Although the northern Illinois chapters of the story of Susan Sukey Richardson s escape from slavery on the Underground Railroad are documented, the part played by southern Illinois in that historic episode has remained obscure. Carol Pirtle changes that with her investigation into the 1843 suit Andrew Borders lodged against William Hayes, charging his neighbor with helping slaves from the Borders estate escape to Galesburg. In conjunction with her probe into the past, Pirtle also discovered the Hayes correspondence.Pirtle documents Hayes s involvement in the Illinois Underground Railroad...
Although the northern Illinois chapters of the story of Susan Sukey Richardson s escape from slavery on the Underground Railroad are documented, the p...