Abolitionists Although Indiana was technically a "free state," those assisting runaway slaves were guilty of breaking the law and could be prosecuted and jailed. Despite the legal threats, the Abolitionist movement was strong in Gibson County where many were active in the Underground Railroad, some openly known as Abolitionists such as David Stormont and his wife who maintained a station at their home three miles northwest of Princeton, along with John Carithers who aided runaway slaves at his home east of Princeton, Sarah Merrick, Princeton, was jailed (after she was unable or unwilling to pay her $500 bail) in Gibson County for helping a runaway slave and her children from nearby Henderson, Kentucky (where slavery was legal), to escape to free territory. Reverend Thomas B. McCormick, a Presbyterian minister, was so well known as an Abolitionist that he fled to Canada after the Kentucky governor requested his extradition. Joseph Hartin of Princeton politically identified himself as an Abolitionist. James Washington Cockrum, originally from North Carolina, maintained a station at his home in Oakland City, first hiding runaways in a root cellar at his log cabin. His son William, who later authored History of the Underground railroad as it was conducted by the Anti-slavery league; including many thrilling encounters between those aiding the slaves to escape and those trying to recapture them, aided him helping the runaway slaves. Their family home in Oakland City, known as Cockrum Hall, is located on the grounds of present-day Oakland City University and is recognized as a prominent station on the Underground Railroad.
abolitionists although indiana was technically a "free state" those assisting runaway slaves were guilty of breaking the law and could be prosecuted and jailed despite the legal threats the abolitionist movement was strong in gibson county where many were active in the underground railroad some openly known as abolitionists such as david stormont and his wife who maintained a station at their home three miles northwest of princeton along with john carithers who aided runaway slaves at his home east of princeton sarah merrick princeton was jailed (after she was unable or unwilling to pay her $500 bail) in gibson county for helping a runaway slave and her children from nearby henderson kentucky (where slavery was legal) to escape to free territory reverend thomas b mccormick a presbyterian minister was so well known as an abolitionist that he fled to canada after the kentucky governor requested his extradition joseph hartin of princeton politically identified himself as an abolitionist james washington cockrum originally from north carolina maintained a station at his home in oakland city first hiding runaways in a root cellar at his log cabin his son william who later authored history of the underground railroad as it was conducted by the anti-slavery league; including many thrilling encounters between those aiding the slaves to escape and those trying to recapture them aided him helping the runaway slaves their family home in oakland city known as cockrum hall is located on the grounds of present-day oakland city university and is recognized as a prominent station on the underground railroad