Underground Railroad Marker
Side ANo one was more fiercely committed to the Underground Rail Road
than former slaves.They knew first-hand the darkness and despair
of bondage. Such was Abraham Depp (1791- 1858), known as Abram,
born a slave on a tobacco plantation in Powhatan County,
Virginia. When he was ten (18o1), slave-holder John Depp issued
an emancipation deed for Abram, mother Lucinda (1765- 1857), and
his siblings awarding them 500 acres in Powhatan County upon
John and wife Elizabeth's deaths. In 1806, Virginia law required
freed slaves to leave the state or risk arrest for loitering and
sale back into bondage. As he waited, Abram became a skilled
blacksmith, industrious and trustworthy. Abram's freedom moment
came in 1831 when John Depp passed. Abram was 40. Thereafter,
Abram's life changed quickly. He inherited property "both land
and negroes," but some family members remained in bondage
while Mrs. Depp lived. On March 19, 1832, Abram's petition to
the Virginia General Assembly was granted for the privilege of
residing in the county unmolested. for two years to dispose of
his property and make arrangements for his departure from the
Commonwealth. On March 5, 1834, Abram and wife Mary registered
their marriage. He then journeyed north to Columbus, Ohio where
he found other free blacks from Virginia- all
freedom activists.
He met abolitionist Joseph Sullivant, son of Lucas Sullivant,
founder of Columbus.
Side B
In February 1835, Elizabeth Depp died. Within two weeks, Abram;s
family sold their Virginia acreage and immigrated to Ohio, while
the remaining Depp slaves were sold. Abram;s wife Mary died on
the trip north. In June, 1835, Abram paid $1100 to Joseph
Sullivant for 300 acres in Concord Township. Upon settling on
his land, Abram established a Baptist church and an Underground
Railroad station using a limestone cave along the Scioto River
(since flooded in 1925 by the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir). It was
sad that Ethelred (Dred) Weaver and others operated between
the Friend Street (Main Street) Station in Columbus and the Depp
Station. Abram had three children with his wife Mary, including son
Aurelius who attended Oberlin College and later joined the 27th
Ohio Colored Troops with step-brother John (1864). They fought
in Virginia during the Civil War. Abram had six children with
second wife China (1838), one of whom was Lucy Depp Whyte.
It is said that the bell at Lucy Depp Park was once used as
an "all clear" signal for runaways making their way from Columbus
to the Depp Station.
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