The Quaker Influence: Shaping a Prosperous Community

Dense with forest and rich in game, Richmond, Indiana was proclaimed “The Land of Promise” by North Carolina Quakers seeking a new home free from the moral chains of slavery. The first settler, Jeremiah Cox, set about “building up a virtuous community” in 1806 by welcoming fellow Quakers to his paradise. His influence shaped Richmond as diverse groups of settlers sought the peaceful and prosperous lifestyle of the Friends. Quakers owned mills and foundries along the Whitewater River, and Quaker Charles Starr further influenced Richmond’s destiny as he donated land to the railroad, stipulating that it be used for a depot. With access to rail transportation, more industrialists chose to locate in Richmond and during the late nineteenth century the city of 20,000 was home to no less than 47 millionaires. Along with economic impact, the Quakers established intellectual growth with the founding of Earlham College in 1847 and one of the nation’s first public libraries in 1864.

The Underground Railroad: A Beacon of Freedom

Quaker- influenced rail passage wasn’t limited to steam engines. Jeremiah Cox’s Land of Promise was the stopover for many who traveled the Underground Railroad. The Levi Coffin Home in what is now Fountain City, north of Richmond, was built with hidden passages to safekeep more than 2,000 slaves who stopped there along their journey to freedom. One such traveler who slept in the Coffin’s secret guestroom was the heroic Eliza, immortalized in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.  In 2016, the Levi & Catharine Coffin Interpretive Center was opened next door to the Levi Coffin home.  The Interpretive Center is a self-guided tour that includes an orientation video and exhibitions regarding the history of slavery and abolitionism in the United States.