economically like poorer blacks (and today you would see more black and white couples or babies from these mixed race relationships [marriage usually reserved to those with better economic prospects and educations] in these areas) I would interpret the Confederate flags you may see as their identity (pride) with the lost cause of the Old South and all those who they would see as having died valiantly in the face of great odds. I would not see it in these parts as the racist statement liberals would like to arrogantly assume goes hand in hand with such flag.
5
At best I - as someone who grew up in southern Ohio - would allow you with regards to those living there and displaying the Stars and Bars is that they are confused, not that they are rooting for underdogs. My experience is that in any other realm they seldom do.
2
Southern Ohio has a border state history. Parts of Ohio can be very Southern in attitude and mores.
5
My mother grew up in this spectacularly beautiful little town, and both of my parents are buried here. Mom was always very proud of Ripley's role in the Underground Railroad. Well worth a visit.
10
Ripley, Utopia, and Cincinnati are not the only places in this corridor to learn about the legacy of the UGRR in our region. The Ohio River National Freedom Corridor (http://www.ohiorivernationalfreedomcorridor.org/) is an organization which works to promote the sharing of all of the stories which exist in this "freedom corridor." UGRR activity took place all along the Ohio River. While Ripley's stories, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center share some of the most well known stories, if one digs deeper, there are many more stories to learn. Anyone interested in learning more can get in contact with the Ohio River National Freedom Corridor, or come participate in our annual conferences. We welcome all those interested to participate with us in preserving and sharing the legacy of the UGRR in our local modern communities.
8
I'm kind of shocked that your otherwise nice article did not include mention of Ann Hagadorn 's classic book, Across the River, about John Rankin and the Underground RR in Ripley. The Rankin House is expanding and will offer much expanded programs. Also I believe the cabin and slave pen at the Cincinnati Freedom Center are the real things, not reproductions. Along with the Parker
8
Agreed, Mark. Hagedorn's book is terrific!
3
Ditto! Across the River is a gripping history of Ripley and its role in the UGRR. Hagedorn is an excellent writer.
2
Someone please tell me the difference between the Confederate flag and the Nazi flag?
5
It was the Elizas and the John Parkers who helped rescue our country from the sin and infamy of our baser elements. Their courage stands out against the cowardice of the thieves who believed they had a right to claim ownership over other people.
11
Not Eliza, but John Parkers, John Rankins, and the untold thousands of white and black Americans who helped hide, harbor, and send these former slaves on up to Canada. They risked their homes, lives, and livelihoods to help them.
1
Too bad you didn't take time to really learn the area history. Wilmington, OH, to the north was a Quaker town. Its Quaker college houses a remarkable archives. You missed several tunnels running from the river to homes and Gallipolis.
KenOVa, where KY, OH, and WV meet is an area where, perhaps, the most families were divided. After the Revolution, many families moved from Southwestern VA north into what became WV, and KY, due to cheap land. Wayne County, just below Huntington, raised over 1000 men for the Confederacy, many of whom did not own slaves. The naming of children shows they still retained close ties to SW VA.
Fighting at Gettysburg, the men were sent to Fort Delaware, an island, between NJ and DE, where approximately 2,500 men died, their bodies floated at high tide to NJ, and mass graves at what is now Finn's Point National Cemetery.
When people ask me if I am ashamed that my family, rebels (AKA patriots) in the Revolution owned slaves, I say no. It was a time of different social values, and legal. Am I to be ashamed they owned slaves, but proud they were rebels? My father was a German POW. Does that time make up for slave owner ancestors? I consider slavery horrific, but I have been educated with different views, standards, and laws.
I also resent shame articles. which are how history is changed and forgotten. We can't have conversations about change. We can't understand where we are if we can't talk about how we got here.
KenOVa, where KY, OH, and WV meet is an area where, perhaps, the most families were divided. After the Revolution, many families moved from Southwestern VA north into what became WV, and KY, due to cheap land. Wayne County, just below Huntington, raised over 1000 men for the Confederacy, many of whom did not own slaves. The naming of children shows they still retained close ties to SW VA.
Fighting at Gettysburg, the men were sent to Fort Delaware, an island, between NJ and DE, where approximately 2,500 men died, their bodies floated at high tide to NJ, and mass graves at what is now Finn's Point National Cemetery.
When people ask me if I am ashamed that my family, rebels (AKA patriots) in the Revolution owned slaves, I say no. It was a time of different social values, and legal. Am I to be ashamed they owned slaves, but proud they were rebels? My father was a German POW. Does that time make up for slave owner ancestors? I consider slavery horrific, but I have been educated with different views, standards, and laws.
I also resent shame articles. which are how history is changed and forgotten. We can't have conversations about change. We can't understand where we are if we can't talk about how we got here.
2
Mrs. Cleaver do you consider this to be a shame article or are you referring to something else? If an article is telling the truth about events that happened and you feel shame that is your reaction to it. Your comment sounds defensive. I don't think anyone is asking people to be ashamed of their ancestors, yes it was a different time. What we need now is to understand that in 2017 we have to unite as a nation and get along. If descendants of slaves still feel pain and anger, we should be strong enough to listen and understand and not take it personally. I am white, but I have African Americans in my family and among my friends and coworkers. We sometimes have uncomfortable and heated exchanges. because that's life, but we try to speak openly and get through them as best we can. If you were not a good person this issue would not touch you. If you can go forward with that I think you will feel better about the tensions resulting from that part of our nation's past and understand that we need to confront it honestly to move forward as one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
8
Ridley is an inspiring place. I urge all who can to visit it and see the Parker and Rankin houses.
8
Martins Ferry Ohio was the first settlement in the state of Ohio. Marietta was the first permanent settlement.
1
Ripley is, too
Ms. Drake,
As an Ohioan, I apologize for the silly display of that awful red rag, the symbol of slavery. Time to put it away, children.
As an Ohioan, I apologize for the silly display of that awful red rag, the symbol of slavery. Time to put it away, children.
12
Thank you for saying that. Ripley is so much better than the adolescent who hoisted that flag.
4
The the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in nearby Cincinnati shows a dramatic film of the John Parker/John Rankin story, narrated by Oprah Winfrey, and filmed in Ripley. The entire Freedom Center is well worth a visit; it places the narrative of the fleeing slaves against the backdrop of the competing voices around how to abolish the "peculiar institution."
7
Enjoyable reading and interesting article. And regrettably, today there are more than a few of those flags flying in my state, not far from Ripley is the Ohio birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant. And further north is Lancaster, Ohio, home of William Tecumseh Sherman. Were either General Grant or Sherman alive, their reaction to seeing that flag flying on their home state soil would be unbridled fury.
15
There are cautionary tales and inspirational tales and of course this one is inspirational; maybe even topical and timely.
Are we re-envisioning an America that is poised to hide "run-away" immigrants, undocumented workers and families who do not want to leave the USA? Will it be a railroad that reverses their migration, and perhaps gives the Illegals a safer and more dignified passage back to Mexico or Central America? A plane ticket? A stipend?
The Underground Railroad was all about Americans getting on the right side of history. We have had other moments join in, in recent history some that put the participants at risk; the Civil Rights marches, the protests against the Vietnam War and the Second Invasion of Iraq. I was too young for the first one, but after careful reflection, joined the second.
A local building supply company in a more conservative suburb of liberal Portland used their big advertising billboard to make this state:
Forget the Wall
Build a Deck
And invite everyone over.
By protesting now, we are taking little real risks. Those may come later. It is good to read how some of our ancestors made their stands and did the right thing. This country has a history of its citizens getting on the right side of history. I have a feeling, that opportunity is rapidly approaching again.
When the next generation looks back, be sure they find you standing on the right side of history!
Are we re-envisioning an America that is poised to hide "run-away" immigrants, undocumented workers and families who do not want to leave the USA? Will it be a railroad that reverses their migration, and perhaps gives the Illegals a safer and more dignified passage back to Mexico or Central America? A plane ticket? A stipend?
The Underground Railroad was all about Americans getting on the right side of history. We have had other moments join in, in recent history some that put the participants at risk; the Civil Rights marches, the protests against the Vietnam War and the Second Invasion of Iraq. I was too young for the first one, but after careful reflection, joined the second.
A local building supply company in a more conservative suburb of liberal Portland used their big advertising billboard to make this state:
Forget the Wall
Build a Deck
And invite everyone over.
By protesting now, we are taking little real risks. Those may come later. It is good to read how some of our ancestors made their stands and did the right thing. This country has a history of its citizens getting on the right side of history. I have a feeling, that opportunity is rapidly approaching again.
When the next generation looks back, be sure they find you standing on the right side of history!
34
I agree with you about American taking a stand, but I believe you are referring to illegal immigrants.
Americans, and yes, even legal immigrants, welcome immigrants who follow the law and become legal citizens of our country.
Americans, and yes, even legal immigrants, welcome immigrants who follow the law and become legal citizens of our country.
Slavery, the forceful subjugation of black folks, a lame excuse to exploit their bodies based on the color of one's skin, must be shown permanently as an opprobrium of those 'evil' souls, inventors of deadly discrimination, an awful blot to the human race, And the depiction of the underground railroad is but one of the sad chapters of our torturous mind.
14
The story of Ripley, Ohio's history as a hub of the Underground Railroad is told very well in Ann Hagedorn's book "Beyond the River", for readers who want to know more. My forebears were members of a Philadelphia church that was a stop on the Underground Railroad, though I don't know if they were involved. The stories of these abolitionists, black and white, are inspiring and should not be forgotten.
26
Dean do you know of other books that chronicle it? I'd love to read more. Where I grew up in Maryland there was a single span bridge at Cabin John, rumored to be a 'station' - we all grew up with the passed on story. It haunts me.
4
I am deeply pleased to see the article on John Parker's role in the period of the Underground Railroad. He is truly a hero. Two of my ancestors, John Sutton Beasley and Alfred Beasley, worked with Parker and with John Rankin. My family was divided: some who stayed in Kentucky owned slaves, while those who crossed over to Ohio worked to help slaves escape and to end the institution of slavery. The Ohio River at Ripley is narrow, but it was a wide divide between cultures and economies. Thank you, Monica Drake, for the article.
5
Beautiful article about my newly adopted home state.
11
Dear Monica, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article on Ripley, Ohio. To give even more exciting context to the story you should take a look at the book "Beyond The River" (Simon and Schuster), an award winning book about Ripley, John Rankin and John Parker that is the basis for the in-process film treatment called "The War Before The War".
Ripley is a marvelous little town with a great history and bravo for you for drawing national attention to its greatest.
Ripley is a marvelous little town with a great history and bravo for you for drawing national attention to its greatest.
21
Great piece and wonderful photographs of Ripley -- one of the most atmospheric places on the Ohio River. Glad that people are referencing Ann Hagedorn's excellent "Beyond the River." Thank you, Monica, for this article.
1