The Underground Railroad in DeKalb County, Illinois

by Nancy M. Beasley

Overview

This book is about previously unidentified people who became Abolitionists involved in the antislavery movement from about 1840 to 1860. Although arrests were made in nearby counties, not one person was prosecuted for aiding a fugitive slave in DeKalb County, Illinois. First, the area Congregationalist, Universalist, Presbyterian and Wesleyan Methodist churches all had compelling antislavery beliefs. Church members, county elected officials, and the Underground Railroad conductors and stationmasters were all one and the same. Additionally, DeKalb County had the highest concentration of subscriptions to the Chicago-based Western Citizen antislavery newspaper. It was an accepted local activity to help escaped slaves.

A biographical dictionary includes evidence and personal information for more than 600 men and women, and their families, who defied the prevailing Fugitive Slave Law, and helped the anti-slavery movement in this one Northern Illinois County. Unique photographs and illustrations are included along with notes, bibliography and index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476600802
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	02/23/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Nancy M. Beasley is a civic and social organizer who has served on numerous boards including the Illinois State Police Merit Board. A graduate of Northern Illinois University in music and vocal performance, she lives in Portage, Wisconsin.
Nancy M. Beasley is a civic and social organizer who has served on numerous boards including the Illinois State Police Merit Board. A graduate of Northern Illinois University in music and vocal performance, she lives in Portage, Wisconsin.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments delete vi
Preface delete 1
Introduction delete 3
Chronology of Events delete 6
1. An Abolitionist’s Milestone delete 11
2. Remember the Underground Railroad delete 17
3. Illinois: A Burned-Over Reunion delete 25
4. The Abolitionists! Thank God! delete 36
5. First, the Church delete 54
6. No Apologists for Slavery: The Congregationalists delete 59
7. Resolute and Unwavering delete 76
8. All Brethren: The Universalists delete 90
9. Seceders and Covenanters: The Presbyterians delete 102
10. Evangelistic Lawbreakers: The Wesleyan Methodists delete 113
11. The Western Citizen Reads the Western Citizen delete 123
12. God Will Thank the Republican Party delete 131
13. Lincoln Knew the True Republican delete 150
14. Reasons to Be Unreasonable delete 161
15. Hail and Farewell! delete 171
Antislavery Advocates: A Biographical Dictionary delete 175
Notes delete 207
Bibliography delete 215
Index delete 221

Editorial Reviews

compiles facts and area folklore on the antislavery movement in Dekalb County”—Reference & Research Book News.

From the Publisher