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 Chester C. Davis And the Kidnapping of 1858 - Blairsville, Pennsylvania Posted by:  ted28285
N 40° 25.852 W 079° 15.909
17T E 647154 N 4477026
One of several signs telling the story of the Underground Railroad in the Blairsville area.
Waymark Code: WM153D0
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 10/08/2021
Views: 3
Text from the sign:
" Chester C. Davis And the Kidnapping of 1858
On April 1, 1858, Blairsville Mayor, Chester C. Davis was summoned to quell an angry mob of Blairsville citizens. The mob, a mixture of black and white men, had surrounded three slave catchers who were attempting to kidnap a former slave named Richard Newman. Davis intervened on behalf of the slave catchers and stopped a probable lynching. Chester Davis was born in Indiana County in 1817 and had resided here with his wife and seven children.Davis was n undertaker, cabinetmaker, auctioneer, and was a colorful character. In 1861, Davis gained notoriety in Uniontown when he defended the Union to a "burley mountain man" who claimed he could "lick anyone from Indiana County who supports Lincoln and his unholy war." Chester Davis reportedly leveled a crucshing blow to the mans neck bringing him to his knees. At home, though, the mayor came under attack when he refused to burn his funeral wagon after transporting a victim of small pox."
Address:
25 W. Market Street
Blairsville, PA United States
15717
Web site: [Web Link]
Open to the public?: Public
Name of organization who placed the marker: The Blairsville Area Underground Railroad
Site Details: Not listed
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