~BENAJAH GUERNSEY ROOTS
Abolitionist, Educator, Civil Engineer, Lawyer
Benajah married Martha Sibley Holt, daughter of Oliver Holt and Martha Sibley, from Willington, Tolland County, Connecticut, on
20 October 1834. Benajah later came to Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois, and after purchasing his land and building a cabin, he returned to CT for his family. The cabin included a loft to house one student, who would board with the Roots' family. One of Benajah's students was John A. Logan. The 1850 census shows the Roots' family living in Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois. Benajah and Mary would have six children, (known), : O. G. (son), born 1836 in CT., P. K. (son) born 1839 in CT, Logan H., born 1841 in IL, Martha E., born 1845 in IL, Charles and Ann, twins, born 1849 in Illinois
In 1854, Benajah built a frame home, which served as both a family home and a school, known as Locust Hill Farm/Locust Hill Academy, in Tamaroa, Perry County, Illinios. (Tamaroa is named after the Tamaroa, an Illiniwek people). Benajah Roots was a Civil War abolitionist who trafficked slaves to freedom through Illinois into Canada. A secret passage was discovered in the basement of the Locust Farm home, and it is believed to have been used for runaway slaves during the Underground Railroad years. The home is now proven to be part of the storied Underground Railroad where slaves were hidden until it was safe to travel.
Benajah Roots was also a lawyer, his most well know case being that of the trial of an escaped slave, the Jim Gray Case, 1859-1860. Roots risked his own life to fight the legal battle that he ultimately won to help Jim Grey remain a free man. As a civil engineer, he surveyed much of the land for the Illinois Central Railroad. Benajah also was a politically powerful, pioneering educator. In 1865, Roots was appointed a member of the Board of Education of the State of Illinois. Benajah Roots became known as "Father Roots" for his leading role in education in the state of Illinois. In the late 1850s, Benajah Roots helped organize support for the first normal school in the Mississippi Valley - Southern Illinois University. He lobbied for the school to be in Tamaroa, but the school was built in Normal, Illinois. Also known for his church work, Benajah Roots was the president of a national Sunday School Association. While he was attending a meeting in Chicago, his horses were spooked and ran away with his carriage. Mrs. Roots was thrown from the carriage, and died a few hours later. It is said that all the trains stopped that day out of respect for the family. Benajah remarried in Perry County, Illinois, on 20 December 1864, to Mrs. E. R. Saunders, from Connecticut, who had married first Asa L Saunders on Mar 26, 1854, in Perry County, Illinois
After Benajah's death, Locust Hill Farm/Academy, went to his daughter, Martha, whose married name was Kimzey [James Kimsey]. The farm was in the Kimsey family until 1905, known as the Kimsey Place. The railroad ran adjacent to the farm, and the crossing was called Kimsey Crossing. Jean Ibendahl inherited the home in 1964, she and her husband, gifted the surrounding farm acreage to Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1984, and the university has since sold the ground with the proceeds being used by the university for agricultural scholarships. In 2012, the home itself, was in the possession of the government's Fannie Mae housing program. ~
Abolitionist, Educator, Civil Engineer, Lawyer
Benajah married Martha Sibley Holt, daughter of Oliver Holt and Martha Sibley, from Willington, Tolland County, Connecticut, on
20 October 1834. Benajah later came to Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois, and after purchasing his land and building a cabin, he returned to CT for his family. The cabin included a loft to house one student, who would board with the Roots' family. One of Benajah's students was John A. Logan. The 1850 census shows the Roots' family living in Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois. Benajah and Mary would have six children, (known), : O. G. (son), born 1836 in CT., P. K. (son) born 1839 in CT, Logan H., born 1841 in IL, Martha E., born 1845 in IL, Charles and Ann, twins, born 1849 in Illinois
In 1854, Benajah built a frame home, which served as both a family home and a school, known as Locust Hill Farm/Locust Hill Academy, in Tamaroa, Perry County, Illinios. (Tamaroa is named after the Tamaroa, an Illiniwek people). Benajah Roots was a Civil War abolitionist who trafficked slaves to freedom through Illinois into Canada. A secret passage was discovered in the basement of the Locust Farm home, and it is believed to have been used for runaway slaves during the Underground Railroad years. The home is now proven to be part of the storied Underground Railroad where slaves were hidden until it was safe to travel.
Benajah Roots was also a lawyer, his most well know case being that of the trial of an escaped slave, the Jim Gray Case, 1859-1860. Roots risked his own life to fight the legal battle that he ultimately won to help Jim Grey remain a free man. As a civil engineer, he surveyed much of the land for the Illinois Central Railroad. Benajah also was a politically powerful, pioneering educator. In 1865, Roots was appointed a member of the Board of Education of the State of Illinois. Benajah Roots became known as "Father Roots" for his leading role in education in the state of Illinois. In the late 1850s, Benajah Roots helped organize support for the first normal school in the Mississippi Valley - Southern Illinois University. He lobbied for the school to be in Tamaroa, but the school was built in Normal, Illinois. Also known for his church work, Benajah Roots was the president of a national Sunday School Association. While he was attending a meeting in Chicago, his horses were spooked and ran away with his carriage. Mrs. Roots was thrown from the carriage, and died a few hours later. It is said that all the trains stopped that day out of respect for the family. Benajah remarried in Perry County, Illinois, on 20 December 1864, to Mrs. E. R. Saunders, from Connecticut, who had married first Asa L Saunders on Mar 26, 1854, in Perry County, Illinois
After Benajah's death, Locust Hill Farm/Academy, went to his daughter, Martha, whose married name was Kimzey [James Kimsey]. The farm was in the Kimsey family until 1905, known as the Kimsey Place. The railroad ran adjacent to the farm, and the crossing was called Kimsey Crossing. Jean Ibendahl inherited the home in 1964, she and her husband, gifted the surrounding farm acreage to Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1984, and the university has since sold the ground with the proceeds being used by the university for agricultural scholarships. In 2012, the home itself, was in the possession of the government's Fannie Mae housing program. ~
~BENAJAH GUERNSEY ROOTS
Abolitionist, Educator, Civil Engineer, Lawyer
Benajah married Martha Sibley Holt, daughter of Oliver Holt and Martha Sibley, from Willington, Tolland County, Connecticut, on
20 October 1834. Benajah later came to Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois, and after purchasing his land and building a cabin, he returned to CT for his family. The cabin included a loft to house one student, who would board with the Roots' family. One of Benajah's students was John A. Logan. The 1850 census shows the Roots' family living in Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois. Benajah and Mary would have six children, (known), : O. G. (son), born 1836 in CT., P. K. (son) born 1839 in CT, Logan H., born 1841 in IL, Martha E., born 1845 in IL, Charles and Ann, twins, born 1849 in Illinois
In 1854, Benajah built a frame home, which served as both a family home and a school, known as Locust Hill Farm/Locust Hill Academy, in Tamaroa, Perry County, Illinios. (Tamaroa is named after the Tamaroa, an Illiniwek people). Benajah Roots was a Civil War abolitionist who trafficked slaves to freedom through Illinois into Canada. A secret passage was discovered in the basement of the Locust Farm home, and it is believed to have been used for runaway slaves during the Underground Railroad years. The home is now proven to be part of the storied Underground Railroad where slaves were hidden until it was safe to travel.
Benajah Roots was also a lawyer, his most well know case being that of the trial of an escaped slave, the Jim Gray Case, 1859-1860. Roots risked his own life to fight the legal battle that he ultimately won to help Jim Grey remain a free man. As a civil engineer, he surveyed much of the land for the Illinois Central Railroad. Benajah also was a politically powerful, pioneering educator. In 1865, Roots was appointed a member of the Board of Education of the State of Illinois. Benajah Roots became known as "Father Roots" for his leading role in education in the state of Illinois. In the late 1850s, Benajah Roots helped organize support for the first normal school in the Mississippi Valley - Southern Illinois University. He lobbied for the school to be in Tamaroa, but the school was built in Normal, Illinois. Also known for his church work, Benajah Roots was the president of a national Sunday School Association. While he was attending a meeting in Chicago, his horses were spooked and ran away with his carriage. Mrs. Roots was thrown from the carriage, and died a few hours later. It is said that all the trains stopped that day out of respect for the family. Benajah remarried in Perry County, Illinois, on 20 December 1864, to Mrs. E. R. Saunders, from Connecticut, who had married first Asa L Saunders on Mar 26, 1854, in Perry County, Illinois
After Benajah's death, Locust Hill Farm/Academy, went to his daughter, Martha, whose married name was Kimzey [James Kimsey]. The farm was in the Kimsey family until 1905, known as the Kimsey Place. The railroad ran adjacent to the farm, and the crossing was called Kimsey Crossing. Jean Ibendahl inherited the home in 1964, she and her husband, gifted the surrounding farm acreage to Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1984, and the university has since sold the ground with the proceeds being used by the university for agricultural scholarships. In 2012, the home itself, was in the possession of the government's Fannie Mae housing program. ~
Abolitionist, Educator, Civil Engineer, Lawyer
Benajah married Martha Sibley Holt, daughter of Oliver Holt and Martha Sibley, from Willington, Tolland County, Connecticut, on
20 October 1834. Benajah later came to Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois, and after purchasing his land and building a cabin, he returned to CT for his family. The cabin included a loft to house one student, who would board with the Roots' family. One of Benajah's students was John A. Logan. The 1850 census shows the Roots' family living in Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois. Benajah and Mary would have six children, (known), : O. G. (son), born 1836 in CT., P. K. (son) born 1839 in CT, Logan H., born 1841 in IL, Martha E., born 1845 in IL, Charles and Ann, twins, born 1849 in Illinois
In 1854, Benajah built a frame home, which served as both a family home and a school, known as Locust Hill Farm/Locust Hill Academy, in Tamaroa, Perry County, Illinios. (Tamaroa is named after the Tamaroa, an Illiniwek people). Benajah Roots was a Civil War abolitionist who trafficked slaves to freedom through Illinois into Canada. A secret passage was discovered in the basement of the Locust Farm home, and it is believed to have been used for runaway slaves during the Underground Railroad years. The home is now proven to be part of the storied Underground Railroad where slaves were hidden until it was safe to travel.
Benajah Roots was also a lawyer, his most well know case being that of the trial of an escaped slave, the Jim Gray Case, 1859-1860. Roots risked his own life to fight the legal battle that he ultimately won to help Jim Grey remain a free man. As a civil engineer, he surveyed much of the land for the Illinois Central Railroad. Benajah also was a politically powerful, pioneering educator. In 1865, Roots was appointed a member of the Board of Education of the State of Illinois. Benajah Roots became known as "Father Roots" for his leading role in education in the state of Illinois. In the late 1850s, Benajah Roots helped organize support for the first normal school in the Mississippi Valley - Southern Illinois University. He lobbied for the school to be in Tamaroa, but the school was built in Normal, Illinois. Also known for his church work, Benajah Roots was the president of a national Sunday School Association. While he was attending a meeting in Chicago, his horses were spooked and ran away with his carriage. Mrs. Roots was thrown from the carriage, and died a few hours later. It is said that all the trains stopped that day out of respect for the family. Benajah remarried in Perry County, Illinois, on 20 December 1864, to Mrs. E. R. Saunders, from Connecticut, who had married first Asa L Saunders on Mar 26, 1854, in Perry County, Illinois
After Benajah's death, Locust Hill Farm/Academy, went to his daughter, Martha, whose married name was Kimzey [James Kimsey]. The farm was in the Kimsey family until 1905, known as the Kimsey Place. The railroad ran adjacent to the farm, and the crossing was called Kimsey Crossing. Jean Ibendahl inherited the home in 1964, she and her husband, gifted the surrounding farm acreage to Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1984, and the university has since sold the ground with the proceeds being used by the university for agricultural scholarships. In 2012, the home itself, was in the possession of the government's Fannie Mae housing program. ~
Family Members
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