The Underground Railroad in DeKalb County, Illinois

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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 surrounding counties, not one person was prosecuted for aiding a fugitive slave in DeKalb County. First, the area Congregational, 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. An addendum to the book includes evidence and personal information for over 600 men and women, plus their families, who defied the prevailing Fugitive Slave Law, and helped the antislavery movement in this one Northern Illinois county. This book documents their strong religious motivations and chronicles their moves to seek political redress. Unique photos and illustrations add interest to the compelling story.