The Exemplary Life of General Tootle By Diana Vice   This sketch by Artist George Winter was of a prominent Lafayette black man. Some historians believe this was General Tootle, who was the most popular African American during the time this was created. General Tootle Takes a Stand His name was General Tootle.   He lived up to that name throughout his life as a respected community leader and conductor on the local Underground Railroad. Indiana was a free state when it came to slavery, but the Slavery Act of 1850 made it possible for Southern slave catchers to enter free states to capture freedom-seekers who had escaped from bondage. The unwelcome law also made it illegal for anyone to assist runaway slaves, which included fines of $1,000 for officials caught disobeying the law.   General Tootle took a stand against the unfair Act and secretly helped many fugitives navigate their way through Lafayette, Indiana, and surrounding areas. One hot summer day in ...

William A. Foster, UGRR Conductor & Founder of Goodland, Indiana William A. Foster was a quiet hero when it came to assisting freedom seekers via the Underground Railroad from Crawfordsville to Lafayette, Indiana.  An agent for the New Albany and Salem Railroad, Foster reportedly instructed his train conductors not to inquire about the comings and goings of African American passengers who were given access to ride the trains.  He instructed the employees that taking their tickets was to be their only business with the clandestine travelers. Lewis Falley, Jr. was a boy when his father assisted freedom seekers in Lafayette, Indiana, and later in his life, he shared memories of Foster’s involvement in the Underground Railroad network. “The general superintendent of the steam railroad, William Foster, lived here at that time,” said Falley, “and I believe he did what he could to pass fugitives from here to Michigan City; from that point to Canada, it was easy traveling.”...