Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-08-22
THE UNDERGROUND
RAILWAY
STATION IN AUDUBON COUNTY
Short Story Of the Early Days in tho
Southern Part of the County.
Lewisvile the Scene
of Operations

When Prof. Geo. /. Miller was In
town last week, he and the editor had
a pleasant visit talking over former
times when both OF us were engaged
In the educational work OF the state.
Mr.. Miller will be remembered we'll
as u young man at Extra where he be-
came principal OF tho schools and al-
terward occupied the same position
In Audubon.
In the course OF conversation he
talked OF the early days In this county.
His parents came TO the old town Of
Lewisville four miles south of Extra
in 1868, now thiry-nine years ago.
One OF their mel ghbors was Mr.. How
ard Green a typical yankee from way
down east, an intelligentman and pro-
minent In the affairs OF the commun-
ity. His son Henry and Young Mil
Ter were about the same age, grew up
together and In the spring of 1873 en-
tered the State College at Ames.
Green was unfortunate In taking the
measles soon after and was compelled
to come home. About the time no re-
covered his father was taken sick,
fingered awhile and died, circum-
stance that interferred with the sons
return to College. Mr.. Miller contin-
ued at school and graduated few
years later.
Prof. Miller spent the winter on the
Pacific coast and while out there Wis
tied his friend Henry Green at Los
Angeles who related that during his
fathers last illness he had told his
son about the Underground Railway
and the station of which he had charge
at Lewisville in the days when the
negroes were escaping from the slav-
cry OF the south and being piloted
through to Canada by friends Ia the
north. AS told by Mr.. Green there
was Union League in the county at
that time OF which he was the leader
and whose headquarters we're at his
house where the arms and ammunition
were kept. The League was strongly
against the south and slavery, and
secretly active in the work Of assist.
ing the negroes to escape. They were
constrained both by the law OF the
land and the sentiment OF the com
munity to keep their membership in
that society profound secret.
The Underground Railway was an
inter-urban line though not run by
electricity. The one on which the
station at Lewisville was located,
came up through Tarbor, Lewis and
through Guthrie Center. A Rev. Mr..
Hitchcock had charge at Lewis and
brought the negroes TO Louisville
from which place Mr.. Green took them
across TO Guthrie Center. These trips
we're always made under cover OF the
night, the fugitives being hidden away
during the day.
AS the early residents remember
Mr.. Green owned a saw mill and grist
mill at Louisville in those days, in
which some years later the elder Mr..
Miller had half interest. The piles
OF saw dust that had accumulated SER
we'd purpose then that was never
suspected. A cave had been made in
which the negroes were secreted dur
ing the day. This was completely
covered with saw dust; after they en-
tered the place, the opening was so
covered with the same material that
no trace was left for the keenest eye
to observe. Young Mr.. Green said
that until recently he had kept his
fathers confidence a secret but now
thought it might properly be given TO
the public as matter of history.
They had stirring times in those
days and sentiment on one side or the
other was very strong and bitter. Dur
ing the time from 1850 TO 1870, per-
iod of twenty years, many neighbor-
hoods were scenes OF strife and ran
cor and bitterness that often led to
serious results. The young people of
today can have no correct conception
Of the great change in conditions and
no proper appreciation OF the peace
and plenty and patriotismth that prevail
among all classes of people through
out our country al this time.