Sterling/Rock Falls Historical Society – The Man With the Branded Hand by John L. Hoh, Jr.

Local author, John L Hoh Jr., will present the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society’s April program “The Man With the Branded Hand”. We often do not hear about people being branded. In the old west cows were branded. But usually not people, at least by the government. In 1844 one man was branded by the Territory of Florida. At the base of the thumb on his right hand was branded an “SS”. This signified that the branded person was a “slave stealer”.

Meet Captain Jonathan Walker, seaman by trade, who entered the history books when his hand was thus branded. Afterwards he was known as “The Man With the Branded Hand”. John Greenleaf Whittier would immortalize him in a poem entitled “The Branded Hand”. Whittier would describe the hand “Its branded palm shall prophesy, ‘Salvation to the Slave!’” John L Hoh Jr is a Rock Falls resident and distant descendant of Captain Walker. This presentation contains family lore balanced with historical research. This presentation in Sterling is based on John’s presentation of Captain Walker at the National Abolitionist Hall of Fame and Museum in Peterboro, NY, when Walker was inducted into the museum. John is a published author with about 30 published titles, some dealing with the Underground Railroad. He is currently working on two books about the Underground Railroad along the Rock River—one focusing on Wisconsin and the other focusing on Illinois. He will present this program at our April meeting, Sunday, April 12 at the Lincoln Learning Center, 611 E. 3rd Street, Sterling. The public is invited, refreshments will be served afterwards.