Here in Blairsville lived John Graff, a giant among the men in his time. Wealthy, a prominent businessman, Mr. Graff was a determined Christian who hated slavery with all of his being. He paired actions with words and ran for both the state and national legislatures on an anti-slavery bill, and belonged to many county abolitionist societies. He was a stationmaster for the UGRR.

Another man of note was the son of a free man and a slave woman. While Lewis Johnston was far removed socially from John Graff, he shared similar feelings. Mr. Johnson was a coal miner, working long and hard hours in the local mines. He, too, was a stationmaster of the UGRR in Blairsville.

Further up in the line was Johnston M. Palmer, living on his farm in what would become after his death “Palmertown”. Like Graff and Johnston, Mr. Palmer was a committed Christian who greatly objected to slavery. He was a stationmaster of the UGRR. However, in 1858, Blairsville had its own incident that was documented and recorded. It involved Mr. Johnston, a certain man named “Newton”, and two slave catchers.