Polo Historians Uncover Underground Railroad History

Researchers document northwest Illinois' role in the abolitionist movement.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Historians with the Polo Historical Society have uncovered a rich history of the town's involvement in the Underground Railroad, the clandestine network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Through meeting descendants, searching archives, and uncovering first-hand accounts, the society has pieced together stories of local families and abolitionists who supported freedom seekers, including the Waterbury family and a conductor named Henry Elsey. The society is now working to earn national recognition for Polo's role in the Underground Railroad from the National Park Service.

Why it matters

Polo's buried history as a stop on the Underground Railroad highlights the important role that rural communities played in the abolitionist movement. The research uncovers the sacrifices and risks taken by ordinary citizens to help enslaved people gain their freedom, even in areas that may not have been considered major hubs of the network. This history provides a more complete picture of Illinois' involvement in the Underground Railroad and the bravery of those who participated.

The details

The Polo Historical Society's research has uncovered several key figures and stories related to the town's Underground Railroad history. They found evidence that the Waterbury family provided refuge and assistance to freedom seekers, including a tunnel running from the family's home to a barn that was used to hide escapees. The society also discovered the story of Henry Elsey, an English orphan who became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, guiding enslaved people along the roughly 35-mile route from Fulton to Byron. Elsey later wrote about his experiences in a series of articles for the local Tri-County Press newspaper.

  • In the 1890s, Wilbur Siebert, a professor at The Ohio State University, created a display tracing the Underground Railroad through northern Illinois.
  • In 1907, a 94-year-old named Anistine Waterbury recounted her family's role in harboring freedom seekers in an article in the Tri-County Press.
  • Henry Elsey, an English orphan who became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, wrote about his experiences shortly before John Brown's 1859 raid at Harpers Ferry.

The players

Polo Historical Society

A local historical organization that has been researching and documenting Polo's ties to the Underground Railroad.

Wilbur Siebert

A professor at The Ohio State University in the late 19th/early 20th century who created a display tracing the Underground Railroad through northern Illinois.

Anistine Waterbury

A 94-year-old woman who recounted her family's role in harboring freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad in a 1907 article.

Henry Elsey

An English orphan who became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, guiding enslaved people along the route from Fulton to Byron, and later wrote about his experiences.

Frank Dodge

A village blacksmith abolitionist in Ogle County who provided a home for Henry Elsey.

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What they’re saying

“We were sympathetic to the cause, but there was nothing that went on here.”

— Local historian (Polo Historical Society)

“At whatever cost to themselves, the fugitive slave woman and her children must go on.”

— John Waterbury (Tri-County Press)

“So secretly was the work done that we cannot recall an arrest upon the line.”

— Henry Elsey (Tri-County Press)

What’s next

The Polo Historical Society has submitted Fairmount Cemetery, where many Underground Railroad conductors and station agents are buried, to the National Park Service's Network to Freedom program. They expect a response within six months. The society is also working on a second submission for the program and hopes to earn national recognition for Polo's role in the abolitionist movement.

The takeaway

Polo's buried history as a stop on the Underground Railroad demonstrates the vital role that rural communities played in the abolitionist movement, with ordinary citizens risking their safety to help enslaved people gain their freedom. This research uncovers the bravery and sacrifices of local families and abolitionists, providing a more complete picture of Illinois' involvement in the clandestine network.