Many of my Ancestors (both paternal and maternal) first came to America and settled in Chicago in the mid to late 19th century. Most had left Germanic areas of central or northeastern Europe, at the time. Some were Pomeranian, West Prussian, others Bohemian.

Of course that is at the time of about 1850s and 1860s.

As part of American Black History Month, I wanted to see what German-American figures at that same time supported or were active in the African-American effort to end black slavery in the U.S.

Here are two figures of note, I am sure there are others. I hope to learn of more German-American individuals who supported the black community to end slavery, maybe others can share that knowledge with me.

In meantime, Notable German-American abolitionists in “Chicago” included.

Wilhelm Rapp:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Rapp

and Hermann Raster:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Raster