The Underground Railroad Documented
In that the Underground Railroad was an illegal activity to begin with and every act taken in secrecy to assure the passage of those persons seeking freedom in the North, it's a rare privilege whenever documentation surfaces to reveal true facts.
The "facts" in this instance appear in the form of a letter written by Ivory Concord Jr., in April, 1916 to his niece Mrs. Edith Deets of Milledgeville, Illinois. In closing, Uncle Ivory simply states, "I send you on these 3 sheets a digest of my recollections in connection with Genesee Township Underground Railroad Depot and hope you may utilize the data in elaborating an interesting and instructive composition there from for the presentation at your Woman's Club."
The Recollections of Ivory Concord, Jr.
Three Underground Rail Road Reports for fugitive Slaves in Genesee Township, Whiteside County, Illinois. (16 miles east of the Mississippi River)
The underground railroad transportation to and from Genesee Township began about 1842 and ended about 1860. In Genesee Township three depots were operated by
- Ivory Concord
- George Dement
- Ethan Concord
Ivory Concord's log house was about 2 miles north of George Dement's log house; the latter's house 2 miles north-west of Ethan Colcord's frame house with cellar: These distances being those of the connecting country roads.
Nearest Depot South:
16 miles south-west of your grandfather's farmhouse were the two Union Grove (Whiteside County) underground depots conducted by Beers Young and Mr. (?) Savage, respectively.
Nearest Depot North:18 miles north-east of your grandfather's farm house were 2 or more Buffalo Grove (Lee County) underground depots, one of which was in charge of Mr. Elmer Schaber and one under Mr. (?) Waterbury.
Two horse, springless, farm-wagons driven by White drivers, were generally used to convey the fugitive slaves between depots. The trips were always made at night - never in the daytime - this fact giving the name 'underground' to such transportation.
No charge for food, shelter, or conveyance were made against the negroes, or their white aids.
The men and women of the Negro fugitives upon their arrival in Genesssee Township would begin to display Bowie Knives and old fashioned horse pistols hitherto concealed upon their persons.
Your grandfather had some white neighbors who would not have hesitated to arrest - under the fugitive slave law - any or all escaping slaves, simply for the rewards offered for their capture and return to the 'slave states'; hence it was necessary to hide the bonded in our houses, cellars and groves until darkness permitted their transfer to the next northernmost underground depot. They were fed liberally, lodged comfortably, and clothed when necessary - all gratis.
William Colcord, your father, frequently acted as conductor of these wagon loads of Negroes from your grandfather's house to Buffalo Grove.
Your father and your uncle Ethan took to Buffalo Grove, on one occasion, a four-horse wagon containing 22 escaped men, women, and children Negroes who had remained hidden for 36 hours in your Uncle Ethan's cellar, delayed because of the press of work in the harvest fields.
So far as I know there never was a Negro fugitive slave captured in Genesee Township and returned to the south - moreover I have no recollection of any sickness or death having occurred amongst them whilst in the township.
The fleeing slaves of both sexes and all ages were most respectful and grateful for anything done for them to aid their escape to Canada and to freedom.
affectionate Uncle,
Ivory
Summation
At the time Ivory Concord, Jr., wrote the above letter, he was living in residence at 81 Howland Street, Battlecreek, Michigan. The original envelope is reproduced above.
While we are most grateful for this documentation of Underground Railroad activity in Whiteside County, Illinois, it behooves us to become more familiar of the people involved.
The letter is addressed to Mrs. Edith Deets, wife of Wm. D. Deets, whom she married on March 10, 1887 in Whiteside County. Edith B. Colcord was born about 1867 in Illinois, the daughter of William and Fianna Colcord of Genesee Township.
Edith Colcord's grandfather, Ivory Colcord, the subject of this letter, was born July 20, 1799 in New Hampshire. He married Susan Case and came to Genesee Grove in 1837. He taught in the first school in what is now Genesee Township, in the house of William Wick during the winter of 1837-38. Mr. Colcord was a farmer, and an educated man. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also elected the first Justice of the Peace in Genesee Township. He died in 1865. His children were: Ethan, Abigail, Ralph, Lorena, John, Rose Ann, Ivory Jr., William, Elvira, George, and Mary Angeline.
Edith Colcord's uncle, Ethan Colcord, who operated the third depot, was born April 18, 1822 in New York.
Edith Colcord's uncle, Ivory Colcord, Jr., the author of this letter, was born February 22, 1837 in Illinois.
Edith Colcord's father, William H. Colcord, was born July 29, 1839 in Illinois.