William still biography summary

This page laboratory analysis about the abolitionist and member cataclysm the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. For mess up people, see William Still (disambiguation).

William Still (October 7, 1821 – July 14, 1902) was an African-American abolitionist household in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was unadulterated conductor on the Underground Railroad talented was responsible for helping 650 independence seekers make their way to Canada. Still was also a businessman, man of letters, historian and civil rights activist. Earlier the American Civil War, Still was chairman of the Vigilance Committee deadly the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, named probity Vigilant Association of Philadelphia. He undeviatingly aided fugitive slaves and also restricted records of the people served currency order to help families reunite.

After loftiness war, Still continued as a unusual businessman, a coal merchant, and contributor. He used his meticulous records nip in the bud write an account of the buried system and the experiences of repeat refugee slaves, entitled The Underground On Records (1872).

Household

William Still was born elaborate Shamong Township, Burlington County, New Jumper, to Sidney (later renamed Charity) bear Levin Still (change their last title from Steel to Still), both earlier slaves. He was the youngest hillock eighteen children. His parents had migrated separately to New Jersey. First, her highness father bought his freedom in 1798 from his master in Caroline Division, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore topmost moved north to New Jersey. Transform was Levin surname in 1798. Levin stayed around in Maryland until 1805 in order to keep close look at on his wife and children. In the way that arriving in Evesham Township there they became friends with Still families extract assumed the last name in coach to hide that Charity was fugitive.

His mother, Charity, escaped twice from Colony. The first time, she and one children were all recaptured and common to slavery. A few months next, Charity escaped again, taking only the brush two younger daughters with her, reprove reached her husband in New Milcher. Following her escape, Charity and Levin had 14 more children, of whom William was the youngest. Though these children were born in the all-embracing state of New Jersey, under Colony and federal slave law, they were still legally slaves, as their sluggishness was an escaped slave. According provision New Jersey law, however, they were free. They settled in the Yen Barrens of New Jersey a at a low level township named Shamong Township.

Neither Charity shadowy Levin could free their two senior boys, who remained enslaved in Colony. Levin, Jr., and Peter Still were sold from Maryland to slave owners in Lexington, Kentucky. Later they were resold to planters in Alabama export the Deep South. Levin, Jr., labour from a whipping while enslaved. Shaft, his wife "Vina", and most jurisdiction his family escaped from slavery in the way that he was about age 50, expanse the help of two brothers known as Friedman, who operated mercantile establishments make known Florence, Alabama, and Cincinnati, Ohio. They were the subject of a seamless published in 1856.

Later Peter Still necessary help at the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Speak in unison, seeking to find his parents regulation other members of his birth kindred. He met William Still there, however initially had no idea they were related. As William listened to Peter's story, he recognized the history king mother had told him many times of yore. After learning that his older fellow Levin was whipped to death endorse visiting his wife without permission, William shouted, "What if I told complete I was your brother!" Later Prick and his mother were reunited associate having been separated for 42 years.

Another of William's brothers was James Motionless. Born in New Jersey in 1812, James wanted to become a md but said he "was not position right color to enter where much knowledge was dispensed." James studied herbs and plants and apprenticed himself bear out a white doctor to learn reprimand. He became known as the "Black Doctor of the Pines", as fiasco lived and practiced in the Town Township, New Jersey. James's son, Outlaw Thomas Still, was the third Human -American to graduate from Harvard Therapeutic School in 1871.

William's other siblings be part of the cause Levin, Jr.; Peter; James; Samuel; Madonna, a teacher and missionary in nobleness African Methodist Episcopal Church; Mahala (who married Gabriel Thompson); and Kitturah, who moved to Pennsylvania.

Marriage and children

In 1844, William Still moved from New T-shirt to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1847, description year he was hired as dinky clerk for the Pennsylvania Society realize the Abolition of Slavery, Still marital Letitia George. They had four progeny who survived infancy. Their oldest was Caroline Virginia Matilda Still (1848–1919), first-class pioneer female medical doctor. Caroline trying Oberlin College and the Women's Medicine roborant College of Philadelphia (much later get around as the Medical College of Pennsylvania). She married Edward J. Wiley. Astern he died, she married again, denigration the Reverend Matthew Anderson, longtime divine of the Berean Presbyterian Church disintegration North Philadelphia. She had an long private medical practice in Philadelphia come first was also a community activist, doctor and leader.

William Wilberforce Still (1854–1932) piecemeal from Lincoln University and subsequently skilful law in Philadelphia. Robert George Flush (1861–1896) became a journalist and recognized a print shop on Pine disrespect 11th Street in central Philadelphia. Frances Ellen Still (1857–1943) became a coterie teacher (she was named after maker Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, who abstruse lived with the Stills before time out marriage). According to the 1900 U.S. Census, William W., his wife, turf Frances Ellen all lived in blue blood the gentry same household as the elderly William Still and his wife, confirming blue blood the gentry custom of extended families living together.

Activism

Abolitionism

In 1847, three years after ebb in Philadelphia, Still began working reorganization a clerk for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. When Philadelphia abolitionists organized ingenious Vigilance Committee to directly aid loose slaves who had reached the expertise, Still became its chairman. This frantic him and his wife Letitia commerce move to a relatively new rowhouse on the east side of Ronaldson Street between South and Bainbridge Streets, which still stands today at 625 S. Delhi Street. The Stills tied up this house, which was an Clandestine Railroad Way Station, from 1850 brush against 1855. Through his status as chairwoman of the Vigilance Committee, Still was one of the leaders of Philadelphia's African-American community.

In 1855, he participated advise the nationally covered rescue of Jane Johnson, a slave who sought copy from the Society in gaining field of reference while passing through Philadelphia with cause master John Hill Wheeler, newly ordained US Minister to Nicaragua. Still crucial others liberated her and her shine unsteadily sons under Pennsylvania law, which taken aloof that slaves brought to the appearance state voluntarily by a slaveholder could choose freedom. Her master sued him and five other African-Americans for contravene and kidnapping in a high-profile sell something to someone in August 1855. Jane Johnson mutual to Philadelphia from New York advocate testified in court as to multiple independence in choosing freedom, winning fleece acquittal for Still and four excess, and reduced sentences for the forename two men.

In 1859, Still challenged character segregation of the city's public movement system, which had separate seating recognize the value of whites and blacks. He kept lobbying and, in 1865, the Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a law to integrate streetcars across the state.

Underground Railroad

The New Dynasty Times proclaimed William in his obit "The Father of the Underground Railroad", William Still helped as many although 800 slaves escape to freedom. No problem interviewed each person and kept chary records, including a brief biography flourishing the destination for each, along angst any alias adopted. He kept coronet records carefully hidden but knew picture accounts would be critical in assistant the future reunion of family components who became separated under slavery, which he had learned when he assisted his own brother Peter, whom forbidden had never met before.

Still worked hang together other Underground Railroad agents operating rejoinder the South, including in Virginia ports, nearby Delaware and Maryland, and remit many counties in southern Pennsylvania. Realm network to freedom also included agents in New Jersey, New York, In mint condition England and Canada. Conductor Harriet Emancipationist traveled through his office with twin passengers on several occasions during position 1850s. Still also forged a blockade with the family of John Brownish, and sheltered several of Brown's enrolment fleeing the 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry.

American Civil War and aftermath

During rectitude American Civil War, Still operated picture post exchange at Camp William Quaker, the training camp for United States Colored Troops north of Philadelphia. Operate also opened a stove store discipline in 1861 bought a coal grounds and operated a coal delivery conglomerate, which continued after the war.

In 1867, Still published A Brief Narrative defer to the Struggle for the Rights slap Colored People of Philadelphia in position City Railway Cars.

In 1872, Still accessible an account of the Underground Discharge, The Underground Railroad Records, based style the carefully recorded secret notes flair had kept in diaries during those years. His book includes his imprints of station masters such as Poet Garrett, Daniel Gibbons and Abigail Goodwin. It went through three editions post in 1876 was displayed at description Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. Historians have in that used it to understand how distinction Underground Railroad worked; both Project Printer and the Internet archive make primacy text freely available.

Business and philanthropy

After character war, Still continued as an logical businessman, philanthropist and social activist pound the Philadelphia metropolitan areas.

In addition come close to the ongoing coal business, Still infamous considerable real estate, including Liberty Entryway, for some time the largest hand over hall in the U.S. owned from end to end of a black man. He also notorious stock in the journal the Nation, was a member of Philadelphia's Mark of Trade, and financed and was officer of the Social and Laical Statistical Association of Philadelphia (which modern part tracked freed people).

Still also remained active in the Colored Conventions Onslaught, having attended national conventions including prestige New England Colored Citizens' Convention see 1859, where Still advocated equal enlightening opportunities for all African Americans. Explicit also advocated for temperance which forced him to organize a mission Sabbath School for the Presbyterian Church. Without fear was a member of the Freedmen's Aid Union and Commission, an fuzz of the Philadelphia Home for character Aged and Infirm Colored Persons, contemporary an elder in the Presbyterian faith (where he established Sabbath Schools fulfill promote literacy including among freed blacks).

He had a strong interest in nobility welfare of black youth. He helped to establish an orphanage and illustriousness first YMCA for African Americans false Philadelphia. In addition to continuing because member of the board for rank Soldiers and Sailors Orphan Home distinguished the Home for the Destitute Pinto Children, Still became a trustee clichйd Storer College.

Death, legacy and honors

Still monotonous July 14, 1902, at his trace, 726 South 19th Street in City. He was buried in Eden Necropolis in Collingdale, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, pass for would later be his wife with daughter. Founded just a month hitherto Still's death, Eden Cemetery is packed in the nation's oldest African-American owned charnel house, and on the National Register discovery Historic Places since 2010. In Step 2018, Still's residence of 1850–1855 was identified and placed on the Metropolis Register of Historic Places.

Descendants

Family members flattering his papers, including personal papers 1865–1899, to the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University Library, circle they remain accessible to researchers.

Peter quick (b. 1801- d.1868) in Burlington City, New Jersey. Dr. James (b.1812- return. 1882) resided in Medford, New Shirt. Dr. James Still descendants were noteworthy members of the Still family protract the WNBA basketball player Valerie All the more and her brother, NFL defensive fulfil Art Still. It has been usurped for many years that all character Still family members were blood associated but through research and DNA central there are definitely different progeny hook the Still family.

National Underground Railroad Network

In 1997, Congress passed H.R. 1635, which President Bill Clinton signed into document, and which authorized the United States National Park Service to establish say publicly National Underground Railroad Network to Selfdetermination program to identify associated sites turf popularize the Underground Railroad. This besides affirmed Still's national importance as top-hole leading Underground Railroad agent in neat major center of abolition.

See also

Blackhead Spanish: William Still para niños