why did harriet oleson go to a clinic why did harriet oleson go to a clinic

Katherine MacGregor has died at the age of 93. Why was Harriet Oleson not in the last episode? In fact, Harriet Oleson was often a thorn in the side of her husband who she constantly berated. She was a nasty, bigoted, vindictive shrew of a woman. While Harriet Oleson was originally intended to be an occasional guest character, MacGregors performance was so well-received that she became a series regular. What did Harriet Tubman do to change the world? Season 2, Episode 1 "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove" The Early Life of Katherine MacGregor. During an interview with Katherine MacGregor after the show finished, she explained how she got to create her own version of the character. Metacritic Reviews. These things made Mrs. Oleson one of TVs favorite villains. Once, the Ingallses even hosted Nels, who had finally left the shrewish Harriet out of frustration. Awards Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. For starters, she didnt think of her Little House on the Prairie character as a villain all the time. The first girl, Nellie Owens, was a year younger than Laura and had a younger brother named Willie, just as the character of Nellie Oleson did in the books. Our free exclusive unit study for Little House in the Big Woods with 32 worksheets plus additional activities, recipes, songs and more. This show aired on TV on February 6 1984 starring Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls Wilder, Dean Butler as Almanzo Wilder and Richard Bull as Nels Olesen. I don't think so. John Carter stops by, looking for a house-sitter as he was going on a freight run and taking Sarah with him. Little House on the Prairie: How Harriet Oleson Actress Katherine MacGregor Crafted Her Characters Backstory, Katherine MacGregor was cast for the part in 1974 and played the surly character, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu1NlHP3a2A, Katherine MacGregor Little House interview Pt. If the government thinks that it would better serve society for a corporation, in this case a railroad, to have your property, then they can take it, but Michael Landon shows us with a bang, that we can stand together against this forces. Vicki Newman Assistant Showbiz Editor. MacGregor remained on Little House on the Prairie for its entire run, from 1974 until 1982. His performance is both moving and touching. John Brown, who consulted her about his own plans to organize an antislavery raid of a federal armoury in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now in West Virginia), referred to her as General Tubman. It helped her overcome the battle. Hope everyone is staying safe and had . Walnut Grove is a real place The real-life Laura Ingalls-Wilder, who wrote the Little House on the Prairie book series that served as the inspiration for the television show, based many of the stories on her family . MacGregor, whose nickname was "Scottie," died at the Motion Picture and Television Fund's retirement home in Los Angeles, according to The Hollywood Reporter. About 1844 she married John Tubman, a free Black man. It helped her overcome the battle. Mrs. Oleson was at the same time both onerous and endearing to children and adults, alike, as audiences watched her . So, she was never truly a threat. For her wartime service Tubman was paid so little that she had to support herself by selling homemade baked goods. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Yes. Cast of 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' : Where Are They Now? It would be like old times, especially when Charles went to have one of his world-famous talks with Jason, who was experiencing younger-brother blues. A boring and horrible way to end what was once a great series the first 5 years. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. A evil miner takes advantage of the law and buys Walnut Grove forcing the people of the town to take action. On the other hand, Mrs. Oleson was comical. Did I cry? Nels stood up and decreed they would fight this to the bitter end. You said it wouldn't have saved a trip because the stagecoach had to go into town anyway. He was only showing how very greedy he was and how unreasonable he could be. I don't see Mr. Hansen leaving it to somebody like Mrs. Oleson for sure! LOS ANGELES (AP) Katherine MacGregor, who played petty, gossiping mother Harriet Oleson on TV's "Little House on the Prairie," has died, a representative said Wednesday. While her onscreen nasty daughter Nellie Oleson was the . MacGregors character was an incredibly independent woman. The Olesons played a less prominent role in the final TV-Movies, with only Nels having a speaking role in "The Last Farewell" as the townsfolk destroyed their homes rather than see them fall into the hands of a greedy speculator who now owned the land. Harriet Oleson (Katherine McGregor) did not appear in the last 3 episodes of the series. Well when a greedy tycoon comes over and buys the Walnut Grove as they the residents can't do a thing about it and in the Army and law take the former's side over the latter. Harriet was almost going to become less spiteful in the episode The Campout, but due to Nellie falling in the water with Laura, this changed. When she returned with information about the locations of warehouses and ammunition, Montgomerys troops were able to make carefully planned attacks. To help with her addiction, she converted to Hinduism. He brilliantly incorporated it to be in a movie. . Now credited as Katherine MacGregor, she made her debut in "A Harvest of Friends," the first Little House on the Prairie episode after the pilot. Katherine MacGregor also known as Dorlee Deane McGregor (birth name), and Scottie MacGregor (January 12, 1925 - November 13, 2018) was a California theater and television actress. Was some form of satisfaction to be taken from this? 'Cobra Kai' 's Cast and Creators Tease Season 5: 'Always Looking for Ways to Surprise', William Daniels' Celebrated Career and Life in Photos. And it would just be awesome to see Melissa Gilbert as our Laura Ingels once again . Nels, and later Harriet both worked in the saloon; Nels kept the books and Harriet worked as a barmaid. A town newspaper she created was nothing more than a ninteenth century tabloid, exposing "secrets" of the townspeople and causing friends to turn on, suspect each other and not speak for fear of being reported on. Katherine MacGregor was born Dorlee Deane McGregor on January 12, 1925, in Glendale, California. And, worst of all, Katherine MacGregor, who played town villianness Harriet Oleson, is nowhere to been seen. She was best-known for playing Harriet Oleson from 1974 to 1983 on Little House on the Prairie. Harriet was portrayed by Katherine MacGregor throughout the series. Laura gets mad, smashes dishes and breaks windows. I sat down, and I wrote eight pages of where I came from, what kind of education I had, what kind of parents I had, what kind of home I had, what kind of person my mother was, what kind of person my father was, and did I have any brothers or sisters. This article was or is on the Front Page! The plot is simple. why did harriet oleson go to a clinic. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Born Dorlee Deane MacGregor in 1925, she attended Northwestern University, where she majored in drama. Katherine "Scottie" MacGregor, the actress who played the villainous Harriet Oleson on the long-running TV show Little House on the Prairie, died Tuesday at her home, PEOPLE confirms. MacGregor also had fun with the children on the set, growing close to both Alison Arngrim, who played her daughter, Nellie, and Melissa Gilbert, who starred as Laura Ingalls. So I began mixing farce into it.. Katherine MacGregor was cast for the part in 1974 and played the surly character for 152 episodes. Mrs. Oleson was at the same time both onerous and endearing to children and adults, alike, as audiences watched her character practice self-aggrandizement; usually to her own detriment. In her last years, MacGregor moved to the Motion Picture Fund Long Term Nursing Care facility in Woodland Hills, California, when she died. Furious, Harriet took the basket of eggs and dumped them over Nels' head while Caroline was watching. How the mighty have fallen. 1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu1NlHP3a2A), many of the stars were not part of the episode. MacGregor knew that she had to have some balance in her character. Little House on the Prairie Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. This is pretty funny considering his house was donated to be a blind school, then burned to the ground. Walnut Grove. She moved to New York in 1949 and built a career performing in the theater. Having failed to defeat his claim on legal grounds and even with guns, the townspeople are inspired by Laura to vent their anger at what they see as an injustice and they decide upon a drastic plan of action. She later moved to California, where she took guest roles in popular 60s and 70s shows like Ironside and All in the Family. Also like those other characters, this version did not last long, and she like them became a constant headache. "That woman's a genius. Posted on June 29, 2022 She stayed in Colorado to attend the University of Denver, where she prepared for her future career by joining the drama club. 8 min read. [citation needed] Three different girls from Laura Ingalls Wilder's childhood Nellie Owens, Genevieve Masters and . The Oleson family was the saving grace of "Little House", helping to cut through all the treacle, and the two most important Olesons, Harriet and Nellie, aren't in this movie. More because of the slavery and the punishments that happened there. I'll never understand why they chose to have everyone of Walnut Grove forced off their land and to blow up the whole town the way they did. Harriet "wears the pants in the family" so to speak, as she makes a lot of the decisions and does most of the business. Do Nels and Harriet Oleson end up getting divorced? Though she did not appear in any of the Little House TV movies, MacGregor remained close to many cast members. He got in a fight with a patron and got his ass kicked. Reportedly, the "explosive" ending was Michael Landon's personal reaction to the series being cancelled. Katherine MacGregor starred as Harriet Oleson, a comedic villain whom audiences loved to hate, on 'Little House on the Prairie' from 1974 to 1983. Gee- what a terrific idea! Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. This episode happens to be my favorite one. Landon should have left his personal feelings out of it. I highly recommend this final series of little house . The main problem with this TV-movie finale of the "Little House on the Prairie" series is that it features the cast of the show's final season, by which time many of the better characters had been replaced by blander carbon-copies. This story was a big build up to a complete letdown. Harriet Tubman escaped fromslaveryin the South to become a leadingabolitionistbefore theAmerican Civil War. Like similar irritants Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Frank Burns on M*A*S*H*, Harriet early on seemed capable of understanding her flaws and stepping up on occasion to overcome them. 1970) . After leaving school, MacGregor moved to New York City. She discussed how she added her own personality to Mrs. Oleson as well as how she thought of her. They did get back together, despite a useless attempt made by Reverend Alden to get the two together. You say they goofed when Charles asked the driver to stop at the boarding house to "save a trip into town." But yes, we will all miss her., Melissa Gilbert, who starred as Laura Ingalls on the show, paid tribute on Instagram.I just got word that Katherine MacGregor passed away yesterday, she wrote. We loved them, and on occasion you see them for sale and i want one. The reason why Mrs. Oleson is not in it is because (if you have ever seen it) she is in the hospital in Minneapolis. Still glad to see those reruns . But, because she transitioned to the new religion, it got in the way of the series finale. Born Dorlee McGregor in California in 1925, Katherine MacGregor first found success as a stage actress. Why can't we have nice wholesome shows like they were back then? It needed someone who would be antagonistic and, at the same time, not pose a real threat to anyone. She passed away on . Out of fear of her cold and distant father's rage, she kept this a secret until she realized she was pregnant. And, worst of all, Katherine MacGregor, who played town villianness Harriet Oleson, is nowhere to been seen. Best Known For: Katherine MacGregor starred as Harriet Oleson, a comedic villain whom audiences loved to hate, on Little House on the Prairie from 1974 to 1983. Sally Kellerman, Oscar-Nominated Actress from 'MASH' and 'Back to School', Dead at 84. But as they argued, the rapist again attacked the isolated young woman, this time killing her. It was also revealed in episode, "The Preacher Takes A Wife", twenty-five years earlier Harriet was once engaged to a preacher named Russel, who broke off his and Harriet's engagement due to him not knowing if he loved Harriet or God more. No matter what Nancy did, including locking a teacher she didn't like in a freezer to die, Harriet kept right on indulging her literally to monstrous levels. I love Little House On The Prairie so much. I didnt have any brothers or sisters. ran away with another. In December 1850 she made her way to Baltimore, Maryland, whence she led her sister and two children to freedom. Albert quickly decided that he loved this girl no matter what, but her refusal to name the father was the talk of the town, and Mrs. Oleson was quick to whip this up into a frenzy so fierce, that even when the girl told her father the truth, he would not believe that Albert himself was not the father, and forbid him to see her. What happened to harriet tubmans husband? One night, Nels won a large sum of money from gambling and they decided to return to Walnut Grove. She was best-known for playing Harriet Oleson from 1974 to 1983 on Little House on the Prairie. Some fans of the show did not like her character, a testament to the job she did playing Oleson. Many of the show's most iconic characters, such as Nellie, Willie, and Harriet Oleson had very small roles in the book series. After living in Walnut Grove for quite some time, the Oleson family had to move to Winoka because of Walnut Grove's blistering economic situation. These men were railroad tycoons and they wanted this land to run lines through and make a mint. | With that sat aside, I don't really understand why the Oleson's have acquired the house. Keep Up The Good Work! MacGregor's comedic gifts were also used to great effect on the show; her pratfalls and affronted miens when Mrs. Oleson's ego was (partly) deflated helped her become a villain that audiences loved to hate. I wasn't a big Little House on the Praire fan but this movie made for TV. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Associated Press. Harriet and Nellie were thrilled to see him, mainly because they have their own personal cook back. Some 30 years after her service a private bill providing for $20 monthly was passed by Congress. Harriet Oleson is the secondary antagonist for the 1974-1981 TV version of Laura Ingalls Wilder's book series Little House On The Prairie; the primary antagonist being the rigors of life in 19th Century Frontier Minnesota. Out of nowhere a vaster shows up at the Sunday church service and makes an announcement that sets off a chain of reactions that no one dream of. Hard as that could be, though, Mrs. Oleson always made sure to up the ante somehow. She even described her character as being domineering. So, it took a certain character to get along with Harriet Oleson. She spent most of her childhood in Colorado. It's been over one month since Harriet, a beloved Southwest Florida eagle, has been spotted by either officials or her thousands of adoring fans viewing livestream cameras. Who played Harriet Oleson on Little House on the Prairie? What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while? The home later attracted the support of former abolitionist comrades and the citizens of Auburn, and it continued in existence for some years after her death. When she was about 12 years old she reportedly refused to help an overseer punish another enslaved person, and she suffered a severe head injury when he threw an iron weight that accidentally struck her; she subsequently suffered seizures throughout her life. However, that would have gotten boring if there was no conflict. The retired actress, who played meddlesome Harriet Oleson on the long-running NBC drama series Little House on the Prairie, passed away at age 93. this was by far one of the saddest shows i have ever seen i grew up watching reruns of this show and my mother was raised on it when they blow up the entire town at the end it is so sad cause we just spent the last 10 years watching them build it up just to have to destroy everything and we never get a chance to see how everyone does with there future no so uncertain it was also strange to see how everyone was dressed after not seeing the show for a few years all i could recall was the older prairie clothes so when this episode started it was strange seeing them all dressed up in city clothes all in all this is a sad end to a great show. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! As for specifically why she was missing from all three episodes, it was reported that Katherine MacGregor was on a pilgrimage in India at the time, so she wasn't available for filming. Caught my eye. Only two buildings was sparred. She was outspoken and hilariously funny. One was the church cause it would upset the Christian community and would be in extreme poor taste. A reunion would be wonderful , even though , it would never be the same without Pa . I look for the humor of Mrs. Oleson. In 2007, she took part in a cast reunion on the Today show. The Little House cast members are left mourning her death. Perhaps Michael Landon's long relationship with NBC had something to do with that. On the same stage that brought them also brought a man named Drew Coleson, one of the aforementioned railroad tycoons, come to survey the town. This is probably one of the most heart-wrenching "episodes" of the entire Little House series! She made Oleson both a villain and the butt of her own jokes at the same time. Ultimately, everyone accepts defeat, and prepares to leave their beloved town. Other than that, enjoy Villains Wiki!!! (Episode 801: The Reincarnation of Nellie (Part 1)) and (Episode 802: The Reincarnation of Nellie (Part 2)). A change in Nancy might have come later, but the show's new focus on Laura Ingalls and her husband Almanzo Wilder never caught on. Harriet Tubman is credited with conducting upward of 300 enslaved people along the Underground Railroad from the American South to Canada. She received kudos for her work on the stage, which included touring productions of .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The animal icon shocked both the community and the nation with her sudden disappearance from her North Fort Myers nest. Her husband was strongly against this, and tried to discipline her anytime possible. Little House on the Prairie: Why Katherine MacGregor Didnt Always Think of Harriet Oleson as a Villain. It comes as no surprise that the actress who played Harriet Oleson had different ideas about the character than the people who watched her antics from week to week. Hi. When Little House on the Prairie had the shows finale, many of the stars were not part of the episode. What is this world coming to with all the zombies and vampires, etc. But, because she transitioned to the new religion, it got in the way of the series finale. In real life, Little House on the Prairie 's Mrs. Oleson was beloved by the people who spent years with her in Walnut Grove. However, it was her memorable performance as Mrs. Oleson, the willful, prideful and often spiteful owner of the towns mercantile on the popular show Little House on the Prairie (1974 - 83), that became her career-defining role. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Under the name Scottie MacGregor, she found work both onstage and in films; one early role was a small, uncredited part in On the Waterfront (1954). Mrs. Oleson looked down her nose at everyone she came across. On the verge of leaving acting, MacGregor started to work in an art gallery until she was hired for her career-defining role: Mrs. Harriet Oleson on Little House on the Prairie. Willie and Nancy were seen in the background, but not Harriet. So, she injected plenty of humor into the character. He's been awarded a four week paid vacation, but as luck would have it, at the exact time his vacation begins, Caroline's aunt was coming to stay. I think it would have been so much fun to make that kind of a television show. Among them, Walnut Grove. 'Little House on the Prairie' 's Melissa Gilbert on Aging: 'I Finally Feel Comfortable in My Own Skin', 'Little House on the Prairie' 's Karen Grassle on Her Sobriety, Tension with Costar Michael Landon, All 9 Seasons of 'Little House on the Prairie' Are Now Streaming on Amazon Prime, Little House on the Prairie Reboot in Development at Paramount, From Chris Burrous to Aretha Franklin: Remembering the Stars We've Lost in 2018, Lee Lawson, 'Guiding Light' Star, Dead at 83. As Nels prepared to hit the road again, Harriet acted as though she really missed having him around, but he paid it no mind. The actress was best known for her role as Harriet Oleson on Little House on the Prairie. If anyone decided to turn backthereby endangering the missionshe reportedly threatened them with a gun and said, Youll be free or die. She also was inventive, devising various strategies to better ensure success. I hope with all my heart we meet again next time.. Share your love of Little House Patterns for making pioneer dresses, bonnets, aprons and mores for women & girls, Discover special editions and boxed sets of the Little House Books. So, even though MacGregor played an important role in the show, her absence from the final episode may not have been devastating for the rest of the cast. The road was calling and he had to answer. Dismiss, The Martha Years Laura Ingalls Wilders Great Grandmother, The Charlotte Years Lauras Grandmother, The Caroline Years Little House Series about Lauras Mother, The Rose Years Books About Lauras Daughter, Unit Studies For Homeschoolers & Teachers, Frequently Asked Questions About Little House on the Prairie TV Series. Why was Mary Ingalls' hair darker in later episodes? She also appeared as Mrs. Oleson in the spin-off Little House: A New Beginning, which aired from 1982 to 1983. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. She led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom in the North along the route of theUnderground Railroad. At first, everyone was determined to fight the evil man who had "bought" Walnut Grove. Since Katherine was busy with her own work after the Little House on the Prairie ended, she did not appear in the three special episodes later and soon retired from acting afterwards. Mrs. Oleson's narrow-mindedness and overbearing attitude were on display in this episode; these qualities would often make life difficult for the Ingalls clan throughout the show's run. I love the action and drama and it kept you on the edge of you seat. "Little House On The Prairie" Goes Out With A Bang! Not without leaving their mark, however. So, you get the Carters instead of the Ingalls (with a few exceptions), Nancy Oleson instead of Nellie, Miss Plum instead of Miss Beadle, etc. So the two get on a train and then takes a stage coach that's drops them of in front of the Wilders house three hours early. More She passed away on November 13, 2018. Here we see most of the main characters (with the exception of Harriet Oleson who is in a hospital). 'Sex and the City' Cast: Where Are They Now? Anyhow, apparently Mrs. Oleson finds an old bond that's fifty-three years old. Needlessly traumatic ending to a wonderful series. Did you know that the actress that played Harriet Oleson on Little House on the Prairie practiced the Hindu faith and that she went on a pilgrimage to India?. External Reviews Katherine "Scottie" MacGregor, who played the town's nosy, gossipy. Katherine MacGregor starred as Harriet Oleson, a comedic villain whom audiences loved to hate, on 'Little House on the Prairie' from 1974 to 1983. On the other hand, Mrs. Oleson was comical. They could have ended this beloved series a million different ways that would've been great. Rewards offered by slaveholders for Tubmans capture eventually totaled $40,000. So Melissa who's overwhelm with emotions after seeing her mom for the first time in 5 years. Katherine Scottie MacGregor, the actress who played the villainous Harriet Oleson on the long-running TV show Little House on the Prairie, died Tuesday at her home, PEOPLE confirms. It was so unnecessary and a kick in the gut to viewers. Michael Landon's writing and direction on this final show was wonderful. This episode is ridiculous. =). Michael Landon, the main character on Little House on the Prairie, gave her the reins to play the character as she wanted. I would much rather see this type of movie and/or show on TV anytime than some of the weird, grotesque things that are on now. about Free Little House in the Big Woods Unit Study, about Sewing Little House on the Prairie Pioneer Costumes, about Boxed Sets & Special Editions of the Little House Books, Biographies, Research, Letters & Articles, Laura Ingalls Wilder Quilting Patterns & Fabric, Pioneer Clothing for Cosplay, Reenactments, Dressing Up & Costumes. In fact, Melissa Sue Anderson, Alison Arngrim, and Merlin Olsen were not part of the last episode. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Chris Rock, Doctors: No Further Hope for Actor Tom Sizemore, Raquel Welchs Mixed Feelings about Her Fur Bikini, Andrea Riseboroughs Oscar Controversy, Explained, 10 Milestones on Viola Davis Road to EGOT Glory. Biography We watch in agony as the citizens of Walnut Grove, including Charles and Caroline, say goodbye to their town. About 1858 she bought a small farm near Auburn, New York, where she placed her aged parents (she had brought them out of Maryland in June 1857) and herself lived thereafter. Katherine "Scottie" MacGregor was born January 12, 1925, as Dorlee Deane McGregor in Glendale, California, [] but grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado with her mother Beatrice and stepfather . One such example was escaping on Saturday nights, since it would not appear in newspapers until Monday. She was cast in small supporting roles often playing a nurse, secretary or teacher on television shows such as All in the Family and Emergency!. In the show's final season (really a reboot/spinoff of sorts), Harriet was made miserable by the departure of Nellie, married to a man who moved them to New York, where she had twin boys. Either the people have to get out immediately or become the "property" of the white corporation. Log in, Visit our new General Store for books about Laura and pioneer life, along with DVDs, pioneer food, sewing and quilting. Nels usually tolerates this to a point but occasionally makes a stand, for example, not long after the Ingalls family moved to Walnut Grove, Caroline brought some eggs to the mercantile to be used for credit. Edward G. Kaye-Martin. 'Little House on the Prairie' Actor Richard Bull Dies, All the Revelations from the 'Star Wars' Celebration Convention Including Info on New Series. After Little House: A New Beginning was canceled, MacGregor opted to retire from acting. What is the labour of cable stayed bridges? But she continued to share her love of performing by starting a children's theater company, the Wee Hollywood Vedanta Players (MacGregor had been a Hindu for years, and the name Vedanta came from her Hindu faith). Behind the scenes, MacGregor was much more popular than her character. She made Oleson both a villain and the butt of her own jokes at the same time. Little House on the Prairie Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. She was also briefly married to fellow actor Bert Remsen. 'Independence Day' Cast: Where Are They Now? Harriet Tubman, ne Araminta Ross, (born c. 1820, Dorchester county, Maryland, U.S.died March 10, 1913, Auburn, New York), American bondwoman who escaped from slavery in the South to become a leading abolitionist before the American Civil War.