According to Washington County Historian Jeremy Elliott, he’s related to about three-fourths of Washington County.
“The first picture is of my 4th great uncle, (maternal side), William Penn Trueblood, (1800-1880), brother to my 4th great grandmother, Margaret “Peggy” Trueblood, wife of Jehosophat Morris,” said Elliott.
William migrated to Washington County at 15 years of age with his parents and siblings, who were Quakers, settling in the Old Blue River Friends Community.
William was primarily a farmer, but secretly, he was also the Head of the Washington County Underground Railroad Advisory Board, a station master and conductor, on our county’s very successful operation for assisting fugitive slaves.
William was described as methodically intelligent, stoic, honest and faithful.
The scope of his importance to the overall operation will never be fully understood, noted Elliott, but cannot be understated, when looking at the overall success the route had through the county.
The 2nd picture is of his home, this he shared with his wife Ann White, where they had 7 children.
This home constructed in the early 1850’s is still standing today, I have toured it!, it is in the center of the field just north of the Quaker Orthodox Church and is currently a rental property.
This information and more will be in the new UGRR display at the Stevens Museum, opening in March.
