Thomas Wright a young teenager starts his Diary in July 1858 America. Northern Kentucky, Mason county near the Town of Dover and Lees Creak. across the Ohio River the town of Ripley Ohio. Hot bed of Abolitionist movement. between befriending a slave...
This Story is Fiction, Thomas Wright is based off no one in particular. The names of some are real, Towns, Cities and such are all real. Up and down the Ohio River were weigh points, stations for the Underground Railroad. Ripley Ohio had one, New Richmond few miles west had one.
Point Pleasant Ohio, Grants Birth Place. Near the Big Indian Creek. Ripley Ohio, John Rankin Underground Railroad Conductor.
John Parker, bought his Freedom moved to Ohio, opened a foundry. His company has several patents, he received the Bronze award at the Centennial Exposition 1888, in Cincinnati, Ohio. For his Tobacco Press. He also worked as a Conductor on the Underground Railroad.
New Richmond Ohio, James G. Birney wrote and published his Abolitionist News Paper. Under the Protection of the townspeople in 1836. His News Paper was called The Philanthropist.
If you are in the area, I recommend stopping in the Museum's, although small and in the original houses. You get a very informative tour.
Thomas living in Mason County Kentucky, the son of a Slave Chaser, living on the banks of the Ohio River, no doubt would have mixed feelings on Slavery. A rural teenager with very little education can see both sides of the coin. Freedom for the Slaves on the Plantation across the river or Slavery his side of the river.
Mason County and others along the river, contended with runaways moving through the counties from further south. Slave traders kidnapping Free Blacks both sides of the river. Taking them further south to be sold. Underground Railroad points in a Slave state. So as you can see Thomas has many things to influence his decision, how he will stand in the coming years remains to be seen. Follow along as Thomas takes his journey called life.
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List of few places of interest both sides of the Ohio River.
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News Paper clippings Those arrested for helping Slaves escape.
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Few articles, I thought would bring more light on what Thomas would of heard about or even read in the Papers. Growing up on the Ohio side of the river, living close to these places, is why chose this area to place the beginning of this story. Even in the 1800s people's opinions varied on Slavery even in the north, not all northerners were pro Abolitionist, just as not all Southerners were pro-slavery. About fourth of Kentucky's population in the 1800s was Slave or people of color. Well swipe left or scroll up and start on Thomas Wrights story.
