Jabez Wright, 1848-1912

THE HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE tells us that Jabez Wright was a son of Douglas Wright and Miranda Smith Wright, born in 1848 in Huron, Ohio. The grandfather of Jabez Wright, whose name also was Jabez Wright, came to Ohio from Connecticut in the early 1800's. He became a judge for Huron County. Judge Wright's home served as a station for the Underground Railroad of the Firelands. Douglas Wright and father were both very anti-slavery in their views.

In 1868, the younger Jabez Wright married Isabelle Kirby, a daughter of Captain and Mrs. A. A. Kirby. Jabez Wright died on March 12, 1912. His obituary in the March 14, 1912 Sandusky Register reported that Jabez Wright was "one of the oldest and most esteemed citizens of Huron." He was prominent in Masonic circles. Mr. Wright was survived by his wife and two sons. Jabez and Isabelle Wright are buried in Scott Cemetery.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Underground Railroad Marker at Historic Lyme Village

Many eighteenth century residents of the Lyme Township area of Huron County, Ohio participated in the Underground Railroad. This marker, at Historic Lyme Village was co-sponsored by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Friends of Freedom Society.

Benjamin V. Vrooman

Benjamin V. Vrooman died on February 23, 1861. He is buried in the North Monroeville Cemetery in Huron County, Ohio, very close to the Erie County line. According to the book THE VROOMAN FAMILY IN AMERICA, by Grace Elizabeth Vrooman Wickersham, Benjamin Van Vechten Vrooman was born on August 13, 1805, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Martinus Vrooman. In 1835, Benjamin Vrooman married Nellie Wessels. They were married by justice of the peace Charles Rash.

The home of Benjamin and Nellie Vrooman was one of the depots on the Underground Railroad, which was a network of people who aided runaway slaves obtain their freedom.

Underground Railroad Markers at Sandusky's Shoreline Park

Because Sandusky Bay leads to Lake Erie, and then on to Canada, Sandusky played a key role in helping fugitive slaves find their way to freedom in Canada. Many area residents provided food and shelter to the freedom seekers, and arranged for transportation, usually in the dark hours of the late night or very early morning. The Underground Railroad was loosely organized, and involved some of Sandusky's most prominent businessmen and officials.






















Known boats that were involved in abolitionist activities included: Walk-in-the-Water, Superior, the Arrow, United States, Bay City, Mayflower, May Queen, and the Morning Star. Several Erie County residents who were active in the UGRR are buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery, including F. D. Parish, C.C. Keech, and Rev. Thomas Holland Boston.


Rush R. Sloane wrote about the Underground Railroad of the Firelands in the July 1888 issue of the Firelands Pioneer.

Rush R. Sloane

Rush Sloane was one of Ohio’s most well known abolitionists. He was a lawyer in Sandusky, and elected the Mayor of Sandusky in 1879. In 1852 seven runaway slaves arrived in Sandusky on the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad. Some men claiming to be the slave owners arrived in Sandusky and wanted the slaves to be returned. Mr. Sloane, after an investigation into the matter, found no legal authority for the fugitives to be arrested, and they were set free.

A short time later, one of the men from Kentucky proved ownership of one of the slaves. As a result, Rush Sloane went to trial under the Fugitive Slave Act. He was fined $3000 plus court costs. African American citizens of Sandusky presented Rush Sloane with a silver-headed cane, in appreciation of his efforts on behalf of the runaway slaves. The cane is on display at The Follett House Museum in Sandusky, Ohio.

While Rush Sloane was admired by many, not all Sandusky residents trusted him. In the book SANDUSKY’S EDITOR, by Charles E. Frohman, you can read about the many conflicts between Rush Sloane, and the editor of the Sandusky Register, Mr. I. F. Mack.

Rush Sloane died in 1908. He is buried on the North Ridge of Sandusky’s Oakland Cemetery.

C. C. Keech

Christopher Columbus Keech was born in New York, but by the 1850’s he had moved to Sandusky, where he had a business selling caps, hats and furs. Helen Hansen wrote in her book AT HOME IN EARLY SANDUSKY that C. C. Keech helped care for the sick and bury the dead during the cholera epidemics of 1849 and 1852.

“Oak Grove Villa” was the name of the stone house built by C. C. Keech in 1854, located on South Hayes Avenue. Eventually the Keech home became part of Sandusky’s Providence Hospital, which was later acquired by Firelands Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Keech married Louisa M. Carr in 1849. After her death, he married Mattie Scheidel. During his life, C. C. Keech was a generous man, donating money to area churches and hospitals. Mrs. Hansen wrote, “When C. C. Keech died it was said his gifts to charity probably surpassed those of any citizen before or during his lifetime.”

The July 1888 issue of the “Firelands Pioneer” states that C. C. Keech was among the “earliest and earnest friends” of the Underground Railroad of the Firelands. The Underground Railroad was a network of individuals who aided slaves from the Southern states make their way to freedom in Canada. Many fugitive slaves passed through Sandusky until they could secure passage across Lake Erie to Canada. Many leading citizens of Erie County were involved in this activity, including lawyers, ship captains, and business men. C. C. Keech died on May 31, 1891. He is buried in Sandusky’s Oakland Cemetery.

Mr. Keech ran this ad in the 1855 Sandusky City Directory.




Below is the inscription on the Keech monument which honors Louisa Keech.