Description: This image shows a group of young women on an unidentified street in Ripley, Ohio, in Brown County. Ripley was an important stop in the 19th century for many fugitive slaves who stopped at the Rankin House (owned by John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister) as they made their way further north along the Underground Railroad. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC652_001
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Historic sites Ohio; Historic houses; Women--Ohio; Brown County (Ohio)
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This image shows the Ohio River and countryside near Ripley, Ohio. Ripley was an early stop on the Underground Railroad. The Ripley Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 7, 1985. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06490
Subjects: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio); Underground Railroad--Ohio; National Register of Historic Places
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photographic reproduction of an engraving depicting a view of Ripley, Ohio, from the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. The house on the top of the hill possibly represents the home of abolitionist John Rankin. The print was published in the 1846 edition of "Historical Collections of Ohio" by Henry Howe. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02872
Subjects: Brown County (Ohio); Cities and towns--Ohio
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph depicts M. M. Murphy, a conductor for the Underground Railroad and the last of the Ripley Flat-boat men, sitting outside of the Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio. The house was owned by John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister. Up until the American Civil War, Rankin dedicated his life to abolishing slavery. After spending several years as a minister and abolitionist in Kentucky, he moved to Ripley to continue his anti-slavery work. He most likely moved into this home in 1825, where he continued to serve as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Rankin's home stood on a 300-foot-high hill, known as "Liberty Hill," which overlooked the Ohio River. Rankin would signal fugitive slaves in Kentucky with a lantern or candle, letting them know when it was safe for them to cross the Ohio River. To access Rankin's home on top of Liberty Hill, those seeking their freedom had to climb 100 wooden steps. Rankin would provide the fugitive slaves with sanctuary, keeping them hidden until it was safe for them to travel. Rankin is believed to have provided shelter and food to as many as 2,000 former slaves during his career with the Underground Railroad; according to several accounts, none of those whom Rankin helped were ever returned to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe immortalized Rankin's efforts to help African Americans in her book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Rankin's home was the first stop in Ohio for Eliza, one of the book's main characters, as she sought freedom in the North. Today, the Rankin house is home to a museum operated by the Ohio History Connection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC652_003
Subjects: Ohio History--Slavery, Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights; Underground Railroad--Ohio; Antislavery movements--Ohio--History--19th century; Historic houses; Brown County (Ohio);
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reproduction of a portrait of abolitionist John Rankin of Ripley, Ohio, ca. 1850-1880. Rankin and his wife Jane (identified in some later records as Jean) worked with their neighbors to assist thousands of slaves to escape to freedom. His house in Ripley, situated at the top of a hill overlooking the Ohio River, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01174
Subjects: Abolitionists; Brown County (Ohio); Ohio History--Slavery, Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: Exterior view of Grant's tannery and wagon in Georgetown, Ohio, as it appeared on Sept. 8, 1892. The front of the building is festooned with American flags, and two unidentified men stand in front. Jesse Root Grant (1794-1873), father of Civil War general and United States President Ulysses S. Grant, once operated this tannery. The Grant's home, in which Ulysses lived from 1823 until he left for West Point in 1839, was located nearby. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04550
Subjects: Brown County (Ohio); Ohio History--Presidents and Politics; Grant Family; Grant, Ulysses S., 1822-1885
Places: Georgetown (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photographic reproduction of a portrait of abolitionist John Rankin from Ripley, Ohio. The reproduction was created in May 1910. Rankin and his wife Jane (identified in some later records as Jean) worked with their neighbors to assist thousands of slaves to escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Their house in Ripley was an important stop on the route to freedom. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02867
Subjects: Abolitionists; Brown County (Ohio); Ohio History--Slavery, Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photo shows Chamber Leggett sitting outside of the Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio. The house was owned by John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister. Up until the American Civil War, he dedicated his life to abolishing slavery. After spending several years as a minister and abolitionist in Kentucky, Rankin moved to Ripley to continue his anti-slavery work. He most likely moved into this home in 1825, where he continued to serve as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The Rankin House stood on a 300-foot-high hill, known as "Liberty Hill," which overlooked the Ohio River. Rankin would signal fugitive slaves in Kentucky with a lantern or candle, letting them know when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. To access Rankin's home on top of Liberty Hill, those seeking their freedom had to climb 100 wooden steps. Rankin would provide the former slaves with sanctuary, keeping them hidden until it was safe for them to travel further north. John Rankin is believed to have provided shelter and food to as many as 2,000 fugitive slaves during his career with the Underground Railroad; according to several accounts, none of those whom Rankin helped were ever returned to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe immortalized Rankin's efforts to help African Americans in her book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Rankin's home was the first stop in Ohio for Eliza, one of the book's main characters, as she sought freedom in the North. Today, the Rankin house is home to a museum operated by the Ohio History Connection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC652_002
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Historic houses; Brown County (Ohio); Antislavery movements--Ohio--History--19th century
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph depicts Uncle "Billy" Marshall, a conductor for the Underground Railroad, standing outside of the Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio. The house was run by John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister. Up to the American Civil War, Rankin dedicated his life to abolishing slavery. After spending several years as a minister and abolitionist in Kentucky, Rankin moved to Ripley to continue his anti-slavery work. He most likely moved into this home in 1825, where he continued to serve as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The Rankin House stood on a 300-foot-high hill, known as "Liberty Hill," which overlooked the Ohio River. Rankin would signal fugitive slaves in Kentucky with a lantern or candle, letting them know when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. To access Rankin's home on top of Liberty Hill, those seeking their freedom had to climb 100 wooden steps. Rankin would provide the former slaves with sanctuary, keeping them hidden until it was safe for them to travel further north. John Rankin is believed to have provided shelter and food to as many as 2,000 fugitive slaves during his career with the Underground Railroad; according to several accounts, none of those whom Rankin helped were ever returned to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe immortalized Rankin's efforts to help African Americans in her book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Rankin's home was the first stop in Ohio for Eliza, one of the book's main characters, as she sought freedom in the North. Today, the Rankin house is home to a museum operated by the Ohio History Connection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC652_004
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Rankin House; Historic houses; Brown County (Ohio)
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph depicts Linsay Jackson, an Underground Railroad operator, sitting outside of the Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio. The house was run by John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister. Up to the American Civil War, Rankin dedicated his life to abolishing slavery. After spending several years as a minister and abolitionist in Kentucky, Rankin moved to Ripley to continue his anti-slavery work. He most likely moved into this home in 1825, where he continued to serve as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The Rankin House stood on a 300-foot-high hill, known as "Liberty Hill," which overlooked the Ohio River. Rankin would signal fugitive slaves in Kentucky with a lantern or candle, letting them know when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. To access Rankin's home on top of Liberty Hill, those seeking their freedom had to climb 100 wooden steps. Rankin would provide the former slaves with sanctuary, keeping them hidden until it was safe for them to travel further north. John Rankin is believed to have provided shelter and food to as many as 2,000 fugitive slaves during his career with the Underground Railroad; according to several accounts, none of those whom Rankin helped were ever returned to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe immortalized Rankin's efforts to help African Americans in her book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Rankin's home was the first stop in Ohio for Eliza, one of the book's main characters, as she sought freedom in the North. Today, the Rankin house is home to a museum operated by the Ohio History Connection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC652_005
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Rankin House; Historic houses; Brown County (Ohio); Antislavery movements--Ohio--History--19th century
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This picture shows Margaret D. Rankin, a member of the abolitionist Rankin family of Ripley, Ohio. The Rankin House, in Ripley, Ohio, was an Underground Railroad stop run by Presbyterian minister John Rankin with his wife and neighbors. The house stood on a 300-foot-high hill, known as "Liberty Hill," which overlooked the Ohio River. Rankin would signal fugitive slaves in Kentucky with a lantern or candle, letting them know when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. To access Rankin's home on top of Liberty Hill, those seeking their freedom had to climb 100 wooden steps. Rankin would provide the former slaves with sanctuary, keeping them hidden until it was safe for them to travel further north. John Rankin is believed to have provided shelter and food to as many as 2,000 fugitive slaves during his career with the Underground Railroad; according to several accounts, none of those whom Rankin helped were ever returned to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe immortalized Rankin's efforts to help African Americans in her book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Rankin's home was the first stop in Ohio for Eliza, one of the book's main characters, as she sought freedom in the North. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC3799_008
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Brown County (Ohio); Abolitionists -- Ohio; Antislavery movements--Ohio--History--19th century
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This picture shows Will Rankin, son of Reverend John Rankin, the Presbyterian minister and abolitionist who ran an underground railroad stop, the Rankin House, in Ripley, Ohio. The Rankin House, in Ripley, Ohio, was an Underground Railroad stop run by Presbyterian minister John Rankin with his wife and neighbors. The house stood on a 300-foot-high hill, known as "Liberty Hill," which overlooked the Ohio River. Rankin would signal fugitive slaves in Kentucky with a lantern or candle, letting them know when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. To access Rankin's home on top of Liberty Hill, those seeking their freedom had to climb 100 wooden steps. Rankin would provide the former slaves with sanctuary, keeping them hidden until it was safe for them to travel further north. John Rankin is believed to have provided shelter and food to as many as 2,000 fugitive slaves during his career with the Underground Railroad; according to several accounts, none of those whom Rankin helped were ever returned to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe immortalized Rankin's efforts to help African Americans in her book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Rankin's home was the first stop in Ohio for Eliza, one of the book's main characters, as she sought freedom in the North. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC3799_005
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Brown County (Ohio); Abolitionists -- Ohio; Ohio History--Slavery, Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)