Escaping to Freedom, the DuPage County Forest Preserves and the DuPage River – how these familiar resources were a pathway to freedom for Freedom Seekers on the Underground Railroad by Lisa Gaspero
DuPage County residents today enjoy the rich beauty of our forest preserves and the DuPage River. The winding paths and calm waters offer solace as well as entertainment to hikers, runners, bikers, and walkers. But many do not realize the role the County of DuPage and the Illinois and DuPage Rivers played for Freedom Seekers on the Underground Railroad.
The Underground Railroad was active from 1830 to the 1860s. Many of the original settlers in DuPage County were New England and upstate New York abolitionists who opposed slavery and wanted to help the Freedom Seekers. These local residents whose religion, conscience, or political views caused them to oppose slavery helped “conduct” the “passengers” to the next station place.
Freedom Seekers in Illinois typically travelled North from Missouri to Chicago, and then Detroit, to cross into Canada. Approximately 3,000 to 4,500 Freedom Seekers passed through Illinois on their way to Freedom. It is estimated that a Freedom Seeker passed through Northern Illinois once every three or four days over three decades. Travelling at night, they relied on the stars and other natural resources to guide them. For example, finding moss on the north side of a tree to get a sense of direction, walking soundlessly, finding edible food in the forest, following or swimming in the rivers, and traveling in pitch dark through unknown areas. Their journey often began in the springtime. This is because heavy and long lasting Southern Spring rains made tracking the Freedom Seekers difficult.
According to oral tradition, quilt patterns were used by Freedom Seekers as signals to guide them along the Underground Railroad. The North Star was the guiding light for the slaves. They trusted God and followed that star until they reached Freedom. Other quilt blocks like the Log Cabin, Flying Geese, Monkey Wrench, Bow Tie, Bear’s Paw, and Crossroads carried specific meanings for their journey. Colors that were used in the quilts were very important: blue symbolized water, green was a grassy field, and yellow was a grain field. These quilts would be laid out either in the window or on a clothesline. Each quilt block served as a silent signal and carried specific meanings, ranging from instructions to gather supplies, follow certain trails, or navigate northward.
In The Underground Railroad in DuPage, Local Historian Glennette Turner writes: “Men, women, and children who’d been slaves – in Missouri for the most part – were called the passengers. They had accessed the best time to escape, evaded bloodhounds, lived on edible plants, and crossed the mighty Mississippi River before reaching Illinois.” The journey north from the Mississippi River followed the Illinois, Fox, DuPage and Des Plaines Rivers. The stations were typically close to these river sites. The river was an important guide as well as a source of protection in that Freedom Seekers could swim in the river without leaving any scent for their captors to follow. Many of the “stations” were along or near these rivers. In addition to rivers, stations were on or near old plank “toll” roads or stagecoach lines. It is believed that Abraham Lincoln stayed at least once at the Castle Inn at Ogden and York Roads in Hinsdale, and may have even stayed at Warrenville’s old toll house as well.
Known DuPage County sites included in the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom include Blanchard Hall at Wheaton College, Sheldon Peck’s Homestead in Lombard, and the Blodgett House in Downers Grove. It is also believed the old toll house in Warrenville, Philo Carpenter’s house in Warrenville, the Strong House in Naperville, and Willoway Manor in Naperville – now the popular Meson Sabika restaurant – are also documented stations.
It is gratifying to know that these areas provide not only the natural resources that many of us enjoy, but also served as a valuable part of a rich and storied history.
*Special thanks to Glennette Turner for her insights and knowledge of the history of the Underground Railroad in DuPage County and contributions to this article.