Although Ruffin's secessionist stance had crystallized at least as early as 1850, it was not until the last four years of the antebellum period, following his retirement from farming and the division of his property among his surviving children, that his crusade for disunion became most intense.

OSTERHAUS, Peter Joseph, soldier, b. in Coblentz, Germany, about 1820. He became an officer in the Prussian army, and subsequently emigrated to the United States, settling in St. Louis, Mo. At the beginning of the civil war he entered the National service as major of the 2d Missouri volunteers. He took part in the actions at Dug Springs and Wilson's Creek, was made colonel of the 12th Missouri regiment, commanded a brigade under Gen. John C. Fremont, and took part in the expedition of Gen. Samuel R. Curtis into Arkansas in pursuit of Gen.

Philip A. H. Brown was born on January 3, 1842 to John and Sarah Harrison Auld Brown in Baltimore, Maryland.  He prepared for his undergraduate years at Lynchburg College in Virginia and then entered Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in the fall of 1857.  While at the College, Brown became a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and was elected to the Belles Lettres Society.  He graduated with his class in 1860.

Drayton was of a rougher cut, with a large cleft chin, gloomy eyes, and brows that knotted over the bridge of his nose: it was a sad face, wrinkled and scored by more than two decades at sea. Strictly speaking, he was not an underground man, at least not in the way that [William] Chaplin was. He was a Philadelphia ship’s captain who desperately needed money. What [Chaplin and Drayton]  were planning was the biggest organized break-out of slaves in underground history thus far….Drayton’s life was one hard-luck story.

ROSWELL MARTIN FIELD, son of Martin and Esther Smith (Kellogg) Field. Born in Newfane, Vt., Feb. 22, 1807. Prepared for College with Rev. Luke Whitcomb, Townshend, Vt. Studied law with Daniel Kellogg, Rockingham. Admitted to the bar, 1825. Lawyer, Windham County, Vt., 1825-1839. State's Attorney, Windham County, 1831 1832, and 1833- 1836. Represented Newfane in the Legislature, 1835 and 1836. Settled in St. Louis, 1839. Married Frances Reed, May 30, 1848. Children: Eugene ; Roswell Martin. A. B. Died in St. Louis, Mo., July 12, 1869.

FIELD, Roswell Martin (1807-1852). Born Newfane, Vt. Graduated Middlebury College. Studied law in his native state and practised [practiced] there from 1825 for fourteen years and was a member of the legislature and State's Attorney. Removed to St. Louis in 1839. Had an exceptional matrimonial experience in 1832 which is reported in 13 Vt. 460. Was counsel in the Dred Scott case. Was father of Eugene Field, the poet.