In accordance with the name of the county, Richland County possesses a rich history, especially as it relates to African American heritage.
One interesting feature of this county deals with the Underground Railroad—a network of secret passages and safe houses that helped thousands of African American slaves reach freedom in the north over 150 years ago.
Driving to and from home, you might not even realize that you could be passing various stations of the Underground Railroad.
Perhaps one of the most traveled stations is the intersection of Lexington-Springmill and Walker Lake Road in Ontario, which used to serve as a safe spot for fugitive slaves.
As the story goes, one evening, bounty hunters approached John Finney, the owner of a barn at what is now a busy intersection, looking for fugitive slaves.
In order to stall for time, Finney asked for a search warrant. Meanwhile, Finney’s wife prepared a hearty meal. Once the bounty hunters got the warrant, Finney invited the men to dinner and prayed before eating. While praying with everyone’s heads bowed, the slaves were able to escape unnoticed.
This movement towards freedom was further facilitated right in the heart of Mansfield by a free African American man named Isaac Pleasants.
Pleasants worked as a barber at the St. James Hotel on Main Street. He also served in the Presbyterian Church on the Square, where he helped start Mansfield’s first African Sunday School.
With his prominent role in the church, Pleasants aid of fugitive slaves escape to free territory went undetected and unknown.
His home on East Fourth Street was the ideal location for fugitives to find, given its close proximity to the railroad tracks. Although his home is no longer standing, his memory remains as one of the “conductors” of the Underground Railroad.
During the era of the Underground Railroad, Mansfield was divide in its perception of slavery. When the Fugitive Slave Law was enacted in 1850, it became illegal to help a fugitive slave in any way, or a person could spend six months in jail or pay a $1,000 fine.
In spite of the legal restriction, there were several who still assisted runaway slaves. The conductors situated themselves close to one another, forming a tight network to help make it easier for the slaves to find the houses. Once slaves crossed the Ohio River, there was a whole system of people who could help move the slaves north from station to station.
There are seven known stations in Richland County.
More information regarding the Underground Railroad, along with much more detail on other items relating to African American heritage can be found by visiting the Cosby Educational Heritage Center on 445 Bowman Street in Mansfield.
Several exhibits are displayed inside the center that portray triumphs and significant moments in this nation’s history, especially Richland County’s history, including such things as the Civil Rights Movement, the murder of Emmett Till, and biographical information on the nation’s first African American world heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Johnson.
The heritage center is housed inside of the Mansfield Elective Academy, functioning independently of the school, and offers four rooms for viewing.
Reverend James Cosby is the founder of the Cosby Educational Heritage Center and stated that he had been collecting several artifacts over the years and eventually ran out of space to house everything. Thus, the Cosby Educational Heritage Center was born, and for eight years has given people the opportunity to witness interesting facts about, possibly, their own neighborhood.
The center is open for tours every Friday and Saturday during the month of January and every Tuesday and Saturday in February, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Scheduled tours are also given during the months of March through December. To make an appointment, contact the center at 419-775-8834.
The suggested donation is $3 per person or $2 per person over 10 people.
