Williamsburg
Underground Railroad and Abolitionist Sites

(25) Sugar Tree Wesleyan Church and Cemetery

The Sugar Tree Wesleyan Church, founded by anti-slavery Methodists in 1845, was one of the first Wesleyan churches organized in Ohio. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Silas Chase, MD, a prominent member of the Bethel Underground Railroad network. A 35 by 45-foot chapel was built, in 1848 at this site, on land donated by Isaac Holmes Brown. Brown, a well known conductor, assisted by transporting fugitives in wagons from Felicity to Bethel and harboring them at his house near Bethel. Then he arranged transportation to either C. B. Huber in Williamsburg or to White Oak in Brown County. Brown’s burial site is located in the church cemetery. The church was also the site of numerous anti-slavery meetings held by Rev. Gerrard P. Riley, a later pastor of the church. Riley was an area conductor who carried on his activities throughout the Civil War. The Sugar Tree Wesleyan Church was attended by the many individuals involved in the Underground Railroad including James Bunton, Benjamin Rice, Richard Mace, and O.W. Vandosol. (Crane School House Rd., Bethel)

(26) Marcus Sims -Huber Tannery Location

This site was chosen to commemorate Marcus Sims and his activities in the Underground Railroad. The tannery, owned by Charles B. Huber once stood on this site. Huber employed Sims, who was a free African American from Virginia. Sims also served as “engineer” or wagon-master, for Huber, carrying fugitives to the next station in Brown, Clinton or Highland Counties. Sims continued to run the wagon for Dr. L.T. Pease when he took over the Williamsburg station in 1854. Sims enlisted in the United States Army and was killed at the Battle of Sailors Creek, Virginia in 1864. (134 S. Second St., Williamsburg)

(27) Charles B. Huber Home Site

This site was once the home of Charles “Boss” B. Huber, Williamsburg stationmaster of the Underground Railroad. Huber assisted between 300 to 500 fugitives escape during his time as an active conductor. One account recorded that there were seventeen fugitives staying there in one night. Upon his death in 1854, Huber’s neighbor, Dr. L.T. Pease took over the Williamsburg operation. (160 Gay St., Williamsburg)

(28) Dr. Leavitt Thaxter Pease Home Site

This site was the home and medical office of Dr. L. T. Pease, abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor. Dr. Pease moved to Williamsburg in 1835, with his wife Nancy Fee, the sister of Robert Fee who served as stationmaster in Moscow. Dr. Pease assisted Charles B. Huber in hiding and transporting of fugitive slaves in route to Canada. He took over as stationmaster of Williamsburg upon Huber’s death in 1854. (180 Gay St., Williamsburg)

(29) Williamsburg Township Cemetery

The Williamsburg Cemetery contains the burial sites of three Underground Railroad operatives: Charles B. Huber (1806-1854); Dr. Leavitt Thaxter Pease (1809-1874); Samuel Peterson (1836-1921). Peterson, a stonemason by trade, assisted C. B. Huber in Underground Railroad operations. He would carry food to the fugitives at the Huber place and transport them by wagon to the next stop in either Brown or Clinton Counties. (Gay St., Williamsburg - “between 8th St. & 5th St.”)

(30) Charles B. Huber Farm

This parcel of land was once part of the farm owned by Charles B. Huber, stationmaster of the Underground Railroad for Williamsburg. In addition to concealing fugitives at his home, Huber hid them in the hay-barn and corn-shocks at this farm on the outskirts of town. (975 W. Main St., Williamsburg)