Activity of the Underground Railroad is believed to have begun in Brookfield Township around 1838, and the first known runaway slaves to pass through were two women in 1843. Freedom seekers moved north by a system of routes known by operators, or conductors. Trumbull County reputedly had over 150 miles of Underground Railroad routes, which would have made it the largest network in Ohio. The slaves who passed through Brookfield Township came mostly from the Youngstown, Poland, and Canfield areas. From Brookfield they were sent north to Hartford, Kinsman, Burghill, and Vienna, ultimately headed to Canada. The Hinkley Hotel, the Hart store, and the Miner home were stations of the Underground Railroad. Most Underground Railroad journeys were made at night, and all were hazardous. The Fugitive Act of 1850 allowed slave owners or their agents to travel north to retrieve their property, and rewards were posted for the return of runaways. Joel Miner had a barn on his property in the area that is believed to have sheltered many of the nearly 60 slaves who came through Brookfield. Members of Brookfield's abolitionist community who aided runaways included Ambrose Hart, a Mr. Coon, the Sutliff family, and Robert Montgomery.