The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-10-17
The Nestor of Abolition.
n Cincinnati ENQUIRER.

h4 hO ANSoOOA VI 1AOO4AlAOAs
Gath in Cincinnati Enquirer.
II Rey. John Rankin, now residing
iRe Nonton, O., is the Martin Luther
ofGre anti-slavery work in America
Hers now nearly 81 years of age, and
was born on a farm near cambridge
in Jefferson county, Tenn, February
4. 1tq3. His ancestors were Scotch
and ame from Ireland to America
in 1920, and were soldiers in the wal
Oftlbe revolution. He conceived his
Ideals of abolishing slavery from the
inst Fucti0ns of his mother, who was
borh in ROckbrid9e county, Va, and
whdse maiden name was Steel. Hi,
father was of Pennsylvania birth. He
is al small, compact old man, who
never INDUCED in any excesses, nol
havb any of his sons done so. He is
sfra.sg for his age, with snow. white
l,aitAnd beard. Seven of his sons
f5SheS6 tie 6RSn s-9'lS7fIi a;ifiiis 7iss a
of TIE hbelion. Tie sentiment of
abolitionsm originated in Tennessee
about 18l, there being then an anti
slavery sciety in Jefferson county,
East Tennessee, of which Rev. Mr..
Rankin ws an active member. He
left Tenneee in the winter of 1916
and 1917 d account of slavery, to
settle in OfO, at Ripley. The Beech
er family we're frequent visitors at
Mr.. Rankins house in Ripley and
number of tie characters depicted in
"Uncle Toms Cabin" were gathered
by Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe while
she and hes husband were present
with Mr.. Rnkin, among them Eliza
and GeorgeIIarris. William Lloyd
Garrison, al the time of the publica.
tion of his biography, sent to ReY.
Mr.. Ranki a copy of the same, with
the following inscription on the fly
leaf thereo:
II was reading the production of your pen
that awak enid my mind to the enormity OF
the crime oiblavery.
WIN. LLOYD GARRISON.
While Eenry Ward Beecher was
preachingat indianapolis, Mr.. Ran
kin assisted him at a communion
season, preaching for him on Satur-
day, Sundy and Monday. When he
asked to deliver lecture on slavery
on Monhy night the trustees decid.
ed that slch a lecture would be mex
pedient, being afraid of the windows
being broken in, &c. Mr.. Beechel
at once rendered his resignation a'
pastor. stating that he would preach
to no people refusing their pulpit t.
rsueh man as Mr.. Rankin. The de
cision was Immediately recOnsidered
and they gave him the use of tht
house and the lecture was delivered
Rankin and Henry Ward Beeche
were always abOlitiOnistS, while thei
many CO. workers were colonization
lists. He was often mObbed, assaile(
in every way with missiles and hi
horses tail and name shaved, but h,
never had any fear3nor ever receiv
ed any great injury. Henry Ware
Beecher since the war is said to hay
written an article in the New YOrI
independent, when he answered tn
question "Who abolished slavery p
by saying "Rev. John Rankin an,
his sons did it." Mr.. Rankin's oil
residence was located on hill eleYa
ted some 300 feet above the Ohi
river, Just back of Ripley, and cOul
be seen for many miles from Ker
tucky. 1t was the beacOn-light tC
the poor, fugitive slaves, who Wer
on their way Of escape to Canadi
While he claimed the right to fee
the hungry and clothe the naked, h
meyer in any way aided or abette
the running of slaves across the rive
to the Ohio border. His home VIZ
the depot Of the celebrated "unde
ground railroad," whose terminI
was the Northern lakes thOusanC
of fugitives applied there and not OF
was ever turned away. His acquain
ance throughout the entire South WI
of such character that not few
the planters from Mississippi. Lo
Lisiana. Alabama, Tennessee and vi
gina sent their illegitimate mulat
children to him for training and e
ucation, some Of them remaining
his home as long as 10 years, whi
other planters brought the mothe
with their children, bought hom
and left them to his protection al