Hamilton Mayhew Way: Strong when it counted
Dean Karau
The Star Courier
Born into a family of abolitionists, his moral compass was set at an early age. His upbringing and strength of character led to Black citizens arriving in our hometown within a decade of its founding.
Hamilton Mayhew Way was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1827, to Elisha A. and Anna Way. Elisha was a farmer and later a prosperous mill owner. He and Anna soon had six more children.
Elisha and Anna became key components of the Underground Railway in Ohio, helping runaway slaves get to Canada. Any runaway who got as far as Lucasville, north of the Ohio River, received their aid.