Documentation: John Gibson, History of York County, 1886, pp.497-500; William Still, The Underground Rail Road, 1872.
Gibson notes "William Yocum was an agent of a line to Middletown Ferry. He sent [fugitives] to "Black Isaac," north of York. William Still knew of William Yocum, recording that he "was a constable, and used to assist the Underground Rail Road managers by pretending to hunt fugitives with the kidnappers. Knowing where the fugitives were he was enabled to hunt them in the opposite direction from that in which they had gone, and thus give them time to escape." Still described how Yocum often worked with William Wright, Joel Fisher and Dr. Webster Lewis.
Documentation: History of the Counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, 1890.
Hotel keeper David Young would allow collections to be taken up to feed hungry fugitives who, in following the waterways, found their way to his hotel. From there they would be given directions to continue to the hotel at Olean, New York, run by a Mr. Backus. The history dates UGRR activity in this area to 1827.
Documentation: Elizabeth Agnes Kilgore, "History of Mercer," unpublished manuscript, 1930; History of Mercer County, 1888.
Elizabeth Kilgore, daughter of James Kilgore, witnessed fugitive slaves being brought into her house, fed, sheltered, wounds dressed, and sent on to the next station. She refers to fugitive slaves delivered by "my mother's uncle, John Young who kept the station six miles below at 'injun' run." The History of Mercer County recounts how John Young "made public speeches against the evil of slavery."
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