George and Sarah (Bradley) Gammon displayed extreme courage and bravery. They were free persons of color who risked imprisonment, enormous fines and ostracism by their neighbors to help others become free. They raised seven children at 620 S. Piqua Place. George’s parents were free people of color and charter members of St. Paul’s African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Urbana, which also was active in helping slaves on their journey to freedom.
The eldest Gammon son, Charles, enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment along with five other Springfield men. He gave his life in the assault on James Island in the South Carolina. The effort of these brave soldiers is movingly told in the film, “Glory,” showing that blacks were willing to sacrifice their lives for freedom which many did not have.