March 12 Meeting Indicates Support for Underground Railroad in 1850's
More than eighty persons were on hand to hear Ed Abbott relate family legends concerning the use of the red barn on their farm to hide slaves passing through Whiteside County in the 1850's. He even presented a counting stick with 28 notches, presuming each notch represented one visitor who was helped in some way to reach their next destination. The Abbotts arrived in the Morrison area about 1847. The now famous red barn was built in two sections; the first half built in 1853 features hand hewn beams and square nails. The barn was completed in 1857 using boards from a saw mill which began operating in the area around 1855.
Mr. Abbott stated that some of the slaves venturing north would work as deck hands on boats coming up the Mississippi, possibly from Missouri. About the time they reached Fulton, the Captain of said vessel would throw them off ship saying they had paid no fare (obviously planned that way by a sympathetic Captain) and the slave would then make his way inland by following the creeks at night to throw off pursuers. In most instances, the Abbotts simply provided food and rest in the hay barn. The Abbott children would place food in a special place taking care not to enter the barn; in this manner, if questioned about visitors, they could truthfully say they had seen no one. Usually, under the cover of darkness the visitor would be taken to the next place by wagon. Most were likely were trying to reach Chicago where they could be lost within the city population. No actual records were kept, of course, and much is folklore passed from generation to generation. Interesting just the same.
At the end of the meeting, Ed introduced a collection of stories written by his mother, Mrs. L. A. Abbott, entitled "House by the Side of the Road", which contains stories of 20th Century farm life beside the Illinois Lincoln Highway. Chapter 1 of this volume is devoted to the red barn story.