From Ohio History Central John Gyser was an African-American
Ohioan who purportedly assisted slave catchers in returning
fugitive slaves to their owners. Little is known of Gyser's life
except his role in the apprehension of nine fugitive slaves in
Cincinnati, Ohio on June 15, 1854. The nine slaves, named Lewis,
Lee, Shadrack, Anderson, Susan, Almeda, Wesley, John, and Sarah
Jane, purportedly fled their owners' homes in Covington,
Kentucky. They successfully crossed the Ohio River and entered
Cincinnati. Gyser purportedly offered the fugitives assistance
to Canada, first directing them to a stable, where the runaways
were going to spend the night. Gyser then left the slaves and
went to Covington, where he learned that the owners had offered
a one thousand dollar reward. Gyser then took federal marshals
to the runaway slaves. The fugitives, offering no resistance,
surrendered. After a brief court hearing, the nine slaves were
returned to their respective owners. While John Gyser stands
accused of assisting the