Fragile Strands to Freedom

Many stories have been told of the harrowing journeys runaway slaves in the 1850's South endured on their way north to free states such as Ohio. They encountered hunger, fear, the threat of slave catchers returning them to their masters, and a massive amount of prejudice against their race. Still, they fought hard to reach freedom. But where did they come from and what caused them to leave their homes and often their families to flee to Ohio or even as far as Canada? Every runaway has a story... and it begins before the Underground railroad took charge of their escape attempts.