Sandusky, Ohio is a Great Lakes port town located on the shore of Lake Erie. It has a rich history dating back to wilderness days pre-dating the War of 1812. It has never been a large city but it has always held a central role in the historical events of the nation. Not the least of these was as an important stop for slaves seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad.
Sandusky’s Tradition Was Steeped in Anti-Slavery Sentiment
Sandusky’s leaders' views against slavery took root early on one of its earliest scions, an opinionated and fearless Irishman named John Beatty who served as Sandusky's Mayor from 1833 to 1836. Beatty carried his unswerving stand against slavery as a public banner. A staunch member of the Sandusky Methodist church, Beatty …show more content…
He was a slave said to be owned by a man named Riley, who was close in pursuit of his “property.” Sanduskian Captain P. Shephard hid the runaway slave in C.W. Marsh’s tavern for three days, literally under Riley’s nose as he futilely searched for the man. The story goes that on the fourth day the frustrated Riley widened his search by taking the steamer to Detroit. Captain Shephard seized the opportunity to hide Riley’s slave on Shephard’s sailboat in which he sailed him to freedom in Canada. Riley never found him and never knew what happened to …show more content…
The Second Baptist Church at 315 Decatur Street was called “The First Anti-Slavery Baptist Church of Sandusky.”
One way slaves were brought into the city was by armed men posing as hunters driving covered wagons concealing their “kill,” a hunting party’s common transport method. No one would be inclined to approach them or challenge their protection of their bounty.
A Higher Law
Oran Follett, another leading citizen of Sandusky, was an anti-slavery sympathizer, but one who was also concerned about the aspect of breaking the law. His wife, Eliza Follett, however, a tireless helper of the poor and afflicted, was more militant. She helped feed and clothe many escaped slaves on their way through Sandusky to Canada. It is reported that Eliza’s response, when Oran expressed his concern to her about breaking the FSA, which forbade the aiding and abetting of runaway slaves, was, “Husband, there is a higher