THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

To the present generation, especially to those who have not read up on the history of the country before the Civil War, as touching the workings of the fugitive slave law, by which all citizens of the United States, whether living South or North, whether believing in the justice of slavery or opposed thereto, were, according to that law of Congress, obliged to help capture and return to their "owners" such Negro slaves as might escape from their masters. This was a hard provision for the anti-slavery men to live up to and keep good and clear their consciences. Hence there was organized a secret society of men, and women too, who were ready to thwart the plans of such an unjust law, by assisting in every possible manner a slave who might come through the country, wanting to make his escape to Canada, where he would be looked upon as a free man, black though he was. It will be understood also that this was happening just at a time when steam railroads were first engaging the minds of the masses and hence they very naturally used the term "underground railroad," for the line over which these runaway slaves were sent from one part of the north to the other. Many of the patriotic anti-slave songs also had titles such as "Old Dan Tucker," the "Car of Emancipation," etc. Then it will be understood that "underground railroad" had no real significance, in the light of its being a real highway, as we now speak of railroads and of "under-ground railroads" in cities, etc., which do exist, in fact, but usually styled as "subways."

During those anti-slavery times there were many in this county who took an active part in helping Negroes escape to Canada over this supposed "underground" line, for most of its trains were operated at night-time, in order not to be detected by the slave hunters and their hounds. The following is from the pen of "Old Shady" (Joseph Arnold), who was a "conductor" on this railroad and these lines were not written until after the four years of Civil War had freed the slaves:

"On the 4th day of November, 1857, while returning from Newton in company with Matthew Sparks, they overtook three Negroes about one-half mile out from Newton on the road leading to Lynnville. Mr. Arnold spoke to them, assuring them that he and his companion were their friends, and told them to get into the wagon and ride. They seemed glad of the opportunity, and after getting in, asked them where they were going. Their reply was Lynn Grove. The darkies' eyes began to enlarge and show plenty of white. They then inquired if either of us knew Arnold or Sparks. Upon being informed that the two gentlemen to whom they were talking were the persons asked for, the poor fellows were overjoyed at the announcement. One of them took a ragged and soiled piece of paper from his pocket. On this slip was the names of Arnold and Sparks which they said was furnished them by a certain party who had formerly lived in this neighborhood, but now a resident of the Territory of Kansas. He had instructed the colored gentlemen that Arnold and Sparks were safe conductors on the underground railway. They were taken to C. B. White's house in Lynnville. Soon after a good many local stockholders in the line assembled, a meeting having been called by Arnold and Sparks. About nine o'clock one of the darkies made a speech in which he said: 'I have never saw so many friends in all my life and would not be anything but a "nigger" tonight if I could. God bless you, I am gwine to de norf, sah.' After furnishing the darkies with means and proper passage, they were taken on to Grinnell. Their names were James F. Miller, Henry May and John Ross, and were from the Cherokee nation. The same year, a darkey, his wife and child, the latter about one year old, were brought to Joseph Arnold, who kept them until about daylight, ferried them across the North Skunk River and took them to Jarvis Johnson, where they were secreted until the next night, and sent on to the next station, Grinnell. That station was then superintended by Hon. J. B. Grinnell himself. On one occasion a slave catcher met Arnold, and after having noticed, very particularly, the covered wagon he was then driving, the Missourian, a rough, profane man, stopped the team and in an abrupt manner said: 'You haint seen nuthin' of no niggers along here lately, have you?' Arnold soon saw the defect in this man's grammar, and answered him 'No!' He said his niggers were in here some where and that he would catch them as sure as H - - -. He didn't though."

Other instances include the following narrated in a former history of this section of Iowa:

"John R. Sparks, Esq., employed several fugitives for a short time about his sawmill. On another occasion he came narrowly out of a 'fix.' During his absence, his father, a good old Kentucky Democrat, entertained several dusky travelers northward bound. These fellows were trailed by pursuers directly to Mr. Sparks' house, and had it not been for the fact that the shelter was given as stated it would have been a certain case. As it was, the pursuers grumbled a good deal toward the old gentleman.

"August 13, 1860, two covered wagons passed through Newton containing fifteen Negroes from Missouri and Kansas, making their way toward the North Star. The wagons were accompanied by some twelve or fifteen white men on horseback, and all were heavily armed, presenting a very warlike appearance. Among the whites was Barclay Coppoc, who had accompanied John Brown on his ill-starred expedition into Virginia, and had barely escaped the fate meted out to his comrades, one of whom was his brother, Edward. His flight was characterized by great nerve and daring. He returned at once to his home in Cedar County, this state. Soon after, the sheriff at Tipton was visited by a Virginia officer with a requisition for Barclay. The sheriff volunteered to serve the papers, visited Coppoc's home, and, not finding him, left a message requesting Coppoc to be at home next day, as he had a warrant for him. Another of the party was Ball, of the Brown invasion, and still another, Doyle, of Kansas note. Coppoc and his company declared they were able to cope with a hundred persons, if attacked. They camped a short distance from town for several hours, and then resumed their journey. A squad of nineteen passed a few miles south of Newton the same day. Three other Negroes passed through Newton on their way north in April of the preceding year."

OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY

January 8, 1881, an old settlers' organization was perfected. Joseph Arnold drew up the preamble, constitution and by-laws, and they were recorded in book 3, page 382, in the recorder's office at Newton. There had been several annual meetings of the old settlers held in the groves previous to this, but no organization had been effected or any record of the proceedings kept. John R. Sparks was chosen president and Joseph Arnold secretary. In 1884 five acres of land was selected and purchased by the society, which is one-half mile southwest of Lynnville and is called the "Old Settlers' Park." On this ground annual meetings were held and usually attended by the thousands. They are still kept up and at one occasion there was estimated to have been ten thousand people in attendance. They came from Maine to the Pacific coast-friends who had one time lived in Jasper County. These gatherings are held on the third Thursday of each August, and are greatly enjoyed by all. It is the event of all the year in and about Lynnville. The present (1911) officers of the association are: W. J. Adams, president; Charles W. Wildman, secretary; W. P. Robertson, vice-president; C. H. Potter, treasurer.

JASPER COUNTY'S FIRST CELEBRATION

The first Fourth of July celebration in this county was held at the log cabin home of pioneer B. Aydelotte, in Buena Vista Township, and in 1894-just forty-eight years later-Mr. Aydelotte was invited to attends celebration in that township again, but was unable to be present, so wrote the following letter to his old-time friend, J. W. Murphy, who still resides in Vista township. The letter, which describes the pioneer celebration as follows:

"Newton, Iowa, July 2, 1894

"J. W. Murphy, Esq.,
"Dear Sir: I was pleased to hear you was going to celebrate the 4th at Murphy. It reminds me of a little celebration we had at my home in 1846-if it could be called a celebration, it was a small affair, but we done the best we could under the circumstances. Well, the eight families that settled on Elk Creek in 1845 concluded to meet at my cabin (you know where it stood, near where the Herring House stands now) and spend the day celebrating. All furnished the best they had on hand to help out the dinner. The families were M. D. Springer, William M. Springer, Joab Bennett, James Pearson, Moses Lacy, Fool Bill Smith, B. Aydelotte and John H. Franklin. We got together early and the women went to cooking the dinner. We did not have a great variety, but plenty such as it was. Lacy had killed a deer a day or so ago, so we had fresh venison. Bennett found several bee trees and we had plenty of honey. Bill Smith had been to Oskaloosa few days before and brought home a little flour. He furnished the piecrust. I had gathered a lot of wild gooseberries, so we had gooseberry pie and plenty of it and the dear old crabapple pie of those days. We had new potatoes and garden beans, so our principal meal was corn bread, beans and potatoes. For sweetening, my wife had made four gallons of maple molasses and fifty pounds of sugar in an Indian 'Wickeup' that stood, just above where the railroad crosses Elk creek (west of Murphy). I had made troughs, and tapped thirty trees that stood around the 'Wickeup,' so with Bennett's honey we had plenty of sweetening. William M. Springer read the Declaration of Independence and we spent the balance of the day in talking of the Mexican War and the good country of Iowa and whether it would ever be settled up - not in our day, we all thought. I would be glad to be with you, but can't this time. I have jotted this down as things came to my remembrance - did not think I would write half so much.

"Wishing you a successful celebration
I remain yours,
"B. Aydelotte"

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