George DeBaptiste
This file appears in: The Georgetown Neighborhood: Network to Freedom
George DeBaptiste, a well-known Underground Railroad conductor, settled in Madison in 1837. He gained notoriety for legally challenging the 1831 Indiana law that required African Americans to post a $500 bond to live in the state. DeBaptiste reportedly helped over 180 freedom seekers between 1841 and 1846. He then moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he continued his anti-slavery efforts.
This file appears in: The Georgetown Neighborhood: Network to Freedom
The Georgetown Neighborhood: Network to Freedom
Proximity to the Ohio River gave rise to Madison's Georgetown Neighborhood, a community of free Blacks dating back to the 1820s. About 50 black families lived in the Georgetown neighborhood, located along Walnut Street north of Main Street.…