The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-01-07
From the Marshall Statesman.
81 I.E-HI.N'TI.NIs E.N'.WICYIG.s.N'
#. The CrOsswhitc .Iadir.

During the winter or 1871 there stood on the
property now owned by Mr. James II. Downs
in the eastarn part Of this city, an humble
dwelling. The house was located near grove
a colored family occupied the place. The his
tory of that family forms the subject of this
sketch.
Adam Crosswhite was born IN Bourbon
County, Kentucky, Oct, Il, 1893. His father
was, under the laws OF that state, his master,
Lis mother being at the time Of his birth a
slave. vt an early age Adam was given by his
father 10 his half-sister, as servant. Miss
Crosswhite afterwards married Ned Stone,
notorious Shareholder, who, If not the orSi-
ma SIMON Legree OF Uncle Toms Cabin, ;
might have been, so similar were his life and
character t, those so graphically portrayed by
Mrs Stowe.
stone retained possession OF tue boy Adma
for a time and then sold him 10 man named
Tr1utman for 5000. When 20 years OF age the
boy vas traded off to one Frank Gtner, who
lived in Carroll County, with whom he stayed
", IS years of age. When % Adam mar
red, aud at the age Of 80 was father OF seven
children At that time lie became aware of
Cltaer's intention to sell portion OF his fam
iy. Watching his opportunity ho obtained
s'ah. and, with his family pushed of for Mad
i.1r. There he was received by the under
ground railway managers and sent north. At
Newport, Ind, the pursuers came upon the
party by that time swollen into flock Of 90
The fugtives were hidden by t.uakers. and
protected for many DAYS.
An incident is related OF how young friend
disconnected the hunters, lie represented
himself a save-hunter and gained their con-
f0ence. Assuring them that he knew OF the
hiding place, he took the party, Just at night,
into dense swamp, and leaving them on some
sight pretext, failed to return. The party was
lost n the woods all night. thereby relieving
the poor slaves of considerable anxiety.
Crosswhlte was compelled to leave his wife
AID two children at bis place and push on
H.s experience from Indiana into Michigan,
and his wife's experience five weeks later, might
be written up to form an interesting book.
Such is the rapidly traced history OF the'oc-
cupants Of the little house above referred to.
Crosswhte was known as an industrious, quiet
nan. He had paid portion of the purchase
money for his place.
Young man who represented himself as a law
yer. lie did not make known his business, but
strayed through the town as though undecided
about his permanent residence here. There |
was at that time residing here man named |
iaryey Dixon. deputy sheriff, whom the
stranger seemed to take an interest IN. Evil |
IDENTITY some work was to be done, and Dixon
was the chosen tool, The stranger was francis
Troutman grandson Of the former owner of
= dam Crosswhte, and his buslne in Marshall /
was 10 recover the fugitives. lie had obtained
q -uovIedge OF their whereabouts through
i.end 70 whom it CHANGED Go what remote I
cause 10 We trace TIE great events > Mrs. (
--5ssvbIte had unw!rtingly revealed her his .
-r. Iroutmau was uncertain Of the identity .
q . the children, and employed Dixon to i'm
per- nate a cenaus collector and ascertain the
legc.ed facts. This Dixon did. It is alleged,
i7v the modest sum OF 5.
= Tie mean time it became n5ised around so
de {. reach Crosswhte, that systematic az
tenn; was to be made TO carry bis family off,
T-ou,man and three as dark-browed rascals as
ole would care to meet, arranged with livery
MN 70 have team ready on gwen night at
y clock The liyerymau left word at the
stable that the horses were not to be sent until
be gave orders. Orders we've not given until
toward morning. Crosswhlte was prepared 10
meet his enemies. 1t was understood that
gun shot was a signal for the assembling of his
friends.
Early in the morning, before It was light.
Crosswhlte saw the team coming towards his
house. He fred gun IN the air. and awaited
outside Of his house for the approach of his
men. There were four IN The party Mrs.
Crosswbite answered the summons to open the
door by stout refusal to do so. Two men
placed their shoulders against the door and
troke it down The men then sought TO per-
suade Crosswhite to go with them, ying they
bad come TO arrest INN and wanted him at
justces Office down town. they offered to
carry hun and his family to the Office in wag-
con. This subterfuge did not work.
n he mean time about 200 persons had as
sembled and were rdcullDg the slave-hunters.
The four men we're armed to the teeth, but
we're too cowardly to use forcible means to
take runaways. Troutman said there was one
child he did not want, but the rest he demand
&c. as they were fugitive slaves. ibis speech
was received with laughter bv the crowd
When it was understood that it was proposed
to take the mother add leave an infant the
crowd may have used threats against the four
men. but that is a disputed point.
Later in the morning Charles 7. Gorham,
JARVIS Hurd o. c. Comstock, and others went
a. to the scene Of trouble. They took no part
in the proceedings, but listened to the harangue
Q! Troutman, who was offering resolutions to
the effect that, as law-abiding citizens" the
people would not interfere with bis taking
Crosswhite off, The fact of their presence
vas enough to satisfy Troutmsn. lie obtained
their names.
Finally the crowd went down to the Marshall
House. Crosswhte appeared on the streets,
and was advised to prosecute Troutman. This
be did. The attacking party we're arrested and
fined, Van Arman appearing in the prosecution.
Later IN the day George Ingersol quietly OBJ
tanned funds and sent the family TO Jackson,
be following on the cars. At Jackson the fam
lily entered the cars and were carried to De-