The history of the Underground Railroad is filled with the stories of people helping people. It is also filled with stories of hardship, discrimination and abuse. Some of the people who played a part in the events of that time are listed below along with some items of historical significance and some places of local interest.

People
Reverend Henry Ward Beecher said "It is the essence of slavery to be arrogant before the weak and cowardly before the strong." He raised money to buy rifles for the Wabaunsee colony. One of his parishoners donated Bibles. The rifles were placed in the bottom of a box. Then a layer of straw or hay was put on top of the rifles. Bibles were packed in the top of the box so they did not arouse suspicion when they were inspected.

John Brown

President Abraham Lincoln

Peter McCutcheon was born a free white American citizen. Peter's mother passed out after he was born. His uncle took a slave baby that was born about the same time as Peter, killed it and told Peter's mother that her baby had died. He buried the slave baby to make this look like it was true. Peter's uncle gave Peter to the family of the baby he killed. Peter grew up being different from the other enslaved people because he was white.

Captain William Mitchell had a part in helping the enslaved to escape from their "owners". Captain Mitchell built his own house. The house was a log cabin that had special features such as a bath tub with running water. There was one special feature that none could top. When the china was removed from the cabinet the shelves became a ladder to the attic where fugitive slaves could hide. They stayed there until Captain Mitchell told them it was safe for them to leave. The house of Captain Mitchell still exists today outside of Wamego, Kansas. 

Maude Mitchell helped to preserve the history of the Beecher Bible and Rifle Church. She helped Ethel Morgan in her efforts to save the church. Maude is Reverend Beecher's daughter.

Ethel Morgan was an African American that was involved in keeping the history of the Beecher Bible and Rifle Church alive. She raised money to support the church.

Harriet Beecher Stowe was Reverend Henry Ward Beecher's sister. She wrote the book Uncle Tom's Cabin from the perspective of an enslaved person.

Harriet Tubman

Events
The Civil War

The Fugitive Slave Law outlawed any efforts to impede the capture of runaway slaves. Even if you did not believe in slavery, if you did not help, you were punished.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed the two new territories could decide whether to allow or outlaw slavery.

Places
Wabaunsee Colony

Beecher Bible and Rifle Church