Author: by Carrie Eldridge
Freedom Lies Across the River explores the history of slavery, emancipation, the Baptist Church, and the Underground Railroad in Lawrence County, Ohio.
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory, establishing the region as an important destination for people seeking freedom. When Ohio became a state in 1803, its southern border along the Ohio River placed communities such as Lawrence County directly across from slaveholding states.
Several important routes led to the Ohio River in Lawrence County, where free and formerly enslaved Black residents established communities and helped others escape slavery.
Despite discriminatory laws and threats from slave catchers, these residents worked to build lives of freedom while helping others seeking safety.
Their contributions included establishing the historic Burlington Macedonia Baptist Church, recognized as one of Ohio's earliest Black churches, and developing networks that became part of the Underground Railroad.
Carrie Eldridge brings this history to life through the experiences of Black residents and their struggle for freedom along the Ohio River.
The book includes numerous maps and an extensive appendix, providing valuable resources for readers exploring the region's history and tracing their own family connections.
Order more historical and genealogical books written about the tri-state authored by Carrie Eldridge.