The Underground Railroad.

"Many years ago on a dark, bitter cold night, if persons had passed the old M. E. Church in Deaver- town, and observed closely, they might have seen dim lights within, and heard low, strange whisperings while the winds whistled mournfully around the house and among the tombs of the dead. And if persons seeing and hearing this had become frightened and gone away without closer investigation, there would have been marvelous stories of a haunted house and church- yard, the secret of which, the death of two or three persons would have left forever unrevealed. But it was all very natural and easily accounted for." The above is quoted from the New Lexington Tribune of some years ago. It was written by Thomas Lonsdale Gray of Deavertown. He was a descendant of Lord Lonsdale of North Yarmouth, England, and was one of the principal conductors on the famous "Un- derground Railroad." The picture shown is that of Mr. Gray and his home. The house has the same appearance as it had when it sheltered fugitive slaves. While the highway of runaway slaves did not pass- directly through Perry county, yet it was so near the Perry-Morgan line and many times altogether in the county, that she too can share in the glory of the "Underground." Between the years 1850-60 fugitive slaves were numerous. The lines of travel were well defined. Communities where a strong pro-slavery sen- timent prevailed were evaded. Stations were estab- 135

lished at certain intervals and conductors were ever ready to assist in their flight. Deavertown seems to have been the convergence of two routes from the Ohio river. The most important of these was the one coming by the way of Pennsville, in Morgan county. Pennsville was a Quaker settlement. The other one came by way of Athens and followed the Athens and Zanesville road. This one passed through Porters- ville. From Deavertown the route extended to Zanes- ville. Roseville was not considered a healthful place and so they kept to the right. John Ball in Porters- ville made his home a stopping-place, while David H. Deaver, commanded the first one south of Deavertown, known as Station D. The subterfuges resorted to, makes highly interest- ing reading. The evasion of slave hunters, the putting them on the wrong scent and the narrow escapes are thrilling to say the least. Hundreds of slaves were transferred over this "railroad" and many people yet remember the "knock at the door" and the dark shadow that was ushered into the attic to await the next move. 136

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