W. H. Siebert,
Dear Sir:

In 1853, there came over the road 28 in one gang with a conductor by the name of Fairfield from Virginia who had aided in liberating all his father's and uncle's slaves. They had 52 round of arms, and there was a reward out for him of $500, dead or alive. Four teams from my house (in Cambridge, Michigan) started at sunset, drove through Clinton after dark, got to Ypsilanti before daylight. Stayed at Brother Ray's through the day. At noon Brother M. Coe from our station got on the cars and went to Detroit and left Ray to drive his team. Coe informed the friends of the situation and made arrangements for their reception. The friends came out to meet them ten miles before we came to Detroit, piloted us to a large boardinghouse by the side of the river. 200 abolitionists took breakfast with them just before daylight. We procured boats enough for Fairfield and his crew. As they pushed off from shore they all commenced singing the song, "I am on my way to Canada where colored men are free" and continued firing off their arms till out of hearing. At eight o'clock the ferryboats started and the station keepers went over and spent most of the day with them. We found many that we had seen before, Brothers Coe, Dolbear etc., had been there before in 1850 soon after the Fugitive Slave Law was passed, and so many fled from the states to Canada that they were in a state of starvation. Our society raised three wagonloads of meat, flour, meal, some clothing and went to the English Barrachs. At that time we lodged with them that night and assisted in the distribution the next day. Quite a volume might be written of what transpired during those few years.

The next year 1854—ten came one night, all women and children. And it was nearly morning no time to get to Clinton Station. I told them I had plenty of room in my cellar and if they could keep the children quiet there would be no danger if they would keep the children quiet. They allowed they could. After breakfast they went to the cellar. About nine o'clock a woman came to make my wife an all day visit. I went off to one of our sisters in the church, and told the situation and that we wanted help, that Mrs. Daniels had come to make an all day visit, and we had our cellar full of fugitives. So we made a plan and it worked. As I went back I called on mother D. to have her go and invite my wife to Mr. Wimple's for a visit. Wife said she had company. Mother D says would you not like to go too. She said she would. She and Mother Draper went and mother was to come as soon as she got her morning work done. Please excuse me for the present but this is only an introduction. I am completely tired out. I have not strength to write.

Fitch Reed
Lawrence, Kansas
March 28, 1893

Source: Notes from Wilbur Siebert.

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Updated 08/31/2010