This cache takes you to the Drury Family Cemetery in Girard Township. It is about the neatest little cemetery that I have seen. It is also full of history.
Elijah Drury and his wife Abigail were involved in the Underground Railroad in west Erie County in the mid 1800s. Although unmarked, it is believed that a runaway slave is buried in the cemetery (there is a bush on the spot). As the story goes, the slave was accompanied to the Drury farm by Reverend Charles Shipman, who was the moving force of the Underground Railroad in the area. The slave was hiding in the Drury’s barn, until passage could be made to Canada via Lake Erie. The slave had been so badly beaten by his owner, that he died in the barn while waiting to go to Canada. Elijah Drury is said to have buried him in this cemetery.
Shipman would routinely pick up slaves in Linesville then take them to the Drury farm. An underground tunnel went from the barn to a nearby gulch. Drury would then take the slaves up Elk Creek to Henry Teller in North Springfield. From there they would cross to Canada.
You can get more information about the Underground Railroad in the area by visiting the Hazel Kibler Museum on Rt. 20 in Girard. I hope you enjoy this place.
Captain Jim was in the process of using this location for a cache...I didn't know...sorry! No doubt it would have been very educational and informative! He offered me additional information about this place, so here is Cap's addition...thanks!....
The slave is supposedly buried under the only large Rhododendron bush in the cemetery. (It's very old) Linnie (Drury) Meeder remembers finding an old tunnel with other relatives when very young, but was chased out of the area when someone saw them there and said that the tunnel wasn't safe to enter. This is still an active cemetery and the extended family have a reunion every year to collect money for its upkeep.