Augustus West

Biography

Augustus West (March 20, 1814 in Madison County, Virginia – 1887 in Fayette County, Ohio) was an African-American landowner and abolitionist who is known for his mansion and compound in Ohio that served as a successful hiding place for runaway slaves along the underground railroad. To finance his real estate purchases, West and abolitionist Alexander Beatty concocted a scheme in which Beatty would sell West back into slavery and then aid in his escape, splitting the profits from the sale. In 1837, after three successful scams, West had enough funds to purchase 177 acres of land in Fayette County, Ohio.

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