Not many people may be aware of the role that Michigan and Detroit played in the Underground Railroad, but William Still, the most successful Conductor of the Underground Railroad, saw the opportunity that Detroit provided as a pathway to Canada, which had abolished slavery in the 1830’s.
William Still, born to Sidney and Leonard Still taught himself to read and write and at the age of 26, moved to Philadelphia and became a clerk at a printing office for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. There he learned everything he could about the Underground Railroad and in the late 1840’s became the Chief Conductor. His home was a main stop-over along the Railroad where he housed approximately 60 slaves per month.
Leonard bought his freedom for $500, but Sidney’s horrid path to freedom included the heart breaking decision to leave her two young boys behind in order to save herself and her two daughters. Running by night and hiding by day, they made their way from Maryland to New Jersey, reunited with Leonard, and settled in a farm community where William was born.
Daring escape plans such as that of the legendary Henry “Box” Brown, whom was shipped in a crate over 28 hours from Virginia to Pennsylvania, or 15 year old Ann Marie Williams who disguised herself as a coachman and drove Still’s doctor from the south to Pennsylvania; along with his compassion and dedication were the fuel behind his success. During his 14 year service, William freed over 800 slaves.
In addition to helping fugitive slaves find refuge in the northern states and Canada, William was determined to keep immaculate records, documenting the slaves’ stories and their family members names. He hid his writings in a crypt and was given permission to publish them in 1872. To this day, his diaries are used to help reunite descendants of fugitive slaves.
He also fought for 8 years to desegregate the Philadelphia street cars after being denied a seat while returning home from service at Camp William Penn.
After the Civil War ended, William resigned as Conductor and dug into the coal industry, becoming a wealthy businessman.
He was dubbed “The Father of the Underground Railroad” by the New York Times, but until his death in 1902, he proclaimed that it was not he that should be honored, but the heroic fugitive slaves that bravely chose the tremulous road to becoming FREE.
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