Education and Travels

Education and Travels

On coming back in 1847 I found that Mr. Garlick had moved to Dorset, where he owned some seven hundred acres of land not far from the center, southwest. I again became a member of his household and engaged in work in the dairy and about the farm. I attempted to attend school but Squire Laribee and F.S. Hollister objected and I returned to the old school at West Andover, working for my board at Jothan Bailey's.

On coming back in 1847 I found that Mr. Garlick had moved to Dorset, where he owned some seven hundred acres of land not far from the center, southwest. I again became a member of his household and engaged in work in the dairy and about the farm. I attempted to attend school but Squire Laribee and F.S. Hollister objected and I returned to the old school at West Andover, working for my board at Jothan Bailey's.

In the fall of 1847 I went to Oberlin to attend school on the recommendation of Reverend N.T. Chamberlain, of the West Andover Congregational church, which proved a great help to me. I became one of a class of sixty or seventy colored boys in "Liberty Hall" as it was then called. Was prevented from attending a portion of the time by sickness--returned to Mr. Garlick's the following spring by stage via Elyria, Cleveland, Painesville, Ashtabula and Jefferson from which point I "footed" it home.

In the fall of 1847 I went to Oberlin to attend school on the recommendation of Reverend N.T. Chamberlain, of the West Andover Congregational church, which proved a great help to me. I became one of a class of sixty or seventy colored boys in "Liberty Hall" as it was then called. Was prevented from attending a portion of the time by sickness--returned to Mr. Garlick's the following spring by stage via Elyria, Cleveland, Painesville, Ashtabula and Jefferson from which point I "footed" it home.

The year previous to this I made a visit to my brothers in Pa, who were then living at Squire Marshall's in Allegheny County. I also found ten of my race who had run away from their masters in Hardy Co., West Va., in answer to a letter I had written them. They were all comfortably situated, having obtained work and homes among the free soil farmers in the vicinity of Mr. Marshall's. Many incidents of hardship and danger which they encountered during their journey northward are remembered, among which are the following:

The year previous to this I made a visit to my brothers in Pa, who were then living at Squire Marshall's in Allegheny County. I also found ten of my race who had run away from their masters in Hardy Co., West Va., in answer to a letter I had written them. They were all comfortably situated, having obtained work and homes among the free soil farmers in the vicinity of Mr. Marshall's. Many incidents of hardship and danger which they encountered during their journey northward are remembered, among which are the following:

On my return from Oberlin, I had for a stage companion a rabid slave-holder from Texas, who claimed to own three plantations stocked with "niggers" and he said he wanted more. We left him at Rocky River where the stage changed horses, and we breathed easier for his a steamer Cleveland, bound for the city of the same name, then a moderate sized town, but now (1902) the largest city in Ohio. The latter portion of the voyage, which occupied two days, was tempestuous in the extreme. This season the steamer Mayflower made the run from Buffalo to Detroit in eighteen hours, the fastest time on record.

On my return from Oberlin, I had for a stage companion a rabid slave-holder from Texas, who claimed to own three plantations stocked with "niggers" and he said he wanted more. We left him at Rocky River where the stage changed horses, and we breathed easier for his a steamer Cleveland, bound for the city of the same name, then a moderate sized town, but now (1902) the largest city in Ohio. The latter portion of the voyage, which occupied two days, was tempestuous in the extreme. This season the steamer Mayflower made the run from Buffalo to Detroit in eighteen hours, the fastest time on record.

Racing on the lakes was great sport in those days. We were unable to make the harbor at Cleveland, and ran ahead to Buffalo, returning the next day with a big increase to our passenger list. Among the new passengers were a number of Irish emigrants on their way to the West. On the boat was a wealthy property owner of Cleveland, who I now believe to be Leonard Case. In Cleveland I took a train on the Cleveland, Painesville, and Ashtabula Railroad, then just completed. The year before I rode on the same road which was my first experience with steam or any other kind of cars.

Racing on the lakes was great sport in those days. We were unable to make the harbor at Cleveland, and ran ahead to Buffalo, returning the next day with a big increase to our passenger list. Among the new passengers were a number of Irish emigrants on their way to the West. On the boat was a wealthy property owner of Cleveland, who I now believe to be Leonard Case. In Cleveland I took a train on the Cleveland, Painesville, and Ashtabula Railroad, then just completed. The year before I rode on the same road which was my first experience with steam or any other kind of cars.

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