A special program that was supposed to take place earlier this year in Jefferson is rescheduled to this weekend.

Historian, researcher and writer David Connon will present his program on “Josiah Bushnell Grinnell and the Iowa Underground Railroad” at 2pm on Sunday at the Greene County Historical Museum. Jefferson Library Director Jane Millard is excited to have Connon back after he was in Jefferson last year talking about Iowans who fought in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and will now be presenting on Grinnell.

“He’s done a lot of research on Mr. Grinnell and how he helped 37 fugitive slaves, and possibly more than that, who passed through the town of Grinnell before the Civil War.”  

Chuck Offenburger with the Greene County Historical Society, who is partnering with the library for Sunday’s program, says Grinnell lived from 1821-1891, was a Congregational minister, businessman, and a major benefactor of Grinnell College, along with living in the same town that bears his last name in eastern Iowa. This program was originally scheduled for April but due to a family illness was rescheduled to this Sunday. 

Connon’s program is free and open to the public with refreshments to be served. Funding for this program is also provided by Humanities of Iowa.