LeviCoffin:

Intheyear1836,Ibuiltanoilmillandmanufacturedlinseedoil.Notwithstandingallthismultiplicityof
business,IwasnevertoobusytoengageinUndergroundRailroadaffairs.Soonafterwelocatedat
Newport,IfoundthatwewereonalineoftheU.G.R.R.Fugitivesoftenpassedthroughthatplace,and
generallystoppedamongthecoloredpeople.Therewasinthatneighborhoodanumberoffamiliesoffree
coloredpeople,mostlyfromNorthCarolina,whowerethedescendantsofslaveswhohadbeenliberatedby
Friendsmanyyearsbefore,andsenttofreeStatesattheexpenseofNorthCarolinaYearlyMeeting.I
learnedthatthefugitiveslaveswhotookrefugewiththesepeoplewereoftenpursuedandcaptured,the
coloredpeoplenotbeingveryskillfulinconcealingthem,orshrewdinmakingarrangementstoforward
themtoCanada.Iwaspainedtohearofthecaptureofthesefugitives,andinquiredofsomeoftheFriends
inourvillagewhytheydidnottaketheminandsecretethem,whentheywerepursued,andthenaidthem
ontheirwaytoCanada?Ifoundthattheywereafraidofthepenaltyofthelaw.ItoldthemthatIreadinthe
BiblewhenIwasaboythatitwasrighttotakeinthestrangerandadministertothoseindistress,andthatI
thoughtitwasalwayssafetodoright.TheBible,inbiddingustofeedthehungryandclothethenaked,
saidnothingaboutcolor,andIshouldtrytofollowouttheteachingsofthatgoodbook.Iwaswillingto
receiveandaidasmanyfugitivesasweredisposedtocometomyhouse.Iknewthatmywifesfeelings
andsympathiesregardingthismatterwerethesameasmine,andthatshewaswillingtodoherpart.Itsoon
becameknowntothecoloredpeopleinourneighborhoodandothers,thatourhousewasadepotwherethe
huntedandharassedfugitivejourneyingnorthward,ontheUndergroundRailroad,couldfindsuccorand
sympathy.ItalsobecameknownatotherdepotsonthevariouslinesthatconvergedatNewport.
Inthewinterof182627,fugitivesbegantocometoourhouse,andasitbecamemorewidelyknownon
differentroutesthattheslavesfleeingfrombondagewouldfindawelcomeandshelteratourhouse,andbe
forwardedsafelyontheirjourney,thenumberincreased.Friendsintheneighborhood,whohadformerly
stoodalooffromthework,fearfulofthepenaltyofthelaw,wereencouragedtoengageinitwhentheysaw
thefearlessmannerinwhichIacted,andthesuccessthatattendedmyefforts.Theywouldcontributeto
clothethefugitives,andwouldaidinforwardingthemontheirway,butweretimidaboutshelteringthem
undertheirroof;sothatpartoftheworkdevolvedonus.Someseemedreallygladtoseetheworkgoon,if
somebodyelsewoulddoit.Othersdoubtedtheproprietyofit,andtriedtodiscourageme,anddissuademe
fromrunningsuchrisks.Theymanifestedgreatconcernformysafetyandpecuniaryinterests,tellingme
thatsuchacourseofactionwouldinjuremybusinessandperhapsruinme;thatIoughttoconsiderthe
welfareofmyfamily;andwarningmethatmylifewasindanger,asthereweremanythreatsmadeagainst
mebytheslavehuntersandthosewhosympathizedwiththem.
Afterlisteningquietlytothesecounselors,ItoldthemthatIfeltnocondemnationforanythingthatIhad
everdoneforthefugitiveslaves.Ifbydoingmydutyandendeavoringtofulfilltheinjunctionsofthe
Bible,Iinjuredmybusiness,thenletmybusinessgo.Astomysafety,mylifewasinthehandsofmy
DivineMaster,andIfeltthatIhadhisapproval.Ihadnofearofthedangerthatseemedtothreatenmylife
ormybusiness.IfIwasfaithfultoduty,andhonestandindustrious,IfeltthatIwouldbepreserved,and
thatIcouldmakeenoughtosupportmyfamily.AtonetimetherecametoseemeagoodoldFriend,who
wasapparentlyverydeeplyconcernedformywelfare.HesaidhewasasmuchopposedtoslaveryasIwas,
butthoughtitverywrongtoharborfugitiveslaves.Noonethereknewofwhatcrimestheywereguilty;
theymighthavekilledtheirmasters,orcommittedsomeotheratrociousdeed,thenthosewhosheltered
them,andaidedthemintheirescapefromjusticewouldindirectlybeaccomplices.Hementionedother
objectionswhichhewishedmetoconsider,andthentalkedforsometime,tryingtoconvincemeofthe
errorsofmyways.Iheardhimpatientlyuntilhehadrelievedhismindoftheburdenuponit,andthen
askedifhethoughttheGoodSamaritanstoppedtoinquirewhetherthemanwhofellamongthieveswas
guiltyofanycrimebeforeheattemptedtohelphim?Iaskedhimifheweretoseeastrangerwhohadfallen
intotheditchwouldhenothelphimoutuntilsatisfiedthathehadcommittednoatrociousdeed?These,
andmanyotherquestionswhichIputtohim,hedidnotseemabletoanswersatisfactorily.Hewasso
perplexedandconfusedthatIreallypitiedthegoodoldman,andadvisedhimtogohomeandreadhis
Biblethoroughly,andprayoverit,andIthoughthisconcernaboutmyaidingfugitiveslaveswouldbe

removedfromhismind,andthathewouldfeellikehelpingmeinthework.Wepartedingoodfeeling,and
healwaysmanifestedwarmfriendshiptowardmeuntiltheendofhisdays.
Manyofmyproslaverycustomersleftmeforatime,mysaleswerediminished,andforawhilemy
businessprospectswerediscouraging,yetmyfaithwasnotshaken,normyeffortsfortheslaveslessened.
Newcustomerssooncameintofilltheplacesofthosewhohadleftme.Newsettlementswererapidly
formingtothenorthofus,andourownwasfillingupwithemigrantsfromNorthCarolina,andother
States.Mytradeincreased,andIenlargedmybusiness.Iwasblessedinallmyeffortsandsucceeded
beyondmyexpectations.TheUndergroundRailroadbusinessincreasedastimeadvanced,anditwas
attendedwithheavyexpenses,whichIcouldnothavebornehadnotmyaffairsbeenprosperous.Ifoundit
necessarytokeepateamandawagonalwaysatcommand,toconveythefugitiveslavesontheirjourney.
Sometimes,whenwehadlargecompanies,oneortwootherteamsandwagonswererequired.These
journeyshadtobemadeatnight,oftenthroughdeepmudandbadroads,andalongbywaysthatwere
seldomtraveled.Everyprecautiontoevadepursuithadtobeused,asthehunterswereoftenonthetrack,
andsometimesaheadoftheslaves.Wehaddifferentroutesforsendingthefugitivestodepots,ten,fifteen,
ortwentymilesdistant,andwhenweheardofslavehuntershavingpassedononeroad,weforwardedour
passengersbyanother.
Insomeinstanceswherewelearnedthatthepursuerswereaheadofthem,wesentamessengerandhadthe
fugitivesbroughtbacktomyhousetoremaininconcealmentuntilthebloodhoundsinhumanshapehad
lostthetrailandgivenupthepursuit.
Isoonbecameextensivelyknowntothefriendsoftheslaves,atdifferentpointsontheOhioRiver,where
fugitivesgenerallycrossed,andtothosenorthwardofusonthevariousroutesleadingtoCanada.Depots
wereestablishedonthedifferentlinesoftheUndergroundRailroad,southandnorthofNewport,anda
perfectunderstandingwasmaintainedbetweenthosewhokeptthem.ThreeprincipallinesfromtheSouth
convergedatmyhouse;onefromCincinnati,onefromMadison,andonefromJeffersonville,Indiana.The
roadswerealwaysinrunningorder,theconnectionsweregood,theconductorsactiveandzealous,and
therewasnolackofpassengers.Seldomaweekpassedwithoutourreceivingpassengersbythismysterious
road.Wefounditnecessarytobealwayspreparedtoreceivesuchcompanyandproperlycareforthem.
Weknewnotwhatnightorwhathourofthenightwewouldberousedfromslumberbyagentlerapatthe
door.ThatwasthesignalannouncingthearrivalofatrainoftheUndergroundRailroad,forthelocomotive
didnotwhistle,normakeanyunnecessarynoise.Ihaveoftenbeenawakenedbythissignal,andsprangout
ofbedinthedarkandopenedthedoor.Outsideinthecoldorrain,therewouldbeatwohorsewagon
loadedwithfugitives,perhapsthegreaterpartofthemwomenandchildren.Iwouldinvitethem,inalow
tone,tocomein,andtheywouldfollowmeintothedarkenedhousewithoutaword,forweknewnotwho
mightbewatchingandlistening.Whentheywereallsafelyinsideandthedoorfastened,Iwouldcoverthe
windows,strikealightandbuildagoodfire.Bythistimemywifewouldbeupandpreparingvictualsfor
them,andinashorttimethecoldandhungryfugitiveswouldbemadecomfortable.Iwouldaccompany
theconductorofthetraintothestable,andcareforthehorses,thathad,perhaps,beendriventwentyfiveor
thirtymilesthatnight,throughthecoldandrain.Thefugitiveswouldrestonpalletsbeforethefiretherest
ofthenight.Frequently,wagonloadsofpassengersfromthedifferentlineshavemetatourhouse,having
nopreviousknowledgeofeachother.Thecompaniesvariedinnumber,fromtwoorthreefugitivesto
seventeen.
Thecareofsomanynecessitatedmuchworkandanxietyonourpart,butweassumedtheburdenofour
ownwillandboreitcheerfully.Itwasnevertoocoldorstormy,orthehourofnighttoolateformywifeto
risefromsleep,andprovidefoodandcomfortablelodgingforthefugitives.Hersympathyforthosein
distressnevertired,andhereffortsintheirbehalfneverabated.Thisworkwaskeptupduringthetimewe
livedatNewport,aperiodofmorethantwentyyears.Thenumberoffugitivesvariedconsiderablyin
differentyears,buttheannualaveragewasmorethanonehundred.Theygenerallycametousdestituteof
clothing,andwereoftenbarefooted.Clothingmustbecollectedandkeptonhand,ifpossible,andmoney
mustberaisedtobuyshoes,andpurchasegoodstomakegarmentsforwomenandchildren.Theyoung

ladiesintheneighborhoodorganizedasewingsociety,andmetatourhousefrequently,tomakeclothesfor
thefugitives.
Sometimeswhenthefugitivescametousdestitute,wekeptthemseveraldays,untiltheycouldbeprovided
withcomfortableclothes.Thisdependedonthecircumstancesofdanger.Iftheyhadcomealongdistance
andhadbeenoutseveralweeksormonthsaswassometimesthecaseanditwasnotprobablethat
hunterswereontheirtrack,wethoughtitsafeforthemtoremainwithusuntilfittedfortravelingthrough
thethinlysettledcountrytotheNorth.Sometimesfugitiveshavecometoourhouseinrags,footsoreand
toilworn,andalmostwild,havingbeenoutforseveralmonthstravelingatnight,hidingincanebrakesor
thicketsduringtheday,oftenbeinglostandmakinglittleheadwayatnight,particularlyincloudyweather,
whenthenorthstarcouldnotbeseen,sometimesalmostperishingforwantoffood,andafraidofevery
whitepersontheysaw,evenaftertheycameintoafreeState,knowingthatslaveswereoftencapturedand
takenbackaftercrossingtheOhioRiver.
Suchasthesewehavekeptuntiltheywererecruitedinstrength,providedwithclothes,andabletotravel.
Whentheyfirstcametoustheyweregenerallyunwillingtotelltheirstories,orletusknowwhatpartof
theSouththeycamefrom.Theywouldnotgivetheirnames,orthenamesoftheirmasters,correctly,
fearingthattheywouldbebetrayed.Inseveralinstancesfugitivescametoourhousesickfromexhaustion
andexposure,andlayseveralweeks.Onecasewasthatofawomanandhertwochildrenlittlegirls.
Hearingthatherchildrenweretobesoldawayfromher,shedeterminedtotakethemwithherandattempt
toreachCanada.ShehadheardthatCanadawasaplacewhereallwerefree,andthatbytravelingtoward
thenorthstarshecouldreachit.ShemanagedtogetovertheOhioRiverwithhertwolittlegirls,andthen
commencedherlongandtoilsomejourneynorthward.Fearingtotravelontheroad,evenatnight,lestshe
shouldmeetsomebody,shemadeherwaythroughthewoodsandacrossfields,livingonfruitsandgreen
corn,whenshecouldprocurethem,andsometimessufferingseverelyforlackoffood.Thusshewandered
on,andatlastreachedourneighborhood.Seeingacabinwheresomecoloredpeoplelivedshemadeher
waytoit.Thepeoplereceivedherkindly,andatonceconductedhertoourhouse.Shewassoexhaustedby
thehardshipsofherlongjourney,andsoweakenedbyhunger,havingdeniedherselftofeedherchildren,
thatshesoonbecamequitesick.Herchildrenwereverytired,butsoonrecoveredtheirstrength,andwere
ingoodhealth.Theyhadnoshoesnorclothingexceptwhattheyhadon,and.thatwasintatters.Dr.Henry
H.Waywascalledin,andfaithfullyattendedthesickwoman,untilherhealthwasrestored.Thenthelittle
partywereprovidedwithgoodclothingandothercomforts,andweresentontheirwaytoCanada.
Dr.Waywasawarmfriendtothefugitiveslaves,andaheartycoworkerwithmeinantislaverymatters.
Thenumberofthosewhowerefriendlytothefugitivesincreasedinourneighborhoodastimepassedon.
Manywerewillingtoaidinclothingthemandhelpingthemontheirway,andafewwerewillingtoaidin
secretingthem,butthedepotseemedtobeestablishedatmyhouse.
Notwithstandingthemanythreatsofslavehuntersandthestrongprejudicesofproslaverymen,I
continuedtoprosperandgainedabusinessinfluenceinthecommunity.Someofmycustomers,whohad
leftmeseveralyearsbeforeonaccountofmyantislaverysentiments,begantodealwithmeagain.
Source:LeviCoffin,ReminiscencesofLeviCoffin,theReputedPresidentoftheUndergroundRailroad;
BeingaBriefHistoryoftheLaborsofaLifetimeinBehalfoftheSlaves...(Cincinnati:WesternTract
Society,1876),107115.