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| Jody at the "Negro Den" on Milliron Farm August 3, 1997 The Athens Messenger Photo by Chad Stiles |
Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M. June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010 |
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Pete Smith, D.V.M., and Milliron: Abbott “Pete” Smith, D.V.M. The Biography, including his wife Jody (1938-2021).
“We should use the Underground Railroad to
exemplify what can be done, what a great
nation we can build, if we forget about
division and look at unity.”
– Henry Burke, Ohio Historian
If you have visited the Smith farmhouse or taken a trail ride through the Smith woods, you probably know about the Negro Den and how the farmhouse played a role in the Underground Railroad. Jody was featured in The Athens Messenger in an article written by Dan Linneman (August 3, 1997): Athens County played a role in the Underground Railroad.
Linneman writes of local historian Henry Burke and his research. Here's an excerpt:
According to some historians, the Underground Railroad, an escape route for fugitive slaves, dates back as far as the 1500s. But according to Henry Burke, a historian from Marietta, the real organization probably came later in the early 1800s. Because Athens County is just beyond the all-important Ohio River, many fugitives came through it on their path to freedom.
Burke said the Underground Railroad was a sophisticated system of escape that even had its own jargon. Station master, conductors, freight and station keepers all played a significant role. Because of the secretive nature of the Underground Railroad, few documents exist to verify individual stations or conductors. There are, however, many stories of houses that have secret rooms which are rumored to have been stations.
The Negro Den is a large cave that provided railroad travelers' refuge. Part of the cave can still be seen through dense woods, but at some point, the interior collapsed. The farmhouse once had hidden passageways, but to Jody's dismay, the home had been renovated, removing traces of the historical era by previous owners.
It is estimated that more than 2,000 slaves traveled through Athens County on their trip up the railroad. Crossing the Ohio River was dangerous and bounty hunters patrolled the river for runaways. Traveling away from the river, into Athens County and northward, increased the chances for permanent escape.
Read more about the Underground Railroad as part of Ohio History at ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Underground_Railroad.
Connect with Gina...
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
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