Underground Railroad site, Dr. Azle D. Pierson, Doctor and abolitionists, 1817-1910
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Near this road was the location of Dr. Pierson's home. During his time with the Jacksonville UGRR, he lived at the former Turman Place's home located about a mile west of town, later it became Fair View, Dr. J. Pitner's home. Being a member of the Presbyterian church, he had ties to the Congressional Church members as a fellow abolitionist.
Images
Undated photo of Azle Pierson.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Being a member of the Presbyterian church, he had
ties to the Congressional Church members as a fellow abolitionist. One of
Pierson’s involvement took place after 1853 when he hid 3 women who were at
first brought to his house and later
moved to a second station, Kirby's home. After a ten day stay, Henderson
moved them to (Dr. John) Lyman's place in Pleasant Plains [Farmington]. The
women were being chased by officials from Jacksonville, under the Fugitive
Slave law. Pierson was also involved with Joseph Tuner's only
recorded incident with runaways that took place in December of 1846. Irving
came to Turner for help with three runaways that escaped from the St. Louis'
slave market. The three were hiding in an old cabin southwest of where Benjamin
Henderson lived. Turner, with a hickory stick in hand went to get the three
women, who had have been living outdoors for about a week. Turner took the
three to Dr. Pierson, to ask if he could help the fugitives. The good doctor
took them in and fed and nursed the three for one to two weeks before someone
else took them to Canada.
A record search did not indicate a year that Pierson came to Jacksonville. But records search indicates that by the 1850’s he moved to Schuyler County, Illinois to farm and later in life settled in Augusta, Hancock County, Illinois where he died.
A record search did not indicate a year that Pierson came to Jacksonville. But records search indicates that by the 1850’s he moved to Schuyler County, Illinois to farm and later in life settled in Augusta, Hancock County, Illinois where he died.
Sources
Charles Eames, Historic Morgan and Classic Jacksonville (Jacksonville: The Daily Journal Steam Job Printing Office, 1885)