What happens when the can't-miss kid misses?
"People used to say that he was going to be the next Bob Hannah because he was in Palmdale and he used to ride all those desert tracks that Hannah grew up on," said Mike Chavez, who used to wrench for him while working for Yamaha Motor Corp.
"He's by far the best minibike racer I've ever seen in my life, based on who all he had to beat at the time," said Dave Miller, who built his remarkable bikes.
The kid they are talking about, the one who once had "Boy Wonder" stitched on the back of his pants, is now a man. Eddie Hicks is soon to be 49 years old and living in Hudson, Florida, which is about an hour outside of Tampa. He works at Walmart and lives with the mother of his son, Josh, although they're not together anymore. Josh rides a KX80 for fun.
"He wants to race really bad right now but I can't really afford it," admits Eddie.
Hicks still follows pro racing. He's an Eli Tomac fan and can't quite bring himself to cheer for the Team Yamaha riders. ("I have mixed feelings about that," he says.) He even got back on a bike a few years ago and raced the World Vets at Glen Helen, one of his old stomping grounds. But for now, Eddie Hicks has moved about as far away as he could from his old tracks in the high desert of California in order to try and get his life back on track.
Jeff Ward. Brian Myerscough. George Holland. Erik Kehoe. Eddie Hicks. Damon Bradshaw. Brian Swink. Robbie Reynard. Kevin Windham. Ricky Carmichael. James Stewart. Mike Alessi. That's a chronological list of a dozen can't-miss kids who dominated minicycle racing and were literally superstars before they were old enough to drive a car. Eleven of those dozen names can be found in the AMA record books as AMA National or AMA Supercross winners, and some went on to rank among the greatest of all time.
The one who didn't make it is Eddie Hicks. A magazine cover boy on Yamaha's next big thing behind Hannah, Broc Glover, Rick Johnson and Ron Lechien, Hicks started breaking through in the early eighties when he was eleven years old. He lived in Palmdale and had the vast California desert as a backyard to ride on. And Eddie rode a lot.
Many of those motos were done with his best friend Rick Hemme, who was a rising star for Suzuki and a bit older than Hicks. The two friends bonded and Hicks and Hemme rode "every day" since Eddie was about five years old.
Life changed for a lot of people, including Hicks, when Hemme, Bunch, and an even younger teammate named Kyle Flemming were all killed following the 1982 NMA Grand Nationals in Ponca City, Oklahoma, when the car they were riding in was hit by a train. Hicks wasn't at the race, having suffered a broken leg while testing the new YZ80, but he was in Texas and got to see his friend Hemme before he passed away.
Driven to depression over losing his best friend, Hicks poured his heart into doing more motos out in the desert, although now he was solo. And in the sometimes tragic way life works, losing his best friend helped Eddie Hicks out a lot.
"Rick Hemme is part of the reason why I feel that I got better," Hicks says. "I was hurt from him passing away. I was real angry and I just put all the anger into the bike that year. And for some reason, everything clicked. Those guys couldn't even come near me. Later on, at a Golden States race on an 80, they couldn't even come near me. I was a half a lap ahead of them. I couldn't believe it.
Hicks was fast-tracked by Yamaha with more and more support. Chavez, then working for the Yamaha amateur program, was picked to help Hicks and his father George out.
Hicks continued winning in '83 and '84 matched up against rivals like Moore, Healey, Lewis, Surratt and more. But the Yamaha YZ80 wasn't as good as the Kawasakis and Suzukis back then, so Hicks wouldn't win the Stock class as much. However, he could easily win the Modified class—and even more so after he met a guy named Dave Miller.
So Miller went off and built Hicks a one-off, aluminum everywhere, mega-horsepower bike for the Modified classes in 1984. Everyone contacted for this story remarked on that bike. It was absolutely next-level back then and currently sits at the Troy Lee Designs shop in Corona as a memento to another time.
As good as the DMC YZ80 was, Hicks isn't sure it helped future relations with the brand he grew up on.
During the winter of 1983-'84 the editors of Motocross Action put out a one-off magazine called MiniCycle Rider-Racer. It was a snapshot of what minicycle racing looked like in the early eighties.
Hicks went to the 1984 NMA World Mini Grand Prix (the last at Saddleback Park) in April and raced his usual classes, as well as the Kawasaki Race of Champions. The KROC was an invitational race for 15 kids who had won a minicycle title in the last year. They would race three motos on 15 identical, stock Kawasaki KX80s which they would draw spoons for, turning the bikes in after each moto and then drawing again. (Although every OEM had contracted riders, they allowed them to participate in this race, a practice that ended in 1987 when Yamaha's Damon Bradshaw refused to throw his leg over a green bike.) Although he had little experience aboard a Kawasaki, Hicks took to the bike immediately, winning two of three motos and the overall ahead of Bob Moore, who was a Kawasaki rider and knew the bike well.
Hicks also added an 85cc Mod Expert sweep, though he was given a run in the first moto by Team Green's Kyle Lewis.
Later than summer over 1700 riders entered the 1984 NMA/Yamaha Grand National Championship at Ponca City, Oklahoma. They would race together over seven days for practice, qualifying and the finals. Throughout the week Hicks would battle with a pair of future 125 Supercross and Grand Prix motocross winners, Mike Healey and Bob Moore. Healey, aboard the vaunted R&D Suzukis, was thought to be Hicks' primary competition, and they would spend much of the week locked in battle. Moore, riding for Kawasaki Team Green, did manage to get a win from both of them, topping the 85cc Stock Pro handily.
Sure enough, in the next run-off was the 85cc Modified Expert, and this time Hicks put his DMC Yamaha to good use, chasing down Florida's Ron Tichenor and Texan Jason Langford for the win.
In the 105cc moto Hicks' bike seized in the first turn and Moore plowed into the back of him, knocking both out. Healey took full advantage and won the class.
Still, Hicks was angry that his stock bikes were so underpowered compared to the Kawasakis and that he could not claim the NMA Grand National Championship because of his standard bike's performance. When MXA pointed out that everybody had picked him to clean house and asked what happened, Hicks did not mince his words.
Then he made it worse.
MXA also reported that as one of the most successful minicycle riders of all time, Hicks was making between $15,000 and $30,000 a season from Yamaha.
Ponca City was followed by the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn's. Beginning in 1984 riders were limited to racing in two classes, three motos apiece. Hicks entered the 85cc (14-15) Stock and Modified classes. His rival Moore would not be there—he was 16 years old and too old for minicycle classes under AMA rules.
In the winter following the '84 season many of Hicks competitors moved up to 125s. Moore and Healey signed Suzuki; Larry Brooks got a Honda Support ride. Todd Campbell and Bader Manneh went to Team Green. The exodus made it ever more obvious that there was nobody better on a small bike than Eddie Hicks, and the hype was at full-steam ahead. Yamaha was poised to groom him to be the next one after Glover and Johnson (Lechien had departed for Team Honda). Kawasaki Team Green also saw Hicks as the next great pro racer. One problem, though—they needed him to dominate in 80s one more year.
"We had big plans," says Miller. "We had stood in that infield at Loretta's, Mark Johnson [from Kawasaki], Bruce Sternstrom, and me, and watched Eddie ride away with it. Johnson goes, 'Freaking $10,000 minibike you got.' I said, 'Excuse me? That's a $20,000 minibike.' So I said, 'Look around, Mark. There's nine Yamahas in the place and I brought three of them, and there's 800 Kawasakis. I'd much rather be doing green stuff because I want to make some money doing this.' So we struck a deal right on the spot that I would now be a Kawasaki guy.
Hicks can't recall the Team Green offer, but says that Suzuki offered him a three-year deal for $40,000 a year and also wanted him to ride 80s for one more year. He wasn't having it, though. Having ridden a 125 here and there and enjoying it, Hicks forced Yamaha's hand. If that if they wanted to keep him, it had to be on a 125.
If there's a point in Hicks life where you could look at something and see where it went sideway, it was now.
Leaving longtime sponsor O'Neal for another clothing brand was another change that Hicks regrettably went through.
Hicks rode 80s a few more times in the fall of '84 along with some 125 Intermediate races (he usually won), now with more support from Yamaha. When the calendar turned to 1985, Hicks jumped into the pros, and Boy Wonder's clock started ticking. Hicks rode the winter CMC Golden State Series as a 125 Pro, and at that time practically every top pro was racing that series. Hicks finished third in the series points behind Team Suzuki's A.J. Whiting, Honda-supported Surratt, and right ahead of some guy named Doug Dubach.
More changes awaited Hicks as Chavez was pulled off duty as Eddie's mechanic and Bob Oliver was assigned to take over. Chavez was bummed.
Hicks looks back fondly at the time he and Chavez spent together and wishes it would've worked out differently.
1985 was the year that AMA introduced the 125cc class in Supercross, with regions for East and West. It was a high-profile stepping stone that immediately opened doors for young riders to claim wins and factory rides that were otherwise reserved for those who could immediately compete in the premier 250 class—guys like Rick Johnson and Ron Lechien. Among the early winners were several of Hicks' slightly older rivals: Healey, Brooks, Bader Manneh and Todd Campbell. As a matter of fact, the weekend of Hicks' last-ever amateur race—the 1985 NMA World Mini Grand Prix, now in Las Vegas rather than Saddleback, which had closed it's doors forever—Bobby Moore won the Dallas Supercross as a factory Suzuki rider. Hicks, who turned 16 on March 31 of that year, went to Vegas and pretty dominated all but one moto in his 125cc classes, a terrible start ruining a perfect weekend to cap his amateur career.
Everyone seemed to read the crystal ball the same way: Eddie Hicks had a very bright future. Yamaha rolled out a win ad in Cycle News celebrating his swift graduation to big bikes and his exploits at the World Mini GP. The ad landed in the May 15, 1985, issue of the newspaper, four days before Hicks would race in his first AMA 125 National. With glaring hubris it boasted how quickly the teenager had stepped up on his new motorcycle.
"As a rule of thumb, moving up a class in motocross requires a period of adjustment," read the adspeak. "In Eddie Hicks' care, we're talking about 30 minutes. That's about how long it took him to adjust to his new Yamaha YZ and then bury the competition at this year's Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix.
"Riding in his first 125cc Stock Pro class race ever, Eddie dealt the competition nothing but garbage as he took the holeshot and piloted his box-stock YZ125 out of the gate, across the finish line and into the winner's circle, an area that was crowded with Yamaha riders all weekend. Riders like Damon Bradshaw and Vince Devane, the big winners in their respective classes.
The very same track in Las Vegas that hosted the World Mini Grand Prix would also be the site of a single AMA Outdoor National, just two weeks later. It would mark the pro motocross debut of Eddie Hicks, running #932 on a factory-supported YZ125, but not a full-blown works bike; Yamaha was already prepping for the coming Production Rule, which would go into effect the following season. As a result, the bike seemed to lack some power compared to the works bikes around him. Still, Hicks was a solid 7-5 for fifth overall, beating many factory riders. It was a very good debut by any standards.
"Yamahas weren't very good at the time. They were horrible," admits Chavez. "The 125s were pretty slow. It took a lot of work to try to make them be competitive. And they still didn't handle very well." Adding to the problem, as far as Hicks goes, is the fact that Miller was now focused more on Kawasakis—that's where the money was at the time. Still, Hicks' talent and slight stature gave him a fighting chance.
But not bad enough to miss his first real supercross, which would come on August 17, 1985, at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Racing in the 125cc West Region finale, Hicks ran up front and placed third behind Larry Brooks and Dean Matson, and a few spots ahead of Moore, his old rival, who placed seventh.
There is video from this race that briefly focuses on Hicks. It's plain to see that he's small on the bike, and his style resembles a young Ryan Villopoto, circa 2006-'06, when he was still small and learning the ropes on big bikes. For comparison's sake RV's first AMA 125 Supercross—the '06 Anaheim opener—was the third race of his career, following the last two outdoor nationals of '05. Twenty years earlier the '85 Rose Bowl was Hicks' third pro race, after two pro nationals. Villopoto finished second in his debut; Hicks finished third.
One week later at Washougal, Hicks lined up for the last race of 1985 and went 13-6 for ninth overall in the 125 National. Three top-ten finishes in six career motos, as well as a podium finish in his one and only SX race to that point was a good showing for the kid, which earned him national number 57. Things were looking up.
Yet not to everyone at Yamaha. Used to seeing 16-year-olds like Rick Johnson and Ron Lechien winning races, they still didn't seem completely sold on Eddie Hicks. When it came time to field a team for 1986, they were stung by the departure of Johnson to Team Honda. That and the fact that the new AMA Production Rule didn't exactly get them on the same level as the other three brands' racing equipment seemed to make them tighter than expected with the purse strings. While Honda lined up with Johnson, David Bailey, Johnny O'Mara and Micky Dymond, Yamaha would have Broc Glover, Keith Bowen and Scott Burnworth. Hicks would only be given a support deal.
The '86 AMA Supercross season opener at Anaheim is remembered for the titanic battle between Honda teammates Rick Johnson and David Bailey, but in the 125 main that night, Kawasaki's Tyson Vohland and Donny Schmit went 1-2 while Hicks was a close third. Unfortunately for Hicks, it was the highlight of his first full rookie season. Hicks didn't break the top ten again until five months later at the LA Coliseum, when he scored fourth.
Hicks' father George was usually a domineering presence at the races, while the boy stayed pretty quiet. More than a few people who I talked to for this story said that Eddie never said much. It was George who steered the boy's career. But that began to change in 1986 when took a step away, just as Eddie's results began to diminish.
"I didn't really like the situation my dad put me in," Hicks says of that critical '86 season. "After I got a fourth or something, my dad says, 'You're going to go with these guys to New York, with Willie Surratt and all them, to travel the Nationals.' So I traveled that summer with Willie Surratt, which was a nightmare.
By the summer of '86, Eddie Hicks was in a slump. Ninth overall with a fifth in one moto at Southwick was the highlight. Looking at Cycle News archives, though, you see Eddie sweeping both 125 Pro classes in the fall of 1986 on the SoCal local circuit, beating guys like Dubach, Matiasevich and future three-time AMA Motocross Champion Mike Kiedrowski. Evidently, the speed was still there, just not in the races that really mattered.
Hicks' program wasn't good, his bike wasn't good, and off the track things were heading south. The top-tens were slipping away. The big factory rides and bonuses were getting further and further away. Now guys Vohland, Surratt, Schmit and Tichenor were the ones winning 125 Supercross main events, Moore was on the European Grand Prix circuit, Healey and Brooks moved up to 250cc rides, and guys like Matiasevich, Kiedrowski and Lewis were moving up. So after four years together, Yamaha and Eddie Hicks parted ways—he was not going to be their next Johnson or Lechien, let alone Bob Hannah.
Fortunately, Kawasaki's Mark Johnson remembered Hicks from that day of standing in the infield at Loretta Lynn's and decided to give him three bikes and some parts for the new AMA National #42. It wasn't much but for Hicks, but it represented a fresh start, as he also went from JT to THOR/Hallman gear.
Hicks would score a third the next week in Houston behind Keith Turpin and his old travelling partner Surratt. Then came the San Diego, and with it Hicks' best chance to win a professional race. He started out with the holeshot, though he was soon passed by Honda Support rider Kyle Lewis, yet another minicycle rival who had just turned 16. Hicks stayed close to Lewis throughout the 15-lap main event but he could not make a pass. Lewis held on by inches and became the youngest 125 SX winner ever at just over 16 years, three months, a standard that would stay until James Stewart showed up fifteen years later.
Ironically—tragically—Kyle also had a somewhat overbearing father, Matthew Lewis. In the middle of the San Diego race Mr. Lewis suffered a heart attack. Before Kyle had even taken the checkered flag his dad in an ambulance. He died outside Jack Murphy Stadium before he could be airlifted to a nearby hospital.
So was Eddie Hicks back? An 8-3-2 to start the year in the 125 SX West Region sure seemed to indicate that he had gotten things back on track. But then as quickly as he was back, things went wrong fast for him at the Kingdome in Seattle, where he crashed and hurt his wrist. Again. He limped home in 18th. If there was a breaking point in Eddie Hicks career, it was thatr night in the Pacific Northwest.
Hicks raced the rest of the '87 125 SX West Region on his own, with a broken spirit and banged-up wrist, ending the season eighth overall. That season's 125 Regional Champions were Ron Tichenor in the East and Willie Surratt in the West.
It was already becoming plain to see that Hicks' minicycle career was defining him while his pro career was relatively a disappointment.
Hicks picked up some Yamahas for '88, raced some of those Mickey Thompson Ultracross races alongside trucks and ATVs, did the local stuff, but not to great results. Then Eddie Hicks quit. Just four years after he was the can't-miss kid won swept all six motos at Loretta Lynn's, appearing on magazine covers and started a bidding war between two OEMs, he was done with the sport.
Or so he thought. Eddie came back a little over a year later, this time without his father George, doing it for himself and the love of dirt bike racing, plus the fact that he could still go very fast and earn a few bucks here and there.
Meanwhile, on the national scene, Kiedrowski was battling Yamaha's next prodigy Damon Bradshaw for the 125 AMA National Motocross Championship, Matiasevich was dominating in the West, Moore and Healey were factory KTM riders in Europe racing the 125 Grand Prix circuit, and guys like Brooks, Tichenor, Dubach and Lewis were already in 250 Supercross. The sport went on without him.
Riding Hondas one year, Suzukis another, and even getting a KTM 500 at some points, Hicks was still a constant name at all the big Southern California races. It became a bit like "Where's Waldo?" in each week's Cycle News. For example, in 1990 at a GFI race at Perris, Hicks won the 500 Pro class. The 125 winner? Some Kawasaki Team Green hotshot named Jeremy McGrath.
More random results: In a '92 125cc Pro race at Glen Helen, '91 Loretta Lynn's Senior Mini Champion and future FMX god Mike Metzger finishes second Eddie Hicks. And then Hicks scores one point for 20th spot at the 1991 Hangtown National that was infamous for its muddy conditions, called off after a single moto. If there was a metaphor to Hicks' career, it was that miserable day at Hangtown, because that was the last point he ever scored as a professional racer before it all washed away.
It was around this time the real world caught up to Hicks as he wandered through life, trying to figure out what was next.
His old engine-builder Miller still races Hicks' struggles back to that crossroads in 1984 where he had to choose between one more year on 80s with Kawasaki or a 125 support deal with Yamaha.
Chavez, who would eventually get the next Eddie Hicks while at Yamaha by working for Bradshaw, just thinks Eddie's shy nature and rush to the pros was an issue.
All these years later, Eddie Hicks and his father George talk and get along, but there's not a ton of communication between the two. You get the sense in talking to Eddie that there's some regret for things his father did, both to him and for him. But at the same time, Hicks seems to realize that life is what it is now—and it's not what he thought it would be as that Wonder Boy racing minicycles.
Today Hicks keeps a very low profile online. He rarely posts anything on his Facebook page. As a matter of fact, as we were completing this story there were just two photos that he has posted of himself, and that was back in 2016. One with his '84 Loretta Lynn's trophy, the other from a magazine shoot on the DMC bike—the one that now sits on display in the showroom of Troy Lee Designs in Corona. Still, it's enough to see how influential he was to a generation of minicycle fans by some of their responses.
Chris Miles That pic was on my bedroom wall for a couple years. One of the Dopest minicycle photos of the 80's! Even 90's for that matter.
And that's it: Fourteen career 125 Supercross races for Eddie Hicks with seven top-tens; twelve career 125 Nationals with three top-tens. No wins in either. It's nowhere near what Eddie Hicks nor anyone else thought he would do back in those formative days. Standing on the podium indoors or out at the highest levels of professional motocross is a pretty big accomplishment, but no one who was at Loretta Lynn's in 1984 or Las Vegas in 1985 would've predicted this is how it would have turned out. Ask anyone now who was around back then and they'll all probably tell you that Eddie Hicks was the best there never was.
Round eight of the 2018 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship took place in Tampa, Florida, maybe 45 miles from where Eddie Hicks now lives. So for the first time in years, Hicks decided to go to a supercross race. He brought his son Joshua to see the sport Hicks was once practically ordained to rule. With the help of Feld Motor Sports and Cycle Trader Yamaha we got them track access. Eddie was excited, saying he hadn't been on a supercross track since he last raced one nearly thirty years ago, and at one point said that seeing the finish line was "getting me going and making me think about racing again." His son Josh said that he had been reading more about his dad's racing career and said he had been finding out that Eddie was, in his words, "really good," and he expressed a desire to race once he got his KX80 up and running.
The rest of the day was spent walking around the pits and checking things out. Hicks was grateful to everyone for getting him the passes and mentioned that he'd reconnected with some older racing friends. He seemed very happy to be back at the races.
A couple weeks later we tried to follow up with Eddie to get some more of his thoughts about the Tampa SX, what he thought of the racing and just finish this whole conversation up, but there was no response to numerous texts. Finally, we called and got that bland, automated reply: "The person you dialed is not available to receive calls at this time".
And just like that, Wonder Boy dropped off the map completely, leaving us once again with more questions than answers when it comes to the legend of Eddie Hicks.


Belonging so much to yourself that you're willing to stand alone is a wilderness.
Brené Brown puts out incredible work, TED Talks, and literature precisely at the intersection of my nerdy love for psychology, heart for authenticity, and passion for Christianity. A very wilderness she has braved on her own of merging those worlds of psychology and Christianity together, often facing adversity on both ends.
Professionally, Brené is a researcher. She is a renowned clinical psychologist with incredible books and talks on bravery and vulnerability. This book, specifically, looks into the idea of "braving the wilderness" or standing alone in a world or context all your own. Brené describes knowing your place and beliefs so firmly and having such a strong sense of self that you, as an individual, can healthily enter community with others.
She describes this wilderness, this path from what everyone wants of me and how everyone else has demanded I show up, to becoming who you most authentically are as a wilderness. A scary path that requires great courage. It was in this honesty I fell in love again with her authenticity and such precisely fitting interjections of profanity.
Do not think you can be brave with your life and your work and never disappoint anybody. It doesn't work that way.
Brené dives deeply into research regarding loneliness. While my generation of millennials are the most connected generation of all time, maintaining regular contact with exponentially more people on an hourly basis than ever in human history, we are reportedly the generation most starved for true authentic connection. Her research describes how such loneliness, such absence of deep and meaningful connection effects our entire beings, including our physical health. Yet, it's an ache we're unwilling to admit. An ache which carries great shame, often the shame of rejection or the terrifying belief that maybe that little voice in our head that keeps on whispering "You are not enough." is right.
Denying that you feel lonely makes no more sense than denying that you feel hungry.
Beyond loneliness, Brené unpacks the difficulty of relationships and the courage they often require.
Pretending everything is okay is not loyalty or love. That's fear.
I deeply love Brené and will forever and always support all things she publishes. I loved this book, have recommended it to others, and would love to read it again.
Here's my disclaimer: This book has some political parts that at a couple points made me want to stop reading (Insert your millennial jokes here.). So don't let it derail you. There is great information in this book that I've found myself often quoting in my head.
People are hard to hate from close up. Move in.
And in the vein of the lack of connectedness, if you feel like you are lacking when it comes to friends, let's talk. Comment below to start a conversation, because people need people.


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When Did John Rankin Begin Helping Slaves Escape On The Underground Railroad? (Professionals recommend)
From 1822 to 1865, Rankin, along with his wife and children, assisted hundreds of escaped slaves in their trek to freedom. Located on the Ohio River, John Rankin's home (and Ripley, Ohio in general) were considered one of the first stations on this route of the Underground Railroad.
How did the Underground Railroad help slaves escape?
Most of the enslaved people helped by the Underground Railroad escaped border states such as Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland. In the deep South, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 made capturing escaped enslaved people a lucrative business, and there were fewer hiding places for them.
What did John Rankin do for the Underground Railroad?
John Rankin (February 5, 1793 – March 18, 1886) was an American Presbyterian minister, educator and abolitionist. Upon moving to Ripley, Ohio, in 1822, he became known as one of Ohio's first and most active "conductors" on the Underground Railroad.
How did John Parker help with the Underground Railroad?
Parker, who was African American, helped hundreds of slaves to freedom in the Underground Railroad resistance movement based in Ripley, Ohio. He saved and rescued fugitive slaves for nearly fifteen years. He was one of the few black people to patent an invention before 1900.
How did the Rankin Family help escaping slaves?
Rankin, his wife, Jean, and their 13 children gave refuge to more than 2,000 escaping slaves by hiding them in the cellar beneath the barn or in the attic, as many as 12 at one time, according to the Ohio History Connection, formerly the Ohio Historical Society, which has owned the site since 1938.
How many slaves were stayed with the Rankin Family?
Built in 1825, the Rankin House was home to abolitionist and Presbyterian minister John Rankin, his wife Jean, and their 13 children. It's estimated that over 2,000 slaves seeking freedom stayed with the Rankins, sometimes as many as 12 at a time.
What happened to John Rankin because of his actions against slavery?
He helped establish the Free Presbyterian Church of America, which prohibited slave owners from becoming members. Rankin also helped form an anti-slavery society in New York and established the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society in 1835. In 1829, he established Ripley College. Rankin died on March 18, 1886, in Ironton, Ohio.
Was John Rankin a conductor on the Underground Railroad?
Aboard the Underground Railroad– John Rankin House. A National Historic Landmark, this was the home of Presbyterian minister John Rankin who is reputed to have been one of Ohio's first and most active "conductors" on the Underground Railroad.
When did Parker escape slavery?
John Parker was born a slave. In 1845, he purchased his freedom and eventually made his way to Indiana and Ohio, settling in Ripley in 1850.
How long did it take John P Parker to buy his freedom?
For eighteen years he tried to escape slavery. Meanwhile, he learned the trade of iron molding. At length he managed to save enough money to buy his freedom. He made his way north, married, and settled in the town of Ripley, Ohio, across from Kentucky.
What did John P Parker do?
John Parker, inventor and businessman, was also a prominent Underground Railroad conductor before the Civil War. He was reputedly responsible for the rescue of nearly 1,000 enslaved people between 1845 and 1865.
Why was Ripley Ohio important to escaping slaves?
With its location along the banks of the Ohio River and proximity to the slaveholding state of Kentucky, Ripley became an early stop on the Underground Railroad – a network of people and places organized to help escaping slaves find freedom in the north. Rankin also published several important anti-slavery writings.
Who has Rankin worked with?
By the Royal Photographic Society, Rankin was awarded an Honorary Fellowship. He has photographed many celebrities such as Kate Moss, Spice Girls, Lily Allen, Britney Spears, Kevin Spacey, Cate Blanchett, Queen Elizabeth II, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Juliette Binoche, Björ and more.
When did John Rankin get married?
On January 12, 1814 he married Jean Lowry and together created a family of nine sons and four daughters, all of who lived to have families of their own. In 1816 Rankin was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Abington, Virginia.
When was the John Rankin House built?
Born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, he freed himself, his crew, and their families during the American Civil War by commandeering a Confederate transport ship, CSS Planter, in Charleston harbor, on May 13, 1862, and sailing it from Confederate-controlled waters of the harbor to the U.S. blockade that
John Rankin – Ohio History Central
According to Ohio History Central John and Jane Rankin were married in 1872. He was a Presbyterian clergyman who was also a significant part of the Underground Railroad network, which helped fleeing slaves in the years leading up to the American Civil War. John Rankin died in 1865. Rankin was born on the 4th of February, 1793, in the state of Tennessee. He received his education at Washington College in Virginia and went on to serve as a preacher in the Presbyterian Church. Rankin devoted his life to the abolition of slavery in the United States.
Because slavery was legal in Kentucky, Rankin's opinions on the subject were widely dissented.
Slavery was prohibited in the state of Ohio.
Rankin was a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad in Ripley, and he welcomed African Americans seeking freedom into his home while living there.
Rankin would use a lamp to notify escaped slaves in Kentucky that it was safe for them to cross the Ohio River, which they did.
Because of the United States Constitution and the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, slave owners were able to retrieve fugitive slaves, even if they were living in a free state like Ohio at the time.
From South Carolina to Canada, escaped slaves might find refuge at Underground Railroad sites along the journey.
In her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe honored Rankin's attempts to aid African Americans in the United States.
Rankin was a Presbyterian clergyman who spent the most of his time in Ohio.
He also assisted in the formation of an anti-slavery group in New York, which later became the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society, which was founded in 1835.
The institution had a maximum enrollment of 250 students at its height.
Many of the college's students were from Kentucky, and they did not share Rankin's abolitionist viewpoints on slavery.
Some students dropped out of Ripley College and never returned. Rankin also gave lectures for the American Anti-Slavery Society in the northern United States. He was frequently the target of gang-related violence. He died on March 18, 1886, in Ironton, Ohio, after a brief illness.
OHIO'S WAR: THE CIVIL WAR IN DOCUMENTS, edited by Christine Dee, is available online. Ann Hagedorn's book, Ohio University Press, Athens, 2007
Hagedorn, Ann Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad is a book about the heroes of the Underground Railroad. Reid and Whitelaw (2002, 2002)
New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. Ohio's Statesmen, Generals, and Soldiers in the War: A Portrait of the State. Clarke Publishing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1895
Roseboom, Eugene H. The period from 1850 to 1873 is known as the Civil War Era. The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society published the book in 1944.
John Rankin (abolitionist) – Wikipedia
OHIO'S WAR: THE CIVIL WAR IN DOCUMENTS, edited by Christine Dee, ed. ; Ann Hagedorn's book, Athens: Ohio University Press, 2007. "Beyond the River" is a nonfiction book that tells the story of the Underground Railroad heroes who went undetected for decades. Reid and Whitelaw, 2002; New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. Ohio's Statesmen, Generals, and Soldiers in the War: A Documentary History ; Roseboom, Eugene H., Cincinnati, OH: Clarke, 1895. Between 1850 until 1873, the United States was in the Civil War.
Rankin was born in Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee, to Richard and Jane (Steele) Rankin, and grew up in a strictCalvinist family with his siblings and parents. His parents were well-educated, which was rare in such a rural section of the country. They were devout Presbyterians, and their children were brought up in a religious environment. Jane was a staunch opponent of slavery who would not back down. : 22–23 Beginning when he was eight years old, John's perspective on the world and his religious beliefs were profoundly influenced by two events: the Second Great Awakening revivals that were spreading through the Appalachian area, and the emergence of a slave revolt headed by Gabriel Prosser in 1800.
The opportunity to study at Washington College, under the guidance of Rev.
Following graduation, he was appointed pastor of the Abingdon Presbytery, but because his anti-slavery ideas were not tolerated, he departed Tennessee in 1817 and never returned.
Within a few months, however, he mustered the fortitude to speak out against "all forms of injustice," first broadly and then explicitly against slavery, despite Tennessee's status as a slave state.
He was taken aback when his elders replied by advising him that if he wanted to ever speak out against slavery from the pulpit again, he should consider leaving Tennessee immediately.
When Rankin stopped to preach at Lexington and Paris, Kentucky, he discovered of the need for a pastor at Concord Presbyterian Church in Carlisle, Kentucky, which he learned about while traveling north.
He stayed for four years and established a school for slaves; but, after a year, they were pushed from their schoolhouse to an empty home, and then to his friend's kitchen, by club-wielding crowds, and the kids eventually ceased attending.
A rowing crew carried him and his family over the ice-cold river during the night of December 31 – January 1, 1822. In Ripley, he established a Presbyterian academy for boys, which the young Ulysses S. Grantonce went as a student in 1838.
Ripley and the Underground Railroad
His parents, Richard and Jane (Steele) Rankin, reared him in a strict Calvinist family in the town of Dandridge, Jefferson County, Tennessee. Even though his parents came from an impoverished neighborhood, they were well-educated. As devout Presbyterians, they instilled a religious education in their children as well. In her opposition to slavery, Jane was adamant. : 22–23 Beginning when he was eight years old, John's perspective on the world and his religious faith were profoundly influenced by two events: the Second Great Awakening revivals that were sweeping through the Appalachian region at the time, and the emergence of a slave revolt led by Gabriel Prosser in 1801.
Washington College, directed by Rev.
Following graduation, he was appointed minister of the Abingdon Presbytery, but because his anti-slavery ideas were not tolerated, he departed Tennessee in 1817 and never returned.
Within a few months, however, he mustered the fortitude to speak out against "all forms of injustice," first broadly and then explicitly against slavery, despite Tennessee's standing as an abolitionist stronghold.
He was taken aback when his elders replied by advising him that if he wanted to ever fight slavery from the pulpit again, he should consider leaving Tennessee.
When Rankin stopped to preach in Lexington and Paris, Kentucky, he discovered that the Concord Presbyterian Church in Carlisle, Kentucky, was in desperate need of a preacher.
He stayed for four years and established a school for slaves; but, after a year, they were pushed from their schoolhouse to an empty home, and then to his friend's kitchen, by club-wielding crowds, and the pupils eventually stopped coming.
His family had to row over the cold river during the night of December 31st and January 1st, 1822. A Presbyterian academy for boys was built by him in Ripley, where the young Ulysses S. Grantonce went in 1838.
The real Eliza
A tale of a lady the Rankins had kept in 1838 after she had fled by crossing the frozen Ohio River with her kid in her arms was related by Rankin during a visit to Lane Theological Seminary to see one of his sons. Professor Calvin Stowe was there at the time and heard the story. Stowe's wife (Harriet Beecher Stowe) also heard the story and subsequently based the character Eliza in her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin on the woman in question.
See also: In The Underground Railroad, What Happened If The Slaves Were Caught? (Professionals recommend)
Film depiction
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati has a permanent exhibit of Brothers of the Borderland, a video that recounts Rankin's work in the Underground Railroad in Ripley and is available for viewing on demand.
Letters on Slavery
A copy of John Rankin's book, Letters On Slavery, which was first published in 1826, is on display. It wasn't long after Rankin arrived in Ripley that he found out that his brother Thomas, a trader in Augusta County, Virginia, had acquired some slaves. Eventually, he was prodded into writing a series of anti-slavery letters to his brother, which were later published in Ripley by the editor of the local newspaperThe Castigator. When the letters were collected and published in book form as Letters on Slavery in 1826, they were one of the earliest fully expressed anti-slavery viewpoints to be printed west of the Appalachian Mountains.
By the 1830s, Letters on Slavery had become required reading for abolitionists all throughout the United States, particularly in the South.
"His work on slavery was the catalyst for my involvement in the anti-slavery movement," Garrison said later of Rankin, whom he referred to as his "anti-slavery father."
Beyond the pulpit
When Theodore Weld and Rankin were involved in the formation of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833, Rankin became acquainted with him. Originally fromConnecticut, Weld had traveled toCincinnati from Oneida County, New York, to attend Lane Theological SeminaryinCincinnati, Ohio. In February 1834, Rankin joined the discussions on slavery hosted by Weld at Lane, and he later wrote a booklet on the subject's ramifications. Weld initiated a year-long series of talks throughout Ohio, beginning in November 1834 at Rankin's Ripley church, which elevated the prominence of the abolitionist cause in the state; Rankin, at Weld's encouragement, did the same.
Both Rankin and Weld were instrumental in the formation of the Ohio Anti-slavery Society, which met for the first time in Putnam, Ohio (now Zanesville) in April 1835 and was attended by a large number of people.
The moment he arrived in Chillicothe to speak at a church, stones were hurled through the open window.
In 1836, Weld requested Rankin to join the group known as "the Seventy." Rankin's commitment to the cause grew as he faced increasing criticism to his "dangerous" beliefs, even from those who opposed slavery but were concerned about igniting a slave insurrection.
A bounty of up to $3,000 was placed on his life, and in 1841, he and his sons were forced to defend their home and barn from assailants who arrived in the middle of the night and set them on fire.
Grant was a student at Rankin's Presbyterian Academy in Ripley, South Carolina.
The enactment of the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850 increased the risk and public profile of anyone who assisted fugitive slaves because it was now unlawful to do so, even in free states, as a result of the law.
Chase, in which the two men were both present.
More than one-third of the church's members accompanied him and assisted Rankin in establishing what would later become known as the Free Presbyterian Church, which may have had as many as 72 congregations before the outbreak of the American Civil War.
Following World War II, Rankin was pleased to see the Presbyterian churches in Ripley reunited.
"Freedom's Heroes"
Rankin's burial is located at Ripley's Maplewood Cemetery. In May 1892, six years after John Rankin's death, a monument commemorating Rankin and his wife, Jean Lowry Rankin, was dedicated on the grounds of the Maplewood Cemetery in Ripley, Ohio, and was appropriately called "Freedom's Heroes."
"National Abolition Hall of Fame"
As a result of his efforts, Rankin was inducted into the National Abolition Hall of Fame in Peterboro, New York, in 2013.
Peterboro, New York's National Abolition Hall of Fame inducted Rankin as a member in 2013.
John Rankin is the author of this work (1833). Slavery in the United States of America: Letters to Mr. Thomas Rankin, a shopkeeper in Middlebrook, Augusta County, Virginia Rankin, John
Garrison and Knapp, Boston, Mass. (1836). letters about American slavery addressed to Mr. Thomas Rankin, merchant in Middlebrook, Augusta County (Virginia) (2nd ed.). Charles Whipple and John Rankin were born in Newburyport, Massachusetts (1838). letters about American slavery addressed to Mr. Thomas Rankin, merchant in Middlebrook, Augusta County (Virginia) (5th ed.). Isaac Knapp is a Boston-based writer.
John Rankin is the author of this work (1830). A discourse about the deity of our Lord and Savior. Rankin, John
West Union, Ohio.OCLC47153765
West Union, Ohio (1835). The statement made by the faculty of the Lane Seminary in response to the recent issues that the school has been experiencing is examined. The author's home town of Ripley, Ohio
Rankin, John
And Thome, James A. (1836). It was held at Granville on April 27th and 28th in 1836 that the Ohio Anti-slavery Society celebrated its first anniversary, which was documented in this report. The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society is based in Cincinnati. OCLC224956762
Rankin, John (1836). An address to the churches on the subject of slavery, delivered at the first anniversary of the Ohio State Anti-slavery Society, was published in the journal The Ohioan. The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society is based in Medina, Ohio. In this instance, OCLC841409108 is associated with Rankin, John, and the Ohio Anti-slavery Society (1838). An account of the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society's third anniversary celebration, which took place on May 30, 1838, in the town of Granville, Licking County, Ohio. Cincinnati
John Rankin (author) (1840). A practical work on the covenant of grace, as given to Abraham, is being presented as a gift to families. Designed to encourage the practice of family religion. C. Edwards & Company, Ripley, Ohio
Rankin, John (1841). Unitarianism has an antidote in the form of: Contains a thorough defense of the doctrine of the Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit, the original and total depravity of man, the necessity of the agency of the Spirit to Renew the heart, the Substitution of Christ for his people, and Justification by his Righteousness, as well as a comprehensive defense of other Christian beliefs. Adapted to the reading abilities of all different types of readers. Weed and Wilson
Rankin, John (Cincinnati, Ohio) (c. 1854). A brief autobiography of Samuel Donnell, Esq. The American Reform Tract and Book Society is based in Cincinnati.
Mr. John Rankin (1830). A discourse on the deity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ The city of West Union in Ohio has an OCLC number of 47153765. (1835). The statement made by the faculty of the Lane Seminary in response to the recent issues that the school has been experiencing is reviewed. John Rankin and James A. Thome are the authors of this book which was published in Ripley, Ohio in 2007. (1836). It was held at Granville on April 27th and 28th in 1836 that the Ohio Anti-slavery Society celebrated its first anniversary, which is detailed in this report.
The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society is based in Medina, Ohio, and was founded in 1836.
An account of the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society's third anniversary celebration, which took place on May 30, 1838, in the town of Granville in Licking County.
A practical work on the covenant of grace, as it was given to Abraham, is being presented as a gift to families.
Unitarianism has an antidote in the form of Contains a thorough defense of the doctrine of the Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit, the original and total depravity of man, the necessity of the agency of the Spirit to Renew the heart, the Substitution of Christ for his people, and Justification by his Righteousness, as well as a comprehensive defense of other doctrines.
Every reader's ability has been taken into account.
American Reform Tract & Book Society, based in Cincinnati.
Birney, William (informal) (1890). James G. Birney is an American businessman. His Day and Age. D. Appleton & Company of New York
Abc.com Donna B. Jacobson is the author of this work (2018). "Biography". Rev. John Rankin and the town of Ripley, Ohio, 1820-1850. Borderlander of Light. The original version of this article was published on October 24, 2019. Hagedorn, Ann (February 2, 2020)
Retrieved February 2, 2020 (2001). Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad is a book about the heroes of the Underground Railroad. Waugh, 2009, p. 19
"John Rankin – Ohio History Central." Simon & Schuster, ISBN 0-684-87065-7
Waugh, 2009, p. 19
"John Rankin – Ohio History Central." Archived from the original on 2017-10-20
Jacobson, The Rankin House
Autobiography of John Rankin
Andrew Ritchie's full name is Andrew Ritchie (1870). The soldier, the struggle, and the victory: a brief summary of Rev. John Rankin's contributions to the anti-slavery movement. "Brothers of the Borderland" at freedomcenter.org
Cincinnati: Western Tract and Book Society
Hagedorn, p. 139
Cincinnati: Western Tract and Book Society Hagedorn, p. 58
Rankin, John (2017-10-20)
(1835). A critical examination of the faculty of Lane Seminary's statement in light of the current issues that the school has experienced. The author lives in Ripley, Ohio. The Ohio Anti-Slavery Convention's proceedings are available online. On the twenty-second, twenty-third, and twenty-fourth of April, 1835, a meeting was held in Putnam. There is no mention of a publisher. The year is 1835
Hagedorn, pp. 99-100
Hagedorn, 219
Chernow, Ron (2017). John Rankin, Antislavery Prophet, and the Free Presbyterian Church," American Presbyterians, 72:3 (Fall 1994), 167
Larry G. Willey, "John Rankin, Antislavery Prophet, and the Free Presbyterian Church," American Presbyterians, 72:3 (Fall 1994), 169
"John Rankin"
See also: When Was The Underground Railroad Started? (Solved)
'Beyond The River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad' by Ann Hagedorn is out now. Waugh, Joan (2002, ISBN 0-684-87065-7)
SimonSchuster, 2002, ISBN 0-684-87065-7 (2009). US Grant is an acronym that stands for United States Grant. It is published by the University of North Carolina Press under the ISBN 978-0-8078-3317-9.
John Rankin is the author of this work (1978). The life and times of Rev. John Rankin, an abolitionist. (Autobiography). Appalachian Press, based in Huntington, West Virginia. OCLC4702737
Ritchie, Andrew
OCLC4702737 (1870). The soldier, the struggle, and the victory: a brief summary of Rev. John Rankin's contributions to the anti-slavery movement. The Western Tract and Book Society is based in Cincinnati.
Rev. John Rankin and the town of Ripley, Ohio, 1820-1850, "Borderlander of Light" (reverendjohnrankin.org) Archived on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine on October 24, 2019. John Rankin was an ardent abolitionist who died in prison. The African American Registry
John Rankin.Ohio History Central
The African American Registry The Rankin House.Ohio Historical Society
The Rankin House.Ripley, Ohio: Freedom's Landing
John RankinatFind a Grave
Aboard the Underground Railroad – John Rankin House.National Park Service Cultural Resources
The Rankin House.Ohio Historical Society
The Underground Railroad in Ohio – The Cleveland Civil War Roundtable
The following is written by Roundtable Historian Daniel J. Ursu. It is the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable's 50th anniversary this year. Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights 2019-2020, All Rights Reserved Note from the editor: The following paper served as the historical brief for the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable's meeting in December of 2019. Our speaker for this evening will be speaking on the Colored Troops who served throughout the American Civil War. In addition, as many of you are aware, he plays a character who is associated with the Underground Railroad.
The Underground Railroad may be traced back to 1804 to its inception.
Stephen was quickly pursued by his mother, who had fled to find her son in the ensuing chaos.
The Boudes resisted, and when the rest of the town rallied to their cause, it was agreed that the community would take up the cause of escaped slaves from this point on forward.
The term "Underground Railroad" first appeared in print in 1831.
The Ohio River at Ripley, Ohio, southeast of Cincinnati was the scene of a scuffle between pursuers and a slave called Tice Davids at this period.
As a result of his frustration, the owner gave up his hunt and concluded that Davids "must have gone off on a subterranean highway." The Rankin home in Ripley, Ohio, is a historical landmark.
This phrase has gained popularity.
The "tracks" were the routes that people took to get away. Helpers were referred to as "conductors" or "stationmasters" in the olden days. Groups of runaways were referred to as "trains," and the places where they were hidden were referred to as "stations" or "depots."
The Freedom Stairway, a stairway of 100 steps going from the Ohio River to the Rankin House, which was owned by John Rankin and was one of the most renowned stations on the Underground Railroad
The Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio, which was one of the most famous stations on the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was founded by a grassroots movement, which is what we term today a "grassroots" movement. However, when professional slave catchers were dispatched to recover runaway slaves, the system evolved into an elaborate network of secret contacts between free blacks and white sympathizers, which enabled runaways to be transported safely and efficiently to the northern United States and eventually to Canada. Despite this, it was unable to establish itself as an organized business due to the fact that its actions were officially "illegal." There were escape routes in every state, but Ohio had the most extensive networks because of its strategic location along the Mason-Dixon Line and its proximity to two significant slave states, Virginia and Kentucky.
The Ohio River was particularly vital to runaways, with more than half of them relying on it for survival.
One of the most effective programs for assisting runaways was operated by Ohioans, and it was particularly important for those in and passing through Kentucky.
The total number of known voluntary railroad employees in the North was around 3,200, with approximately 1,500 of those working in Ohio – over half of the total!
In Oberlin, Ohio, there is a monument dedicated to the Underground Railroad.
In the city of Oberlin, no escaped slave was ever recaptured and returned to bondage.
Travel was primarily done on foot, but as the number of women and children increased, escorts and cars were dispatched to assist them.
One group was even packaged and delivered as freight by train or boat.
The North Star or one of the several northward tributaries of the Ohio River served as navigational aids for fugitives going on foot.
Cleveland, Ohio's Cozad-Bates House is a historic building.
For example, roughly 16 abolitionists from Salem, Ohio, used their homes as stations to spread the word about their cause.
Several churches were substantially involved, however the churches themselves did not participate publicly due of the unlawful nature of the undertaking.
Members assisted black fugitives with shelter, clothes, food, medical attention, and transportation while on the run.
The "Anti-Slavery Bugle" was known for its motto, "No Union With Slaveholders." It was founded in 1831.
The final edition of the magazine was published on May 4, 1861, exactly 22 days after the start of firing on Fort Sumter and the official start of the Civil War in the United States. The Underground Railroad in the Southbound Direction is a related link.
In the wake of the American Revolution and the Second Great Awakening, John Rankin (1793-1886), a white southerner by birth, was a leading figure in the first wave of antislavery agitation that erupted in the United States. In 1815, he became a member of the Manumission Society of Tennessee. Rankin became a licensed Presbyterian pastor in 1817, and he immediately began teaching that slaveholding was wrong. After Presbyterian authorities advised Rankin that he should never again express such views from the pulpit in Tennessee, Rankin made the decision to relocate with his family to a more liberated area.
In 1822, Rankin was forced to transfer to Ripley, Ohio, due to a combination of increasing personal risk and financial difficulties.
It was in 1824 when Rankin discovered that his brother Thomas, who was born in Virginia, had become a slaveholder.
It was first published serially in Rankin's local newspaper, the Castigator, but it was not until 1826 that the piece was published in book form by a Cincinnati publisher.
It was one of the first publications published by the newly formed American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833, when it was first published.
The Presbyterian Church split in 1838 into two groups, the New School and the Old School, on the issue of evangelicalism.
Abolitionist sentiment among New School Presbyterians began in 1846, when their General Assembly reversed a minister's suspension for advocating for slavery in the church.
It was in November 1847 that the Presbyterian comeouters came together to create the Free Synod of Cincinnati, which was eventually called the Free Presbyterian Church.
John Rankin was one of the most well-known Underground Railroad conductors in the United States, and he was the inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe's fictitious character, Eliza Harris, in Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was based on a real-life incident.
They worked in conjunction with African-American John Parker to transform the little Ohio town of Ripley into one of the most important crossing locations for fugitives from slavery.
Rankin's reputation among disgruntled Kentuckians rose to the point that a $3,000 reward was set on his head.
Despite this, the Underground Railroad conductors in Ripley's stated that not a single slave who made it to their hamlet had ever been recaptured.
He served as a vital link between the first generation of opponents of slavery and the later immediate abolitionists of the nineteenth century.
Rankin also represents tens of thousands of antislavery Southerners who opted to flee the region in protest against human bondage, according to the organization.
Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad: Hagedorn, Ann: 9780684870663: Amazon.com: Books
More Than the Riverbrings to bright life the tragic narrative of the forgotten heroes who fought alongside the Underground Railroad on the Ripley, Ohio, route. Five bends of the Ohio River may be seen from the highest point above the town of Ripley, Ohio, which is located on a hill. You can see the hills of northern Kentucky, as well as the rooftops of Ripley's riverside houses in the horizon. It's also possible to view what abolitionist John Rankin observed from his home at the top of the hill, where he lived for over forty years and used to light his lantern each night to assist escaped slaves to freedom beyond the river.
See also: How Many Black Slaves Escaped Through The Underground Railroad? (Professionals recommend)
Even when a dramatic trial in Kentucky threatened to expose the Ripley "conductors," Rankin and his family, as well as his fellow abolitionists—many of whom were former slaves themselves—risked their lives to safely transport hundreds of runaways across the river and into Ohio's free state.
Rankin was the head of the Ripley line and one of the earliest leaders of the antislavery movement.
"Beyond the River" is an inspiring story of courage and heroism that transports us to a different era and deepens our understanding of the great social movement known as the Underground Railroad.
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Beyond the Riverbrings to vivid life the heroic narrative of the unsung heroes of the Ripley, Ohio, section of the Underground Railroad in a visually stunning production. It is possible to observe five bends of the Ohio River from the tallest hill above the town of Ripley in Ohio. You can see the hills of northern Kentucky, as well as the rooftops of Ripley's riverside mansions in the distance. It's also possible to view what abolitionist John Rankin observed from his home at the top of the hill, where he lived for over forty years and used to light his lantern every night to direct escaped slaves to freedom beyond the river.
Abolitionists Rankin and his family, as well as his fellow abolitionists (some of whom were former slaves themselves), risked their lives to guide thousands of runaways safely across the river into the free state of Ohio, even when a sensational trial in Kentucky threatened to expose the Ripley "conductors." His Letters on American Slavery, a series of letters he wrote to persuade his brother in Virginia to reject slavery, made him a national figure once it was published in 1857.
He was the founder of Ripley's Aquarium and one of the early leaders of the antislavery movement.
"Beyond the River" is an inspiring story of courage and heroism that transports us to another era and deepens our understanding of the great social movement known as the Underground Railroad.
John P. Parker Home Corner of Sycamore and Front StFar western edge of town just off US 52 – turn toward the riverBorn a slave in 1827, most likely the son of his master, John P. Parker learned several trades which enabled him to earn enough money to purchase his freedom by the age of 18. He first moved to the Cincinnati area, where he met and married his wife, but by 1849 he had relocated to Ripley where he established a foundry which employed both black and white workers. He was also an inventor who received several patents, and was awarded a bronze medal for his tobacco press at the 1888 Ohio Valley Centennial Exposition.But the primary motivation for his move to Ripley was to help rescue slaves fleeing to freedom. From his prime location on the Ohio River, he not only helped slaves who had made it across the river, but rowed across to the southern shore in search of them, and is credited with many daring rescues.Parker had told his life story to a journalist in the early 1880's, but the manuscript was gathering dust in the Duke University Archives until the 1990's when it was finally published asHis Promised Land: The Autobiography of John P. Parker. NY: Norton, 1996.Order at Amazon.comThere is also adigital versionavailable at the Duke University website.His home in Ripley had stood empty since the early 1900's and was pretty much in shambles by the time his autobiography was published. Fortunately, it was dedicated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1997 and much of it has been restored, though the interior exhibits are still being developed. Trained docents provide tours during regular visiting hours, or by appointment.
Interior displays are currently under development, and include facsimiles of some of Parker's inventions, narratives covering the many facets of Parker's life from childhood to his foundry endeavors, etc. So at present, the bulk of your tour is seeing the house itself and hearing about Parker's life, the restoration project, etc from the docent.Our enthusiastic and knowledgeable docent this day was Peggy Mills Warner, a descendent of the Gist Slave Settlement which was founded in 1819 when, as specified in his will, the slaves of Samuel Gist were freed and relocated to land purchased for their use. (There is a reunion of descendants each year on the third Saturday in July. More information can be obtained from Ms. Mills Warner by calling 937-446-3948.Read more.)
Here's a shot of the restored border in the front room, overlooking the river. On the left you can see a remaining example of the original border which was used for the reconstruction. For the time period and the area, such quality would indicate that the home's owner was a relatively affluent person.In the lower right corner you can see one of Parker's original patent stencils.
There is no known photograph of John P. Parker, but this display showed images and documents relating to his children, all of whom were college educated and eventually moved out of the area. A view from the east side of the house. It's easy to imagine Parker looking across the Ohio River at night, watching for a signal from a fugitive slave in need of his help.
John Rankin HouseBorn in 1793 in eastern Tennessee, as an adult John Rankin moved his family to the free state of Ohio and built a house on Liberty Hill in 1825. With its proximity to the river and its owner's fierce opposition to slavery, the Rankin home became a stopping point on the Underground Railroad, and his family hid as many as 12 fugitive slaves at one time.As a writer and preacher, Rankin inspired others in the movement, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, who heard him tell the story of a woman who fled across the frozen Ohio carrying her children, and was saved when the ice broke before the bounty hunters could reach her.The Rankin House State Memorial interprets the work of Rankin and Ohio's contribution to the antislavery movement. It stands on the hill almost directly above the John Parker House.
How To find the Rankin HouseThe road to the Rankin House is at the far western edge of Ripley. The sign is in the photo by the white car.unfortunately, by the time you see the sign (IF you see it) you've already passed it!The white car here is heading west out of Ripley on US 52, the red van is on Second Street, which is where you need to be.Coming from the West on US 52 – As soon as you see the big Welcome to Ripley sign, make an immediate hairpin left, then make an immediate right up the hill and follow the signs.Coming from the East: Follow US 52/Second Street through the town to the western edge. At this intersection, Second Street veers right up the hill. Follow Second Street when US 52 veers left, then make an immediate right to go up the hill.
Fugitive slaves used this "Freedom Stairway" to climb the hill to Rankin's House. The wooden portion has been restored, with nameplates of donors on each step. It's difficult to find where they start at the bottom, so I'd suggest that you first walk down, then back up. Plan 5-10 minutes down, and twice that back up.
An archeological dig to the west of the house is uncovering outbuildings on the site, and is part of the docent's interpretation.
Clermont County is located in the state of Ohio.
New Richmond, OhioFormer Residence of Reverend George C. Light, 401 Front St This is one of 33 Underground Railroad and Abolitionist sites on theClermont County Underground Railroad Freedom Trail.Each site is marked by a green sign like the one you see hanging under the marquee to the right. The trail is outlined in a brochure with maps and historical summations. You'll find a downloadable brochure of the Freedom Trail at their website under the menu itemAttractions Events, or call 800-796-4282 to request a copy. Be sure to tell them you want the full annotatedFreedom Trail Driving Tour Brochure, not just the map of sites.Rev. Light (1785-1860) was a Methodist minister and agent of the American Colonization Society, formed around 1817 to repatriate freed slaves to settlements in Africa. The movement was controversial; to some, it was a black nationalist movement which presumed free blacks could never be treated fairly in the US and should be provided the opportunity to build their own nations in their ancestral homeland. But some black leaders – including Frederick Douglass – believed African Americans should remain here and fight to build an equal and just society, and they suspected the colonization movement was more about removing black people from the Americas and less about providing better opportunities for freed slaves.Either way, in the early 1820's the Society founded the settlement of Monrovia in West Africa, which in 1847 became Liberia. In all, about 15,000 freed slaves moved to Africa.
When Did Solomon Northup Help In The Underground Railroad? (Perfect answer)
Who Played In Underground Railroad? (Solution)

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Every day many millions of gallons of water loaded with arsenic, lead and other toxic metals flow from some of the most contaminated mining sites in the U.S. and into surrounding streams and ponds without being treated, The Associated Press has found.
I owe how much? Some Americans shocked by smaller refunds under new tax law.
Tax season Q&A: Is my refund coming? Can I call IRS hotline? Are auditors working?
Lie on a firearms background form? What have you got to lose?


I am greatly honored to have been selected to receive the Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award.
I am well aware of the enormous importance Professor Saito had on music and conducting not only in Japan, but also around the world. Both my parents had the good fortune to work directly with Professor Saito, and I feel that indirectly he has been a major influence on my musical development. So it is even more special to have this recognition.


To submit your contest/call/event, please use our online submission form.
Punches, punches, punches! Do you have a favorite punch? Do you like the border punches or the punch all around the page? There is such a huge variety of punches it's hard to pick just one. So for our June Challenge we would love to see what you are creating using your punches. Easy to use, portable, versatile, they are quickly becoming a must have tool. You can create anything you want as long as you use a punch or two. We are giving a way a punch along with a few other items for the challenge winner. Good Luck and get Punching.
The Rubber cafe has teamed up with Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft to host a blog hop from June 6th at 10AM EST to June 10th at 11:59PM EST. Please visit The Rubber Cafe blog to begin. Participates could win one of THREE great prizes!
Scrapbook News and Review Magazine will be accepting submissions from both paper and digital crafters until June 28, 2012.
This call is a bit different from a regular staffer call as you will be working more with the front page and our blog and the upcoming online classroom rather than inside the magazine.
We're looking for people who love to craft, who enjoy posting on blogs, who love to inspire and educate, and who love to get chatty. Not necessarily in that order.
The goal is to bring on paper crafters – a mix of scrapbookers, card makers, stampers, mixed media artists and those who like to create altered art and home décor. Please note that this position is for both the magazine and our upcoming online classroom.
SNR Magazine will be accepting submissions from both paper and digital crafters until June 28, 2012 and staffers will be announced within two weeks of the deadline.
For this call, we're searching for card makers, stampers, mixed media artists and scrapbookers. Please note that this is for the magazine only and is not affiliated with the SNR classroom or the instructor/writer call.
It's time for another call for sketch designers for Let's Capture These Sketches (LCTS)! If you love creating sketches, then this team is for you!!
Please send us 3 of your favourite sketches that display your style (black and white only please).
Tell us why you would love to be a part of this fun and creative team!
•Promote LCTS and Let's Capture Our Memories (LCOM) on your blog and signature lines when possible.
•Participate in blog hops and special events when they are run.
This is a 4 month Term position from July – October 2012. LCTS Call is Open to Past and Present Sketch Team Members. This call is availableto all North Americans and internationally.
It's time for another call for layout designers for Let's Capture These Sketches (LCTS)! If you love creating working with sketches, then this team is for you!
Please send us 3 recent layouts that display your style. 1 layout most have been created using a LCTS sketch, please specify which one.
This is a 4 month Term position from July – October 2012. LCTS Call is Open to Past and Present Sketch Team Members. This call is available to all North Americans and internationally. Please e-mail your entries to [email protected] The New Sketch Team will be announced on June 22, 2012.
It's time for another call for card designers for Let's Capture These Sketches (LCTS)!
If you love creating working with card sketches, then this team is for you!!!
Please send us 3 recent cards that display your style. 1 card must have been created using a LCTS card sketch, please specify which one.
It's time for another call for card sketch designers for Let's Capture These Sketches (LCTS)!!!
If you love creating card sketches, then this team is for you!!!
•Opportunity to design for a growing and talented sketch blog!
•Recognition for you and your blog!
•Experience, inspiration and the chance to be on an amazing team!!
Are you ready to get your scrap on?
Scrapping Everyday Miracles invites you to join them in creating with a fun and fabulous sketch this month.
You will have from June 18 – 30 to complete your sketch inspired layout. Linking up in time will get you entered to win a series of Donna Downey PanPastel workshops. You can get in on all the fun by visiting.
Silhouette Australia is currently seeking submissions for the upcoming first issue of their new online publication.
• Your project MUST have elements that have been made using the Silhouette Cameo Electronic cutting tool.
• Submitted projects must be new creations, that have been previously unpublished on a blog or any other publication.
• This is an Australian publication, but we will consider projects submitted from any Country.
• The release date of this edition coincides with Fathers Day in Australia, so we will feature some Father related projects, but we require a good variety of themes also for coming issues.
This entry was written by Angie and posted on June 13, 2012 at 8:00 am	and filed under Calls, Competitions, Events, Scrapbooking, scrapscene. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.	Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.


Nearly one in three business fail after being impacted by a disaster. Another 25% close their doors within the first year following. In spite of these terrifying facts, over 75% of businesses do no have a business continuity plan.
In most cases, this is because they don't know where to start and the process can appear overwhelming.
Safeguard Iowa Partnership is partnering with West Des Moines Police Department and Polk County Emergency Management to host a 4 hour workshop on business continuity planning March 12th.
This workshop will guide you through the development of your basic plan and provide you with tools to make the job manageable.
The business continuity plan overview. Putting it all together.


Leu Gardens is a quaint 50-acre botanical gardens nestled in the Winter Park area of Orlando! Each garden is designed specifically to further the goal to inspire visitors to appreciate and understand plants. Donated to the city of Orlando in 1961 by Mr. Harry P. Leu and his wife, this garden is a favorite spot among locals.
Opening every day from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., the daytime admission includes the gardens and Leu House Museum, a turn-of-the century building structured to reflect the families who once called this home. The historic Leu manor offers 30-minute guided tours starting at 10:00 a.m. with the last tour at 3:30 p.m.
In addition to enjoying the foliage and green ambiance, Leu Gardens is the site of many public and private events. Guests can enjoy story time for the youngsters, after hours jazz strolls, concerts, classes and a variety of seasonal events. One of the most popular private events is the monthly Date Night Movies on the lawn, where attendants can bring chairs, blankets, and pack a picnic to enjoy under the stars, all for $6.
There is so much to see and do in Orlando, so don't miss out on any of the local hidden treasures.. For information on other things to do in Orlando, contact a VillaDirect Guest Service associate at 866-934-9177 or guest@villadirect.com for advice.


We can tailor our training to fit your needs. Simply tell us what you need and we will work with you to put it together.
Landing Zone (LZ) set up and marking in high dust areas. This training is not only for the ground crews, but the air crews as well. Patient packaging must be complete, and the patient must be protected. Aircrew coordination is a big part of this training for dust landings.
Moving to and from aircraft at night for patient drop off and report. Real training for both the air and ground crews with patient treatment and hand-offs. This is a critical time for the patient, and the point where most accidents happen that cause additional harm to the patient. These mishaps worsen the patient's outcome, and increase the morbidity and mortality rate. This is also a dangerous time for those unfamiliar with the aircraft.
Learning multiple ways to call in an aircraft for patient pickup. For this particular scenario, the Buzz Saw Method was used. Just because you have communications with the aircraft does not mean they can find you. This gives the air and ground crew not just training with landing zone preparations, but also patient treatment, patient hand-off, Night Vision training, and different ways of signaling the aircraft. You're not always going to have flashing lights.
Custom Course Example: BASIC SWAT Course jointed with TATCTICAL COMBAT CASUALTY CARE (TCCC) for advanced Tactical Paramedic or Law Enforcement training. This makes teaches everyone both roles, makes both jobs easier to intergrade with one another, and builds in life saving skills that match the tactical environment for Law Enforcement.
Testing your ability with your gear, pushing the new and old EMS, Nursing and Doctors past the point of comfort.
Sweating and still having fun!