Rial Cheadle
Encyclopedia
Rial Cheadle of the Ohio
Cheadles, was a prominent conductor
in the Ohio
Underground Railroad
. Born at Big Bottom
, he, along with the abolitionist Rev. Bennett Roberts, taught school and spoke against slavery
. Under the influence of both Cheadle and Roberts, the school at Big Bottom became known as "The Abolition School."
Cheadle's work in transporting slaves northward in the underground railroad is reported to have taken place over the span of 20 years and there are a number a local writings which refer to the work of this energetic and unique man. References to Rial Cheadle's activities can be found in Morgan County
histories, a pamphlet
published by Eck Humphries in 1931, and in first-hand accounts collected by Professor W.H. Seibert of Ohio State University
in the late 1880s and 1890s.
It is in an 1892 letter written to Siebert by a Quaker woman named Martha Millions of Pennsville, Ohio
, that some insight into the unusual activities of Rial Cheadle is gained. Mrs. Millions reports that Cheadle, first having built a cabin in 1818 or 1820 on the present site of the village of Stockport, Ohio
, became a teacher, then engaged himself in "other industries" and eventually became entirely devoted to the work of the Underground Railroad
. Mrs. Millions describes Cheadle's unusual talent for making up rhymes and songs which he set to his own music and which he sang as he traveled. Million's reports that upon Cheadle's occasional crossings into Virginia
he was regarded by locals as a "harmless imbecile" but "As a result of his visits it is said, the slaves were frequently missing..."
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Cheadles, was a prominent conductor
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
in the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. Born at Big Bottom
Big Bottom Massacre
The Big Bottom massacre occurred on January 2, 1791, near present-day Stockport now in Morgan County, Ohio, United States. Delaware and Wyandot Indians surprised a new settlement at the edge of the flood plain, or "bottom" land of the Muskingum River; they stormed the blockhouse and killed eleven...
, he, along with the abolitionist Rev. Bennett Roberts, taught school and spoke against slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
. Under the influence of both Cheadle and Roberts, the school at Big Bottom became known as "The Abolition School."
Cheadle's work in transporting slaves northward in the underground railroad is reported to have taken place over the span of 20 years and there are a number a local writings which refer to the work of this energetic and unique man. References to Rial Cheadle's activities can be found in Morgan County
Morgan County, Ohio
**----...
histories, a pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
published by Eck Humphries in 1931, and in first-hand accounts collected by Professor W.H. Seibert of Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in the late 1880s and 1890s.
It is in an 1892 letter written to Siebert by a Quaker woman named Martha Millions of Pennsville, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, that some insight into the unusual activities of Rial Cheadle is gained. Mrs. Millions reports that Cheadle, first having built a cabin in 1818 or 1820 on the present site of the village of Stockport, Ohio
Stockport, Ohio
Stockport is a village in Morgan County, Ohio, United States, along the Muskingum River. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 540.-Geography:Stockport is located at ....
, became a teacher, then engaged himself in "other industries" and eventually became entirely devoted to the work of the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. Mrs. Millions describes Cheadle's unusual talent for making up rhymes and songs which he set to his own music and which he sang as he traveled. Million's reports that upon Cheadle's occasional crossings into Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
he was regarded by locals as a "harmless imbecile" but "As a result of his visits it is said, the slaves were frequently missing..."