1852 Parkersburg, VA, Soil Healthy For Growing, African Americans Cross The Ohio Through Underground Railroad To Freedom

In 1852, Parkersburg, VA, later West Virginia, was part of the region where slavery was prevalent. Rich farmland, near Parkersburg, supported slave plantations. Parkersburg was also a location where enslaved people were sometimes hidden by individuals before crossing the Ohio River to Freedom through the Underground Railroad. A slave plantation auction site was located in St. Mary’s, near Parkersburg, and the area was used as a crossing point for those fleeing to free states through the Underground Railroad.  Slavery ended in West Virginia on February 3rd, 1865.  The 1850 federal census shows there were 32 free African Americans living in Parkersburg.

Our writer provides a description of life in Parkersburg, including the sandy loam soil that made for healthy farming, the price of horses, cows and a number of “colored people who are mostly free.” He notes the presence of the Underground Railroad when he writes,  “Slaves...cross the river into Ohio where they are free.”

4 pp, 7 ¾ x 9 ¾, Parkersburg [W.Va.], May 9th, 1852, son George, George, ALS, to his parents.

“...It is now nearly three weeks since I wrote to you before we was then just landed and boarding at the tavern near the steamboat landing. But the rising water soon compelled us to leave here. I walked into the upper part of the town where I found a house which I rented for two dollars and we have now got it comfortably furnished. Furniture and groceries of all kinds are as cheap here as they are in Otsego. I had not intended to have stayed here in town but after making considerable inquiry, I found I should be likely to do better here then I should to go back amongst the farmers as the farmers are but few of them able to hire many of them come here by their provision and pay for it in wood. This place is principally supplied with provision from Ohio...They are called by the Virginians the Yankees. Land, I am informed, is considerably higher in Ohio then it is here. I have not yet been but 3 miles out of this village but as far as I have been, I like the looks of the country very well.

“The soil is sandy loam and the timber is principally oak. There is plenty of land here for sale. Wild land is selling from 12 shillings to 5 dollars per acre. Improved farms are worth from 6 to 15 dollars
per acre. A good horse is worth 75 dollars, oxen are worth from 60 to 75 dollars, cows are wirth from 10 to 16 dollars. This is said to be a good country for making butter and cheese but the women know no more about making butter than the men do. About tilling the land, the butter is more like hog lard...The farmers here sow their wheat on their corn around as soon as the corn is cut and shucked...

“You may tell Harrison Posen there is no United States government land here. Therefore, a soldier’s bounty land cannot be claimed here...Our high water has gone down and the water became settled. We have nearly a fortnight of very pleasant weather. Our journey here cost me 45 dollars and 45 more I have spent for furniture but I have yet 100 left which I have lent out to a wealthy merchant in town and have taken a note on demand. I might have put it in the bank but I was informed by Mrs. Wells that I could not draw interest on it and as I am informed by all that this man is both wealth and honest. I have ventured to let him have it. I have gone to work in a brick yard where i am making from 6 to 8 shillings a day...

“There are but a few colored people here and they are mostly free. It is difficult to keep them as slaves. They cross the river into Ohio and they free. There are 6 churches here – Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, Roman Catholic and 2 Methodist.

“There are a few English and Irish families living here and all the people here resemble the old country people very much both in language and habits...

“George George”

Light staining, mostly at folds. Punctuation added and spelling corrected in transcription for clarity.

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