Grinnell Underground Railroad

Series

Grinnell Underground Railroad

• 1854 - ? (Creation)

Quantity: One blue document box

Background Note: Grinnell was a frequent stop on the Underground Railroad through Iowa as formerly enslaved people escaped from the South and headed toward safety in Northern states and Canada. The Congregational church that the founders were all part of held strongly abolitionist ideals, so while the extent of abolitionist thought and behavior varied between founders, all of Grinnell’s founders were abolitionists. While exact numbers of travelers aren’t certain, approximately 37 visits through are confirmed, meaning more may simply not have been documented. The most well-documented visitors are Frances Overton a young girl who lived in Grinnell for a time, and John Brown, leaving Kansas with a group on their way to Harper’s Ferry. J. B. Grinnell, the town founder with the most documented active engagement with the Underground Railroad, welcomed Brown into his home, which was frequently a stop on the railroad. This collection is a combination of primary and secondary sources: newspaper articles, book chapters, articles, and perspectives from various citizens of and visitors to Grinnell.

Container List:
Folder 1: Grinnell historical overview and Grinnell in the Underground Railroad
4 GH-R and D.M. Union Historical Company articles summarizing early history, plus specific articles:
“Earliest Grinnell Pioneers All Lived in One Building” D.M. Tribune,
“Grinnell history riddled with hard labor, spotted fever epidemic” GH-R
Lectures, communications, and information debunking tunnels, plus specific articles:
“The Underground Railroad: Grinnell’s Part in History”
“Two of Grinnell’s founders linked to Underground Railroad” Poweshiek CR by David Connon,
“Grinnell was among many Iowa towns on the Underground Railroad” Iowa History Journal,

Folder 2: Iowa and the Underground Railroad via articles, book chapters, bibliographies for further study, and teaching materials.
Articles about the Underground Railroad focus on modern research and activity, along with a few general overview articles, sourced from DM Register, Poweshiek CR, GH-R, AP, and a few websites.
Chapters pulled from various journals and books about the Underground Railroad’s history more broadly and in Iowa, including chapters from Annals of Iowa, the Palimpsest, the Hippocrene guide, and others, as well as a paper by Ms. Tommy Haas.

Folder 3: John Brown’s visit in Grinnell and travels through Iowa, as told by newspaper articles and book chapters.

6 GH-R articles
6 DM Register articles
Assorted sourceless articles
14 book sections on John Brown in Iowa
Miscellaneous notes on John Brown and Iowa

Folder 4: Abolitionists of Grinnell: articles and book chapters written by or about Grinnell residents during the Underground Railroad.

Available names: Eliza from “The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa”,
Thomas Brande,
G. W. E. Hill “Underground Railroad Adventures” Midland Monthly,
“A Gamble for Freedom: Frances Overton and the Underground Railroad in Grinnell” by Rebecca Conrad,
E. S. Bartlett,
Henry A. Gleason,
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy B. Clark,
James Fordyce Bailey,
A. P. Cook and Mrs. George Utley,
John Bryan,
Harvey Bliss,
Mrs. Pruden,
“Pioneer Woman…. Joanna Harris Haines” Grinnell Centennial Book + obituary,
Dr. E. H. Haines,
George Hamlin,
Reverend Homer Hamlin,
Wilbur G. Eyestone,
H. L. Triplett,
Jervis Johnson et al,
T. H. Bixby and family,
“Early Reminiscences of Grinnell” by Dr. D. S. Morrison,
Seibert report sections,
“Known Conductors and Agents Underground Railroad – Grinnell”, Edward Delaney

Folder 5: Articles on the anti-abolitionist riot of 1860

“The Underground Railroad in Iowa: Insights from Grinnell” by David Connon,
“Men Were Too Fiery for Much Talk: The Grinnell Anti-Abolitionist Riot of 1860” by Thomas A. Lucas,
“Fugitive slaves in Grinnell school leads to riot” David Connon Poweshiek CR, bibliography

Folder 6: J. B. Grinnell’s involvement in the Underground Railroad, as told through his own writing, newspaper articles, biographical information, and information about his home.

Copies of J. B. Grinnell’s writings:
-letter to William Pen Clarke,
-last will and testament,
-Iowa Path to Freedom article,
-statement in The Republican,
-“Frontier Incidents” from autobiography,
-sections of Men and Events of Forty Years: abolition and appendix of memorial service,
-form from Iowa Legislature,
-Silver Wedding Anniversary program
Five articles about J.B. Grinnell from GH-R and DM Register
Genealogical information and six biographical looks at Grinnell’s life as an abolitionist
Grinnell House: Photos and articles about Grinnell’s house as a stop on the Underground Railroad

Folder 7: Materials about the Underground Railroad in other counties and areas of Poweshiek County.

Two Lewis, Iowa pamphlets, George B. Hitchcock House (Lewis),
Poweshiek census 1856,
“Poweshiek County” by Ina Chatterton Payne,
Chapters from History of Poweshiek County, Iowa by Prof. L. F. Parker + obituary,
Self-Tour Lewelling Quaker Museum (Salem),
Pearson House (Keosauqua),
“Historic Eastern Iowa Church Plan’s 20th God’s Portion Day” (Denmark),
Tabor Historical Society,
Network to Freedom Tabor Cemetery application,
“Early History” and “Underground Railroad” Searsboro,
Josiah Hopkins: Polk County Abolitionist,
Brooklyn articles (4), Brooklyn Historical Society

Folder 8: Network to Freedom application and information for Grinnell’s gravestone

four informational pamphlets,
four articles about the gravesite,
a collection of communications about the research,
US Department of the Interior letters,
National Park Service letters,
2013 Iowa Statewide Underground Railroad Gathering,
collection of photos,
copy of application,
copy of biographical notes,
misc. extra notes,
Certificate of Acceptance (framed, external storage)

Folder 9: Network to Freedom Underground Railroad Locations
In Poweshiek and Jasper Counties

Josiah B. Grinnell Burial Site at Hazelwood Cemetery
Address: 200 First Avenue  Grinnell, Iowa 50112

Newton Union Cemetery (application included)
Address: 1601 W 4th St N  Newton, Iowa 50208

Wittemberg Church and Cemetery
Address: 662 Holly Avenue  Newton, Iowa 50208

Research compilation done by Karen Groves
Contributors: Deanda Johnson, Barb Lease

See also: Papers of David Connon & Grinnell Timeline 1806 - 1903 available online at https://grinnell.lib.ia.us/underground_railroad/

L. Kiely 7/22/22