William
Still,
one of seventeen children, was born in Burlington County in 1821.
His father escaped to New Jersey and was later followed by his wife
and children.
Still left New Jersey for Philadelphia in 1844. Three
years later he was appointed secretary of the
Pennsylvania Abolition Society. Still was the first black man to join
the society and was able to provide first-hand experience of what
it was like to be a slave.
Still, who established a profitable coal business in Philadelphia,
used his house as one of the stations on the Underground
Railroad. Still interviewed the fugitives and kept careful records
of each so that family and friends might locate them. According to
his records, Still helped 649 slaves receive their freedom.
After John
Brown and his insurrection at
Harper's Ferry failed
in 1859 Still sheltered some of his men and helped them
escape capture.
At this time Still began his campaign to end racial discrimination
on Philadelphia streetcars. He wrote an account of this campaign in
Struggle for the Civil Rights of the Coloured
People of Philadelphia in the City Railway Cars (1867).
He followed this with The
Underground Railroad (1872) and Voting
and Laboring (1874).
Still established an orphanage for the children of African-American
soldiers and sailors. Other charitable work included the founding
of a Mission Sabbath School and working with the Young Men's Christian
Association. William Still died in Philadelphia on 14th July, 1902.
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