Early Madison County settlers participated in the Underground Railroad for several reasons. Some acted due to their disgust of slavery, the same emotion that drove them from the southern states where they previously lived. Others adhered to religious values that did not condone slavery or their political views led them to be engaged in the Underground Railroad.
Below are lists of names for whom we have documented evidence of their participation. If you can provide more information on any of these or others, or are interested in the documentation gathered, please contact us at madisoncountypreservation@gmail.com.
Underground Railroad Stockholders
Stockholder is a term used to describe men and women whose actions in the Underground Railroad included providing leadership, funds, and possibly supplies, but they did not participate in sheltering or transporting Freedom Seekers. They held anti-slavery sentiments and may or may not have followed the more radical views of abolitionists. They were usually a leader in the Republican political party and the local Mason organization. The likely lived in Winterset where they attended the Presbyterian, Methodist, or Baptist church. Their occupations included newspaper owner and editor, lawyer, banker, or other professions.
- Arnold, David Ford
- Cummings, Hon. Henry J.B.
- Graham, Rev. John
- Hutchings, Joseph J.
- McKnight, William Wylie
- McPherson, Marquis Lafayette
- Pitzer, Judge John Allen
- Scott, Dr. John
Underground Railroad Conductors and Station Agents
Conductors and station agents were terms used for those men and women who sheltered, cared for, and transported Freedom Seekers using the Underground Railroad routes. They, too, held anti-slavery sentiments and may or may not have followed the more radical views of abolitionists. They were primarily farmers, living in rural areas throughout Madison County and actively participating in their Quaker or Presbyterian communities.
| Applegate, David | Kale, Susanna Porter |
| Bard, John Stewart | Leonard, Sylvester R. |
| Bard, William Holmes | Leonard, Dr. William L. |
| Barnett, William | McDonald, William H. |
| Barnett, Julia Ann Ballard | McGee, Matthew |
| Bennett, Maggie (Duff) | McGee, Caroline Kale |
| Brown, Jacob “Soap Jake” | Martin, David G. |
| Brown, Sarah Ann Starbuck | Moorman, Thomas Clark |
| Brown, Ed | Moorman, Rhoda Ann Bryan |
| Browne, Capt. Joseph M. | Newlon, Nathan |
| Bruce, Richard P. | Newlon, Eliza Ann Winder |
| Chase, George Blade | Odell, Eli |
| Dabney, Henry | Odell, Aseneth |
| Darby, John | Painter, Jesse |
| Darby, Sarah E Battershell | Painter, Susanna Moorman |
| Early, John | Queen, Hogan |
| Early, Elizabeth McMurren | Queen, Martha Runkle |
| Farris, James | Reager, Isaac |
| Farris, Elizabeth Morgan | Roberts, Hon. Benjamin F. |
| Gilliland, David W. | Roberts, Marietta Jennings |
| Graham, Rev. John | Roland, Charles W. |
| Graham, Mary Small | Roy, Thomas Meadows |
| Hiatt, Aaron | Ruby, Billy |
| Hiatt, Elam | Tullis, John |
| Hiatt, Jesse | Tullis, Margaret Kiser |
| Johnson, James | Wilson, Thomas |
| Johnson, Lucinda Peed | Wilson, Ruth Barnett |
| Kale, Reuben | Wroe, Benjamin |
| Kale, Rebecca True |
