[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF RIPLEY, OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JEAN SCHMIDT

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 31, 2012

  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 200th 
anniversary of a village that sits quietly on the banks of the Ohio 
River: Ripley, Ohio.
  James Poage settled on 1,000 acres there in 1804, not yet aware of 
all the natural advantages that the mighty Ohio River and its nearby 
creeks would provide. Soon after, Poage and his family would name the 
town Staunton. But in 1816, it was renamed Ripley--after an American 
officer of the War of 1812, General Eleazar Wheelock Ripley. General 
Ripley would later serve as a member of Congress.
  Ripley might be best known these days as the site of the annual Ohio 
Tobacco Festival, but those who know Ripley's history understand the 
importance that this little town played in the fight against slavery.
  Mr. Speaker, many of the early residents of Ripley shared a hatred of 
slavery, understanding that all men are created equal. Some risked 
their lives and property in ferrying enslaved people across the Ohio 
River to freedom in the North.
  Threats were made against compassionate and courageous villagers such 
as the Rev. John Rankin and the inventor/entrepreneur John Parker (a 
former slave), but the words and actions of these members of the 
Underground Railroad established Ripley's reputation as a lighthouse of 
liberty.
  Ripley's charm is evident in its many stately homes, delightful 
restaurants, and interesting antique stores, but fascinating tourist 
attractions such as the Rankin House State Memorial museum and the John 
P. Parker Museum are the true legacy of this village.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 200th 
anniversary of the remarkable village of Ripley, Ohio, and I hope they 
also will join me in commending this community for its historic role in 
the battle against the sin of slavery.

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