EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Local residents and dignitaries were encouraged to take time to attend a commemorative event over the weekend meant to honor several local members of the mid-19th Century Underground Railroad in the U.S.
In the last of a five event series on Sunday, planners intended to honor three men from Tazewell County who risked everything to help guide runaway African American slaves to freedom.
Attendees honored and celebrated George Kern of rural Metamora, James Patterson Scott of Washington, and John Randolph Scott of Washington.
In particular, the event marked the 175th Anniversary of the arrest and trial of George Kern and John Randolph Scott for harboring runaway slaves.
Abraham Lincoln served as their defense attorney, the last trial he took as an attorney involving slavery.
Keynote Speakers at the event were to include Daniel Worthington of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.
Other scheduled speakers included City of Washington Mayor Gary Manier, Pastor Marvin Hightower of the NAACP, Susan Rynerson of the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society, and Tazewell County Clerk John C. Ackerman.
“These underground railroad conductors were putting their lives, their fortunes and their families at risk by being members of what was, at the time, an illegal operation helping runaway slaves to freedom,” Ackerman told WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show” ahead of Sunday’s event.
The event was hosted by the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society, NAACP Peoria Branch, the Washington Historical Society, and Tazewell County Clerk John C. Ackerman.
