March 2025 Meeting Summary

At our dinner meeting on March 19th, Mr. David Connon gave an outstanding presentation titled: “Josiah Bushnell Grinnell and the Iowa Underground Railroad.” 
Attendance at the dinner meeting was 59.

Josiah Bushnell Grinnell (1821-1891) was a U.S. Representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district, an ordained Congregational minister, a radical abolitionist, 
one of the founders of Grinnell, Iowa and a benefactor of Grinnell College.

“Preacher,” “congressman,” “negro-stealer”: Josiah Bushnell Grinnell was called all of those things during his life. He was called a negro-stealer because he participated in the Iowa Underground Railroad. Rev. J.B. Grinnell and other Grinnell residents helped at least 37 fugitive slaves who passed through their town before the Civil War. But some residents opposed this work.

David Connon told the story of racism, noble actions and conflict. He highlighted abolitionist John Brown’s visit to Grinnell and Grinnell’s first riot over the presence 
of fugitive slaves in the public school. John Brown stayed with Rev. J. B. Grinnell when he came through town in 1859 with a dozen formerly enslaved persons making their way to freedom, via the Underground Railroad.