Ottawa, Illinois — Where Hossack Yelled 'If You Want Your Liberty, Come!'

Ottawa was the loudest stop on the Illinois Underground Railroad. Scottish-born abolitionist John Hossack built his house in 1854 and sheltered up to thirteen fugitives at a time.

In 1860 — on trial for the dramatic in-court rescue of an escaped slave named Jim Gray — Hossack stood up while the federal marshal's case was being read and yelled 'If you want your liberty, come!' across the courtroom. Gray bolted, abolitionists blocked the marshals, and a waiting carriage took him to Canada. Hossack got ten days and a hundred-dollar fine.

The house still stands. The story still travels.

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Places in Ottawa

1 dispatch

No. 01 · 1850–1900

John Hossack House

1860: 'If you want your liberty, come!'

Scottish-born abolitionist John Hossack built this house in 1854 and ran it as an Underground Railroad stop, sheltering up to thirteen fugitives at a time. In 1860 he was on trial for the dramatic in-court rescue of an escaped slave named Jim Gray — when the federal marshal's case was being read, Hossack stood up and yelled 'If you want your liberty, come!' across the courtroom. Gray bolted, abolitionists blocked the marshals, and a waiting carriage took him north. Hossack got ten days and a $100 fine. Gray got Canada.

Underground Railroad

People of Ottawa

1 name

John Hossack
1806–?
Abolitionist, Underground Railroad operator

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LaSalle Peru Utica Cherry Oglesby

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