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Permission for posting this letter from the Siebert Collection was granted by
the Ohio Historical Society on April 21, 2001.  The reference is as follows:

     MIC 192  Wilbur H. Siebert Collection, Letter from E.T. Holcomb, 16 December
     1892:  Ohio Historical Society.

[NOTE:  the spelling, grammar, and punctuation were copied exactly as appeared
in the original document.  The only change was to capitalizing all surnames.MH]

                         [Point Pleasant, W. Va., Porter, Gallia county,
                           Vinton and Wilkesville, Same County, etc.]

                    Reply of E. T. HOLCOMB of Vinton, Gallia County.

     The Route of the underground was down the Big Kanawha river to Point
Pleasant, W. Va., then across the Ohio to Porter, Gallia County, Ohio, with Geo.
J. PAYNE, Fred'k HANGAR, and Dr. Julius A. BINGAM as station keepers, Vinton,
Gallia Co, James GLENN, Hiram DAVIS, Andrew GLENN, M. K. GELNN, and Curry
GLENN, A. J. GLENN, L. PERRY, E. T. HOLCOMB, J. E. HOLCOMB, Wm. SYMMES,
with quite a number of Anti-Slavery men.  Wilkesville, Vinton County, Abraham
MORRIS,  Thos.  P. FOGG, Alias ROMINE.  Albany, Athens County,  __________;
Athens, _________ Lancaster, ___________

     (2)  (Period of operation)  From 1847 until 1855 was the general period.

     (3)  No system of communication except personal knowledge.  The only
"password" known "handle with tongs."  The only method of operation of the
road was on horseback when it could be done with out danger.

    (4) Too numerous and too long to be narrated here.  During this time I was
Postmaster in village of Vinton, Gallia County.  One day five or six negro hunters
of the low down characters of Va. came to my office, thinking, because I was a
sworn officer of the government I would give them all the information needed.
They asked if they (the negro hunters) went up among the Yankees along the
lakes would they not be killed.  (I) assured them this was not the case and that
they would not be disturbed.  I asked them how long since the negroes ran away.
Said six days.  I told them it only required two days to reach Canada from here
and that they were undoubtedly safe in Canada.  They were astonished at this
and turned back to old Virginia.  There were many instances where slave hunters
were misled by inquiring of abolitionists if any negroes had been seen in the
neighborhood, and they would be informed that some were seen about four miles
in another direction.  could related dozens of similar stories that happened here
but haven't time at this writing.

     (5)  Given above.

     (6)  None living.

     (7)  Am 71 years of age and have always resided in the village of Vinton, Gallia
County, O.

                                                           Respectfully,
 

                                                           E. T. HOLCOMB.

Vinton, Gallia County, Ohio, Dec. 16, 1892,
 

To W. H. SIEBERT,

                  Columbus, Ohio.

(Inquiry sheet handed me by Elder STEVENSON.)
 

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