Editing William Still (section)

== Early Life ==

William Still was born on October 7, 1821, in Shamong Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. His father, Levin Steel, had been born into slavery in Maryland but had purchased his freedom and moved north, changing his surname to Still. His mother, Sidney (née Levin), had escaped from slavery in Maryland, leaving two children behind in bondage. This family history of slavery and escape profoundly shaped William's commitment to helping others achieve freedom. Growing up in rural New Jersey with limited educational opportunities, Still was largely self-taught, developing the literacy and organizational skills that would later prove essential to his work. The family's poverty meant that young William worked on farms from an early age, but his ambition drove him toward the city and larger opportunities.<ref name="blockson">{{cite book |last=Blockson |first=Charles L. |title=The Underground Railroad: First-Person Narratives of Escapes to Freedom in the North |year=1987 |publisher=Prentice Hall |location=New York}}</ref>

In 1844, at age 23, Still moved to Philadelphia seeking better prospects. He found work initially as a domestic servant and handyman before being hired as a mail clerk at the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society in 1847. His intelligence, reliability, and commitment to the cause quickly led to greater responsibilities. Still became the Society's corresponding secretary and chairman of its vigilance committee, positions that placed him at the center of Philadelphia's network for assisting escaped slaves. His office on North Fifth Street became a hub where freedom seekers arriving in Philadelphia could receive assistance, information, and safe passage to the next station on their journey north.<ref name="still">{{cite book |last=Still |first=William |title=The Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, &c. |year=1872 |publisher=Porter & Coates |location=Philadelphia}}</ref>