In its early years, the predominantly Quaker community of Springboro served as a hospitable thoroughfare for many runaway slaves traveling north to freedom. Between 1815 and 1864, Springboro contained numerous safe houses and many agents and conductors operating within the village and surrounding township. Its role in the Underground Railroad grew from two factors: the antislavery sympathies of its residents and its location between the Great and Little Miami Rivers, just two nights run north of the Ohio River, placing it in the middle of two corridors of flight. Strengthening local antislavery feeling was Achilles Pugh, who for many years published the nationally known abolitionist paper The Philanthropist in Springboro. Despite constant scrutiny and harassment from bounty hunters and law officers, no runaways were ever captured or returned while under the protection of the Springboro area.