One of the main Underground Railroad routes ran from Madison to the Ohio River, north to Holton, Otter Village, and east to Osgood. It then followed the rail line east to Laughery switch and turned north to Napoleon. So many fugitive slaves traveled this path that it became known as the Fugitive Trail. It was clearly in operation by the mid 1840's, apparently no slave was caught on this line, and it ran until 1861.