Under Ground RR Convention ~ May-June 1875

SHEDD, DUGDALE, CRANE, HOWE, OZBUN, WHEELER, HOLMES, WOOLMAN, TURNER, STANTON, BEARD, PICKERING, HOBSON, COOPER, FRAZIER, TOMLINSON, HOAG, WILLEY, POWER, LEWELLING, COLE, CORSBIE, DAVIS, BOND, JOY

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 5/6/2007 at 16:44:19

UNDER GROUND RAILROAD CONVENTION.

We, the undersigned residents in the various counties of the State of Iowa, stockholders and conductors in the underground railroad, in the dark days when the black and bloody flag of slavery waved in triumph over our country, and the Fugitive Slave Law imposed fine and imprisonment for harboring or feeding the flying fugitives, believed it our duty to put our feet on all statutes and ordinances, whether of Church or State, which were in contradiction of the Divine Law, as did the prophet, Daniel, who disregarded the decree of King Darius forbidding to ask a petition of any other God or man, save the king; they should be cast into the den of lions, but when Daniel knew the decree was signed he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled three times a day and prayed and gave thanks to his God as he did aforetime. Some of us are now residing in this State, who at the period named, resided in other States of this confederacy. We feel that it would be a source of great delight to meet in convention for the purpose of touching palms and relating to each other such reminiscences of perils, experiences and triumphs as the occasion may inspire. We published to the world in that early day "that the relation of our country to slavery was full of danger and must be broken up; that our trust for victory was sorely in God; that we might be personally defeated but our principles never."

These solemn asseverations have been gloriously triumphant; "Liberty has been proclaimed throughout all the land, unto the inhabitants thereof," and we shall all soon "pass over the river" to be seen of men no more. Shall we hold such a convention? Would not such an assembly give intense and thrilling delight to the old workers in the anti-slavery cause, as we feel that our labor was not in vain in the Lard [sic]? What we may say or do will be done openly "in the face of all Israel and the sun." Hence our invitation is to all people, irrespective of color or former conditions of servitude. The rising generation will be startled and amazed at revelations which their grand-sires and mothers will rehearse of deeds more wonderful than romance.

The convention will commence its sessions in the M. E. Chapel at Salem, Henry Co, Iowa, on the 10th [sic:18th] of the 6th month [June], A. D. 1875, at 10 o'clock a. m. and close on the morning of the 19th in the Friends quarterly meeting house. [In the afternoon at 2 o'clock the State Peace Society will there commence its sessions.]

George Shedd.
Joseph A. Dngdale,
Ruth Dugdale,
Eber Crane,
Charlotte Howe,
Ellwood Ozbun,
Lydia Ozbun,
John Wheeler,
Jesse Holmes,
Sarah P. Holmes,
Asher Woolman,
Margaret Woolman,
Asa Turner,
James A. Shedd,
Caroline Shedd,
Borden Stanton,
Enoch Beard,
Mary Pickering,
Peter Hobson,
Mary E. Cooper,
Joseph Frazier,
Margaret Tomlinson,
Joseph D. Hoag.
Geo. W. F. Willey,

Geo. N. Power,
Matilda Power,
J. Lewelling,
Samuel L. Howe,
Wm. R. Cole,
John Corsbie,
Charles Davis,
Nathan H. Bond,
Abagail Bond,
Henry W. Joy,
James Comer,
Rebekah Benedict,
Amos McMillan.
Mary A. Henderson,
Isaac Mills,
C. Pyle,
A. M. Suttle,
Rachel Hidlum [?],
Rebecca Wilson,
Joseph B. Vernon.
George Merritt,
William Hockett.
Lot Holmes,
Ann L. Raley.*

*The mother of the young Coppocks who were with old John Brown, and one of whom perished on the scaffold.

"Mount Pleasant Free Press", Thursday, May 20, 1875.