Background
Hussey was born in New York State and emigrated to Wayne County, Michigan, in 1824.
Hussey was born in New York State and emigrated to Wayne County, Michigan, in 1824.
Soon the Hussey home had become one of the main stations on the Underground Railroad. In 1846, Erastus Hussey ran for the United States. House of Representatives on the abolitionist Michigan Liberty Party ticket. He lost the election, but remained undeterred.
In 1848, Hussey began to publish an abolitionist newspaper called the Michigan Liberty Press.
He became increasingly involved in politics. In 1854, he ran for a seat in the Michigan Senate as the Free Soil Party candidate, winning the seat and serving through 1856.
During this time, he distinguished himself by drafting legislation that outlawed the capture of runaway slaves in Michigan. On July 6, 1854, Hussey attended the "Under the Oaks" convention in Jackson, Michigan, where the Republican Party had one of its earliest meetings
An official State of Michigan Historical plaque on the grounds of the Kellogg Foundation Headquarters in Battle Creek quotes Hussey as saying, "I have federal and given protection to over 1,000 fugitives, and assisted them on to Canada".
The plaque goes on to say that when Hussey was asked if any stationmaster had been paid, he had answered, "Number. We were working for humanity.".