Historical Marker: Eliza Winston
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
This marker commemorates the remarkable story of Eliza Winston, a slave who was granted freedom in August 1860. She arrived in St. Anthony (now a part of Minneapolis) with her owner, Richard, and his wife and baby daughter in July of that year. After meeting abolitionists and a free black couple, Ralph and Emily Grey, who encouraged her to seek freedom, which was possible in Minnesota because the state banned slavery in 1857. They and others supported the effort, filing a complaint against the owner. The judge at the local courthouse agreed and freed Eliza. However, a pro-slavery mob appeared outside the building and Eliza escaped to a local abolitionist's house. From there she fled again, making her way to Canada. It is not known what happened to her once she arrived there. Please note that the marker is just to the south of the map location along the trail.
Images
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Sources
Cartwright, R.L. "Eliza Winston Court Case, 1860." October 25, 2013. http://www.mnopedia.org/event/eliza-winston-court-case-1860.