Captina, Ohio

Captina, originally called Guinea, became a stop on the Underground Railroad. Early settler Alexander Harper directed slaves along the railroad. Guinea had cross connections to Somerton, where Dr. William Schooley also helped the fugitives. Stops were also located in Belmont, Quaker City and Barnesville. Captina/Guinea was known as a safe stop where the residents were reportedly well-armed. After the Civil War, Captina continued to be a farming community and the church continued to be the center of it. Black citizens from Barnesville also attended the church until what became the Bethel A.M.E. church was formed there in 1864.

Some of the early settlers of Captina included John Wooten, Samuel Creek, William Betts, Alex Hargrave Sr, Nicholas Betts, Tempy Hargrave, Judy Watkins, Silky Turner, Henry Watkins, Carey Hargrave, Jeremiah Myers, York Simmons, Charles Newsome, Roger Simmons, Peter Jackson, Simon Briggs, Sr. Later families that settled there included the McGees, Munts, Mabras, Parkers, McMichaels and Spareys.

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