Inscription: Aged 70y, 12d
Son of Joseph & Susannah (Mills) Atkinson.
Husband of Abigail Oren, married September 20, 1815 in Clinton Co, OH.
Cephas Atkinson was born in York County, Pa., in 1790. Married Abigail Oren who was from Tennessee and was born December 1795. Orthodox Friends, were married at Center Meeting, Clinton County, Ohio, in 1815. He was a farmer and a slave runner.
He had: 100 acres in Greene County, Ohio
1000 acres in Clark County, Ohio sold in 1838
333 acres in Mingo Valley bought in 1838
1500 acres in Madison County
----------------------------------------------------------------------
TAKEN FROM A HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Cephas Atkinson was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1799. His wife Abigail Oren, was a native of Tennessee, and was born in December, 1795. They were Orthodox Friends and were married by the rights of their church at Center Meeting, in Clinton County, Ohio, in the year 1815. They began life in a very humble manner, moving to a rude cabin on a lease in the neighborhood, and hauling their worldly goods upon a one horse sled. By the strictest economy in the course of a few years, he was able to purchase a hundred acres of land in Greene County. This he occupied and improved, and in due time bought a tract of a thousand acres in Clark. He gave his attention to stock raising, and prospered continually. In the year 1838, thinking to better his condition generally and provide for the future of his increasing family, he sold his lands in Clark and bought of Otho Johnson, in the Mingo Valley, the farm comprising of 333 acres, and included the farm of Maria Hunter, as well as the site of Mingo Village. Mr. Atkinson paid $25 per acre for these lands, and his object in coming to Champaign County, was to give more attention to raising grain and less to the stock business....a plan which was never fully executed. He became the father of a large family, eight of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, but the older sons were never permanent residents of Wayne Township. Near the close of his life he purchased 1,500 acres of land in Madison County.
Of his family, the following brief summary may be made: Isaac married Nancy Gray, of Greene County; Levi married Mary B. Phillips, of Madison County; John Married Nancy Phillips, of Madison county; Joseph twice married..his first to Sarah Edwards, and his second to Alice Gladden; Jane married William Hannah, a Scotchman; William married Lucinda Fleming, a widow; Margaret C. married James Hunt, of Highland County, and is the only child who became a permanent resident of Champaign County; Thomas married Louisa Owen, of Kentucky.
Mr. Atkinson and wife, as has been stated, were members of the Orthodox Friends Church, were piously devoted to it's principles of peace which this denomination in known to advocate. At one time in his life, Mr. Atkinson in obedience to his peace principles, refused to train at a general muster. He was fined, and, refusing to pay the fine, the officer levied upon and sold the side-saddle of Mrs. Atkinson. Mr. Atkinson was born, cradled and nurtured in the anti-slavery sentiments of his church, and from early manhood to ripe old age he spoke, prayed, sacrificed and planned to free the oppressed and strike the shackles of bondage from the limbs of the black man of the South. His house, in the Mingo Valley, was known as a place of refuge for the panting fugitive pursued by the master who would drag him back to bandage. The escaping slave always found in Cephas Atkinson a friend...one who secreted, recognized or obeyed a law of the land which made him a slave-catcher, but he did recognize a higher law that offered liberty to the bondman and equality before the law to all. A volume might be written of the underground railroad experience of this conscientious old Quaker, but fortunately for the historian, the record is buried with the martyr. The crack of the whip of the slave-owner, the baying of the blood-hound, the groans of the oppressed slave, have become things of the buried past, and are now only spoken of as relics of the barbarism of the days gone by. Cephas Atkinson was scrupulously exact in his dealings with men, paying and exacting the last penny; uncompromising in the church, diligent in business, fervent in spirit. He died possessed of a large estate, valued at nearly $100,000. Though he did not live to see the realization of the hope of his life (the extinction of slavery), yet he died in the shadow of coming events which foretold freedom to the oppressed. He died November 1860, aged seventy. His wife died December, 1875, aged eighty years.
Son of Joseph & Susannah (Mills) Atkinson.
Husband of Abigail Oren, married September 20, 1815 in Clinton Co, OH.
Cephas Atkinson was born in York County, Pa., in 1790. Married Abigail Oren who was from Tennessee and was born December 1795. Orthodox Friends, were married at Center Meeting, Clinton County, Ohio, in 1815. He was a farmer and a slave runner.
He had: 100 acres in Greene County, Ohio
1000 acres in Clark County, Ohio sold in 1838
333 acres in Mingo Valley bought in 1838
1500 acres in Madison County
----------------------------------------------------------------------
TAKEN FROM A HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Cephas Atkinson was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1799. His wife Abigail Oren, was a native of Tennessee, and was born in December, 1795. They were Orthodox Friends and were married by the rights of their church at Center Meeting, in Clinton County, Ohio, in the year 1815. They began life in a very humble manner, moving to a rude cabin on a lease in the neighborhood, and hauling their worldly goods upon a one horse sled. By the strictest economy in the course of a few years, he was able to purchase a hundred acres of land in Greene County. This he occupied and improved, and in due time bought a tract of a thousand acres in Clark. He gave his attention to stock raising, and prospered continually. In the year 1838, thinking to better his condition generally and provide for the future of his increasing family, he sold his lands in Clark and bought of Otho Johnson, in the Mingo Valley, the farm comprising of 333 acres, and included the farm of Maria Hunter, as well as the site of Mingo Village. Mr. Atkinson paid $25 per acre for these lands, and his object in coming to Champaign County, was to give more attention to raising grain and less to the stock business....a plan which was never fully executed. He became the father of a large family, eight of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, but the older sons were never permanent residents of Wayne Township. Near the close of his life he purchased 1,500 acres of land in Madison County.
Of his family, the following brief summary may be made: Isaac married Nancy Gray, of Greene County; Levi married Mary B. Phillips, of Madison County; John Married Nancy Phillips, of Madison county; Joseph twice married..his first to Sarah Edwards, and his second to Alice Gladden; Jane married William Hannah, a Scotchman; William married Lucinda Fleming, a widow; Margaret C. married James Hunt, of Highland County, and is the only child who became a permanent resident of Champaign County; Thomas married Louisa Owen, of Kentucky.
Mr. Atkinson and wife, as has been stated, were members of the Orthodox Friends Church, were piously devoted to it's principles of peace which this denomination in known to advocate. At one time in his life, Mr. Atkinson in obedience to his peace principles, refused to train at a general muster. He was fined, and, refusing to pay the fine, the officer levied upon and sold the side-saddle of Mrs. Atkinson. Mr. Atkinson was born, cradled and nurtured in the anti-slavery sentiments of his church, and from early manhood to ripe old age he spoke, prayed, sacrificed and planned to free the oppressed and strike the shackles of bondage from the limbs of the black man of the South. His house, in the Mingo Valley, was known as a place of refuge for the panting fugitive pursued by the master who would drag him back to bandage. The escaping slave always found in Cephas Atkinson a friend...one who secreted, recognized or obeyed a law of the land which made him a slave-catcher, but he did recognize a higher law that offered liberty to the bondman and equality before the law to all. A volume might be written of the underground railroad experience of this conscientious old Quaker, but fortunately for the historian, the record is buried with the martyr. The crack of the whip of the slave-owner, the baying of the blood-hound, the groans of the oppressed slave, have become things of the buried past, and are now only spoken of as relics of the barbarism of the days gone by. Cephas Atkinson was scrupulously exact in his dealings with men, paying and exacting the last penny; uncompromising in the church, diligent in business, fervent in spirit. He died possessed of a large estate, valued at nearly $100,000. Though he did not live to see the realization of the hope of his life (the extinction of slavery), yet he died in the shadow of coming events which foretold freedom to the oppressed. He died November 1860, aged seventy. His wife died December, 1875, aged eighty years.
Inscription: Aged 70y, 12d
Son of Joseph & Susannah (Mills) Atkinson.
Husband of Abigail Oren, married September 20, 1815 in Clinton Co, OH.
Cephas Atkinson was born in York County, Pa., in 1790. Married Abigail Oren who was from Tennessee and was born December 1795. Orthodox Friends, were married at Center Meeting, Clinton County, Ohio, in 1815. He was a farmer and a slave runner.
He had: 100 acres in Greene County, Ohio
1000 acres in Clark County, Ohio sold in 1838
333 acres in Mingo Valley bought in 1838
1500 acres in Madison County
----------------------------------------------------------------------
TAKEN FROM A HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Cephas Atkinson was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1799. His wife Abigail Oren, was a native of Tennessee, and was born in December, 1795. They were Orthodox Friends and were married by the rights of their church at Center Meeting, in Clinton County, Ohio, in the year 1815. They began life in a very humble manner, moving to a rude cabin on a lease in the neighborhood, and hauling their worldly goods upon a one horse sled. By the strictest economy in the course of a few years, he was able to purchase a hundred acres of land in Greene County. This he occupied and improved, and in due time bought a tract of a thousand acres in Clark. He gave his attention to stock raising, and prospered continually. In the year 1838, thinking to better his condition generally and provide for the future of his increasing family, he sold his lands in Clark and bought of Otho Johnson, in the Mingo Valley, the farm comprising of 333 acres, and included the farm of Maria Hunter, as well as the site of Mingo Village. Mr. Atkinson paid $25 per acre for these lands, and his object in coming to Champaign County, was to give more attention to raising grain and less to the stock business....a plan which was never fully executed. He became the father of a large family, eight of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, but the older sons were never permanent residents of Wayne Township. Near the close of his life he purchased 1,500 acres of land in Madison County.
Of his family, the following brief summary may be made: Isaac married Nancy Gray, of Greene County; Levi married Mary B. Phillips, of Madison County; John Married Nancy Phillips, of Madison county; Joseph twice married..his first to Sarah Edwards, and his second to Alice Gladden; Jane married William Hannah, a Scotchman; William married Lucinda Fleming, a widow; Margaret C. married James Hunt, of Highland County, and is the only child who became a permanent resident of Champaign County; Thomas married Louisa Owen, of Kentucky.
Mr. Atkinson and wife, as has been stated, were members of the Orthodox Friends Church, were piously devoted to it's principles of peace which this denomination in known to advocate. At one time in his life, Mr. Atkinson in obedience to his peace principles, refused to train at a general muster. He was fined, and, refusing to pay the fine, the officer levied upon and sold the side-saddle of Mrs. Atkinson. Mr. Atkinson was born, cradled and nurtured in the anti-slavery sentiments of his church, and from early manhood to ripe old age he spoke, prayed, sacrificed and planned to free the oppressed and strike the shackles of bondage from the limbs of the black man of the South. His house, in the Mingo Valley, was known as a place of refuge for the panting fugitive pursued by the master who would drag him back to bandage. The escaping slave always found in Cephas Atkinson a friend...one who secreted, recognized or obeyed a law of the land which made him a slave-catcher, but he did recognize a higher law that offered liberty to the bondman and equality before the law to all. A volume might be written of the underground railroad experience of this conscientious old Quaker, but fortunately for the historian, the record is buried with the martyr. The crack of the whip of the slave-owner, the baying of the blood-hound, the groans of the oppressed slave, have become things of the buried past, and are now only spoken of as relics of the barbarism of the days gone by. Cephas Atkinson was scrupulously exact in his dealings with men, paying and exacting the last penny; uncompromising in the church, diligent in business, fervent in spirit. He died possessed of a large estate, valued at nearly $100,000. Though he did not live to see the realization of the hope of his life (the extinction of slavery), yet he died in the shadow of coming events which foretold freedom to the oppressed. He died November 1860, aged seventy. His wife died December, 1875, aged eighty years.
Son of Joseph & Susannah (Mills) Atkinson.
Husband of Abigail Oren, married September 20, 1815 in Clinton Co, OH.
Cephas Atkinson was born in York County, Pa., in 1790. Married Abigail Oren who was from Tennessee and was born December 1795. Orthodox Friends, were married at Center Meeting, Clinton County, Ohio, in 1815. He was a farmer and a slave runner.
He had: 100 acres in Greene County, Ohio
1000 acres in Clark County, Ohio sold in 1838
333 acres in Mingo Valley bought in 1838
1500 acres in Madison County
----------------------------------------------------------------------
TAKEN FROM A HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Cephas Atkinson was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1799. His wife Abigail Oren, was a native of Tennessee, and was born in December, 1795. They were Orthodox Friends and were married by the rights of their church at Center Meeting, in Clinton County, Ohio, in the year 1815. They began life in a very humble manner, moving to a rude cabin on a lease in the neighborhood, and hauling their worldly goods upon a one horse sled. By the strictest economy in the course of a few years, he was able to purchase a hundred acres of land in Greene County. This he occupied and improved, and in due time bought a tract of a thousand acres in Clark. He gave his attention to stock raising, and prospered continually. In the year 1838, thinking to better his condition generally and provide for the future of his increasing family, he sold his lands in Clark and bought of Otho Johnson, in the Mingo Valley, the farm comprising of 333 acres, and included the farm of Maria Hunter, as well as the site of Mingo Village. Mr. Atkinson paid $25 per acre for these lands, and his object in coming to Champaign County, was to give more attention to raising grain and less to the stock business....a plan which was never fully executed. He became the father of a large family, eight of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, but the older sons were never permanent residents of Wayne Township. Near the close of his life he purchased 1,500 acres of land in Madison County.
Of his family, the following brief summary may be made: Isaac married Nancy Gray, of Greene County; Levi married Mary B. Phillips, of Madison County; John Married Nancy Phillips, of Madison county; Joseph twice married..his first to Sarah Edwards, and his second to Alice Gladden; Jane married William Hannah, a Scotchman; William married Lucinda Fleming, a widow; Margaret C. married James Hunt, of Highland County, and is the only child who became a permanent resident of Champaign County; Thomas married Louisa Owen, of Kentucky.
Mr. Atkinson and wife, as has been stated, were members of the Orthodox Friends Church, were piously devoted to it's principles of peace which this denomination in known to advocate. At one time in his life, Mr. Atkinson in obedience to his peace principles, refused to train at a general muster. He was fined, and, refusing to pay the fine, the officer levied upon and sold the side-saddle of Mrs. Atkinson. Mr. Atkinson was born, cradled and nurtured in the anti-slavery sentiments of his church, and from early manhood to ripe old age he spoke, prayed, sacrificed and planned to free the oppressed and strike the shackles of bondage from the limbs of the black man of the South. His house, in the Mingo Valley, was known as a place of refuge for the panting fugitive pursued by the master who would drag him back to bandage. The escaping slave always found in Cephas Atkinson a friend...one who secreted, recognized or obeyed a law of the land which made him a slave-catcher, but he did recognize a higher law that offered liberty to the bondman and equality before the law to all. A volume might be written of the underground railroad experience of this conscientious old Quaker, but fortunately for the historian, the record is buried with the martyr. The crack of the whip of the slave-owner, the baying of the blood-hound, the groans of the oppressed slave, have become things of the buried past, and are now only spoken of as relics of the barbarism of the days gone by. Cephas Atkinson was scrupulously exact in his dealings with men, paying and exacting the last penny; uncompromising in the church, diligent in business, fervent in spirit. He died possessed of a large estate, valued at nearly $100,000. Though he did not live to see the realization of the hope of his life (the extinction of slavery), yet he died in the shadow of coming events which foretold freedom to the oppressed. He died November 1860, aged seventy. His wife died December, 1875, aged eighty years.
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