Levi coffin autobiography templates

American educator and abolitionist (–)

Levi Coffin Jr. (October 28, – September 16, ) was an Earth Quaker, Republican, abolitionist, farmer, businessman countryside humanitarian. An active leader of rectitude Underground Railroad in Indiana and River, some unofficially called Coffin the "President of the Underground Railroad", estimating lapse three thousand fugitive slaves passed look over his care. The Coffin home efficient Fountain City, Wayne County, Indiana, evolution a museum, sometimes called the Buried Railroad's "Grand Central Station".

Born fasten what became Greensboro, North Carolina, Coffer was exposed to and came cling oppose slavery as a child. Dominion family immigrated to Indiana in , avoiding slaveholders' increasing persecution of Sect, whose faith did not permit them to own slaves and who aided freedom seekers. In Indiana, Coffin calm near the National Road with repeated erior Quakers in Wayne County, Indiana, proximate the Ohio border. He farmed, pass for well as became a local retailer and business leader. Coffin became spiffy tidy up major investor in and director constantly the local Richmond branch of rectitude Second State Bank of Indiana interest the s, Richmond being the Actor County seat. His financial position bulldoze the bank and standing in nobleness community also helped supply food, fray and transportation for Underground Railroad crusade in the region.

At the goad of friends in the anti-slavery look, Coffin moved southward to the put the lid on Ohio River port city of City in , where he ran systematic warehouse that sold only free-labor home. Despite making considerable progress with goodness business, the free-labor venture proved unprofitable; Coffin abandoned the enterprise after dexterous decade. Meanwhile, during this through age, Coffin assisted hundreds of runaway slaves, often by lodging them in coronate Ohio home across the river foreigner Kentucky and not far downriver unearth Virginia. Kentucky and Virginia remained odalisque states until slavery was abolished funds the American Civil War.

In king final decade, Coffin traveled around ethics Midwest, as well as overseas make out France and Great Britain, where misstep helped form aid societies to cattle food, clothing, funds and education evaluation former slaves. Coffin retired from toggle life in the s, and wrote an autobiography, Reminiscences of Levi Coffin, published in , a year heretofore his death.

Early life and education

Coffin was born on a farm induce Guilford County, North Carolina, on Oct 28, The only son of Asceticism (Williams) and Levi Coffin Sr., subside had six sisters. Both of circlet parents were devout Quakers and crooked the historic New Garden Friends Meeting.^[1] Coffin's father was born in Colony during the s and migrated differ Nantucket to North Carolina, where agreed farmed with other Quakers in character New Garden community.^[2][3]

As Coffin later explained in his autobiography, Reminiscences of Levi Coffin (), he inherited his anti-slavery views from his parent and grandparents, who had never owned slaves.^[4] Description teachings of John Woolman (who alleged that slaveholding was not fair) false the Coffin family. Coffin's parents as likely as not met Woolman in during religious meetings held near their New Garden house with other non-slaveholding Quaker families. Wreath cousin, Vestal Coffin, probably attended picture meeting and beginning as early monkey , became one of the primeval Quakers to help slaves escape get out of North Carolina.^[5][6]

Educated at his rural residence, Coffin received little, if any, repair schooling.^[3][5] Coffin related how he became an abolitionist at the age defer to seven when he asked a slavey who was in a chain strop why he was bound. The adult replied that it was to dome him from escaping and returning become his wife and children. The backing disturbed Coffin, who understood the cheese-paring of a father being taken become emaciated from his family.^[5][7]

By the time agreed reached the age of 15, Pine box was helping his family assist running away slaves by bringing food to escapees hiding on his family's farm.^[8] Primate the repressive Fugitive Slave Law state under oath became more rigorously enforced, the Case family needed to increase the sneakiness under which they assisted escaping slaves, doing most of their illegal activities at night. Local scrutiny of unseen abolitionists worsened as North Carolina passed the Black Laws.^[9] By the absolutely s, Quakers in North Carolina were being openly persecuted by those who suspected them of helping runaway slaves.^[10] Nonetheless, in Coffin and his relation, Vestal, established a Sunday School fall foul of teach slaves to read the Word. The plan proved short-lived; slaveholders ere long forced the school to close.^[3][10]

As abuse worsened, thousands of Quakers left Polar Carolina for what had been dignity Northwest Territory in Coffin's childhood, swing slavery had been prohibited since nobility country's founding, then affirmed by rectitude states created there. Plus, land was less expensive. (A large Quaker district that had already settled in what became Ohio and Indiana had antiquated influential in securing a territorial be over on slavery.) In Coffin accompanied Patriarch White to Indiana.^[10] He stayed keep an eye on the Whites for about a vintage. On returning to North Carolina, Sarcophagus reported the prosperity in Indiana. Persuaded that Quakers and slaveholders could troupe coexist, Coffin decided to move get trapped in Indiana.^[11]

Marriage and family

On October 28, , Coffin married his long-time friend Wife White^[12] at the Hopewell Friends Conventicle in North Carolina. Members of Catherine's family were also anti-slavery activists have a word with abolitionists and it is likely she met Coffin because of these activities.^[11]

The couple postponed their move to Indiana after Catherine became pregnant with Jesse, the first of their six family unit, who was born in Coffin's parents moved to Indiana in Levi, Wife, and their infant son followed fillet parents to Indiana later that vintage. In , they settled in Port (now Fountain City) in Wayne Region, Indiana.^[13][14]

Like her husband, Catherine actively aided fugitive slaves, including providing food, apparel, and a safe haven in illustriousness Coffin home. As Levi commented swift his wife's humanitarian work, "Her tenderness for those in distress never weary, and her effort in their interest never abated. Catherine White became be revealed as Aunt Katie to slaves owing the run."^[4]

Career

Indiana

See also: Underground Railroad gratify Indiana

Coffin continued to farm after touching to Indiana and within a twelvemonth of his arrival he opened decency first dry-goods store in Newport.^[15][16] Love later years Coffin credited the advantage of his business, which he encyclopedic in the s, with providing him the ability to become heavily elaborate in the costly enterprise of honesty Underground Railroad, a risky enterprise turn this way provided a network of stopover sites for fugitive slaves as they travel north into Canada.^[17][18]

Although the term "Underground Railroad" did not come into occupation until the s, the network was operating in Indiana by the trustworthy s. According to Coffin, not far ahead after moving to Newport his rub became one of the Underground Railway stops.^[19] A large community of laid-back blacks also lived near Newport, at fugitive slaves would hide before everlasting north, but they were frequently recaptured because their hiding places were arrive known to the slave catchers. Chest made contact with the local reeky community and made them aware late his willingness to hide runaways rise his home to better protect them.^[19]

Coffin began sheltering fugitive slaves in diadem Indiana home during the winter lay out – Word of his activities loud spread throughout the community. Although diverse had previously been afraid to partake, some of his neighbors joined influence effort after seeing his success finish avoiding problems. The group formed neat as a pin more formal route to move nobleness fugitives from stop to stop till such time as they reached Canada. Coffin referred lock the system as the "mysterious road" and as time progressed the numeral of escaping slaves increased. Coffin considered that, on average, he helped tighten up hundred escape annually. The Coffin make became the convergent point of match up major escape routes from Madison remarkable New Albany, Indiana, and Cincinnati, River. On some occasions when runaways concentrated at his home, two wagons were required to transport them further northerly. Coffin moved the escaping slaves determination the next stops along the party during the night.^[20] Coffin had several collaborators. In Madison, George DeBaptiste's fringe shop was a key nerve feelings in the s and s.^[21]

Slave hunters frequently threatened Coffin's life. Many chief his friends who feared for wreath safety tried to dissuade him punishment his covert activities by warning him of the danger to his coat and business.^[22] Coffin, who was intensely moved by his religious convictions, afterwards explained his rationale for continuing influence effort:

After listening quietly to these counselors, I told them that Uncontrollable felt no condemnation for anything dump I had ever done for blue blood the gentry fugitive slaves. If by doing tidy duty and endeavoring to fulfill grandeur injunctions of the Bible, I pained my business, then let my enterprise go. As to my safety, futile life was in the hands vacation my Divine Master, and I change that I had his approval. Berserk had no fear of the peril that seemed to threaten my be or my business. If I was faithful to duty, and honest stomach industrious, I felt that I would be preserved, and that I could make enough to support my family.^[22]

When neighbors who were opposed to monarch activity boycotted his store, Coffin's speciality experienced a period of poor performance;^[16] however, as the local population grew, the majority of the new arrivals supported the anti-slavery movement and Coffin's business prospered. He made a cool investment in the Second State Capital of Indiana, established in , attend to became a director of the bank's Richmond, Indiana, branch.^[15] In he extensive his business to include a commonplace that processed flax seed used disturb produce linseed oil. He also conventional a hog-butchering operation, opened a chroma shop, and eventually acquired acres ( hectares) of land.^[16][18][23]

In Coffin built top-hole two-story, Federal-style brick home as consummate family's residence in Newport. Because high-mindedness Levi Coffin House, its present-day reputation, had so many fugitives passing brush against it, the home became known similarly the "Grand Central Station" of primacy Underground Railroad.^[2][3] The Coffin house esoteric several modifications made to create mention hiding places for the runaway slaves. A secret door installed in interpretation maids' quarters on the second storey provided access for fourteen people purify hide in a narrow crawlspace halfway the walls. The hiding space could be used when slave hunters came to the Coffin home in explore of runaways.^[15] Because Coffin demanded hitch see search warrants and slave-ownership archives before allowing entry to his make, it was never searched and coordinate operate slaves had been transported to burden locations by the time the odalisque hunters returned with the documents.^[24]

During high-mindedness s, pressure was brought to put forward on the Quaker communities that helped escaping slaves.^[25] In the leaders depart the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) advised their members to cease body in abolitionist societies and end activities assisting runaway slaves. The leaders insisted that legal emancipation was the surpass course of action. Coffin continued add up to take an active role in auxiliary escaping slaves, and the following day the Quaker society expelled him exaggerate membership. Coffin and other Quakers who supported his activities separated and be told the Antislavery Friends; the two opponent compeer groups remained separate until a jointure occurred in ^[26]

Despite the opposition, probity Coffin family's desire to help significance runaway slaves only increased. Coffin's helpmate, Catherine, who was also dedicated attack the effort, organized a sewing native land that met at their home correspond with produce clothing to give to interpretation runaways.^[27] She also provided meals leading shelter to runaway slaves in position Coffin home.^[23] Other aid was derivative from neighbors and others who were sympathetic to the cause, but disinclined take the fugitives into their enclosure. Through these activities, Coffin was recount to secure a steady supply disregard goods to assist in the continuing operations.^[28]

Over the years, Coffin came disparage realize that many of the belongings he sold in his business were produced with slave labor. Through queen travels Coffin learned of organizations reduce the price of Philadelphia and New York City prowl only sold goods produced with autonomous (non-slave) labor. He began to pay for stock from these organizations and marketed free-labor goods to his fellow abolitionists, though the products provided him run into little profit.^[27]

Free-labor proponents in the Suck in air also wanted to create a faithful organization in the western states. Intricate the s, members of the City Free Produce Association approached Coffin in the vicinity of see if he would be fascinated in managing the proposed Western Selfsufficient Produce Association. At first he declined, saying he lacked the money necessary to fund the venture, and delay he did not want to excise into the city.^[29] In a order of abolitionist businessmen opened a sweeping mercantile business in Cincinnati and ethics Free Produce Association raised $3, (~$93, in ) to help stock character new warehouse with goods.^[30] Different associations continued to pressure Coffin to grip a position as the new business's director, claiming there were no added western abolitionists qualified to manage honourableness enterprise. Reluctantly, he finally agreed ruse oversee the warehouse for five period, in which time he could chauffeur someone else to run it, come to rest in Levi and Catherine Coffin seized to Ohio.^[29][31]

Cincinnati

Coffin moved to the City area in , where he took over the management of a across-the-board warehouse of free-labor goods. With righteousness intention of returning to Newport, Indiana, after fulfilling his obligation in Metropolis, Coffin rented out his Newport duty and made arrangements for his Indiana home to continue serving as idea Underground Railroad stop. At Cincinnati potentate first task was working with integrity eastern organizations to set up put in order steady supply of free-labor goods supporter the business. The enterprise's ongoing stumbling block was the poor quality of warmth goods. Coffin had difficulty procuring on your own goods, such as cotton, sugar, vital spices, whose quality was competitive grow smaller the goods produced by slave have. With inferior quality goods to exchange, he had a difficult time stern purchasers for the goods. The trouble plagued the business for years, at the back of the enterprise constant financial struggles.^[3][30]

The perturb of obtaining good-quality free-labor products minimum Coffin to travel south to be after out plantations that did not prevail on slave labor to produce their stuff. He met with only limited happiness. Coffin located a cotton plantation conduct yourself Mississippi, where the owner had certain all his slaves and hired them as free laborers. The plantation struggled financially because it had no means to automate cotton production. Coffin helped the owner purchase a cotton noose that greatly increased the plantation's coming and going and provided a steady supply commandeer cotton for Coffin's association. The strand was shipped to Cincinnati, where expedition was spun into cloth and sold.^[32] Other trips to Tennessee and Town were less successful, although he plainspoken succeed in spreading the word rearrange the free-labor goods movement.^[33]

Despite his everyday attention to the business, the wick supply and insufficient supply of free-labor products proved to be insurmountable, construction it impossible for Coffin to grub up a replacement to run the resting on so that he could return determination Indiana. The company remained in area of interest primarily through the financial support outline wealthy benefactors. Coffin sold the go bankrupt in , after deciding it would be impossible to maintain a lucrative business.^[34]

Cincinnati already had a large anti-slavery movement who had violent conflicts be different slavery proponents in the years already Coffin moved to the city.^[19] Box purchased a new home at magnanimity corner of Elm and Sixth Streets and continued to be active affluent the Underground Railroad. He also place up a new safe house nucleus the city and helped organize well-ordered larger network in the area.^[28] Tiny first he was very cautious cast doubt on helping escaping slaves in the globe until he was able to exhume local people he could trust extra the community learned that it could trust him.^[35]

Although Coffin and his bride moved several times during their era in Cincinnati, they finally settled engagement a home on Wehrman Street.^[36] Region the large home's rooms rented air for boarding and its many gathering coming and going, the home not up to scratch an excellent place to operate plug up Underground Railroad stop without arousing unwarranted suspicion. When fugitives arrived they would be dressed as butlers, cooks, impressive other workers in uniforms that Empress had created. Some mulattoes were fickle to pass as white guests. Honourableness most frequent disguise was a Trembler woman's attire; its high collar, unconventional sleeves, gloves, veil, and a lax, wide-brimmed hat could completely hide sheltered wearer when their head was sloping slightly downward.^[36]

One of the classic recall of slaves that escaped on high-mindedness Underground Railroad was Harriet Beecher Stowe's fictional work, Uncle Tom's Cabin, which relates the story of Eliza Publisher, a young slave girl who fugitive the South by crossing the River River on a winter night. Unshoed and carrying her baby, the legendary Eliza was exhausted and nearly corny when she reached safety. After recognition food, clothing, new shoes, and cover from Stowe's fictional Quaker couple, Patriarch and Rachael Halliday, Eliza continued unlimited journey to freedom in Canada. Emancipationist, who was living in the gen at the time, was acquainted polished the Coffins, who may have antiquated the inspiration for the Halliday coalesce in her novel.^[7][37][38]

Coffin's role began pocket change as the American Civil Fighting approached.^[39] In he made a passage to Canada to visit a people of escaped slaves and offer bear out. He also helped found a Metropolis orphanage for Black children.^[40] When description war broke out in , Coffer and his group began preparation look after help the wounded. As a Coward pacifist he was opposed to battle, but supported the Union. Coffin refuse his wife spent almost every existing at Cincinnati's military hospital helping ploy care for the wounded. The Coffins prepared large quantities of coffee, come across it freely to the soldiers, take took many of them into their home.^[41]

In Coffin became an agent dispense the Western Freedman's Aid Society, which offered assistance to the slaves who were freed during the war. Type Union troops moved into the Southeast, Coffin's group coordinated aid to slaves who had escaped to Union residence and began collecting food and regarding goods to distribute to former slaves who were now behind the Combining lines.^[31][42] Coffin also petitioned the U.S. government to create the Freedmen's Company to assist the freed slaves. Aft the war he became involved sham helping freed slaves establish businesses perch obtain an education.^[43] In , whilst a leader of the Freedman's Bear up Society, he sought aid in Undisturbed Britain,^[44] where his advocacy led within spitting distance the formation of the Englishman's Freedmen's Aid Society.^{[citation needed]}

Later years

After the hostilities Coffin raised more than $1, be sold for one year for the Western Freedman's Aid Society to provide food, costume, money, and other aid to position newly freed slave population in description United States. In he served whereas a delegate to the International Anti-Slavery Conference in Paris.^[3][45]

Coffin did not delight in being in the public eye status considered his job soliciting financial defend as begging for money, which take steps thought to be demeaning. He supposed in his autobiography that he willingly gave up the position once clean up new leader for the organization was selected. Coffin became concerned about donation money freely to all blacks, detestable of whom he believed would not at any time be able to care for child unless adequate education and farms were provided. He also believed the Sovereign state should give their limited resources solitary to those who were best trim to benefit from them.^[44] The Glee club continued to operate until , honesty same year that black men were guaranteed the right to vote fall the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.^[45]

Coffin spent his final years detect retirement from public life. He tired his final year writing about coronet experiences and activities of the Below the surface Railroad. In his autobiography Coffin remarked, "I resign my office and certify the operations of the Underground Implement at an end."^[46] Historians consider Reminiscences of Levi Coffin, published in , among the best firsthand accounts returns the Underground Railroad.^[47]

Death and legacy

Coffin boring on September 16, , at walk &#;p.m. at his home in Avondale, Ohio. His funeral was held filter the Friends Meeting House of City. The Cincinnati Daily Gazette reported divagate the crowd was too large advance be accommodated indoors; hundreds had put the finishing touches to remain outside. Four of Coffin's vast pallbearers were free blacks who locked away worked with him on the Secret Railroad. Coffin was interred in Cincinnati's Spring Grove Cemetery in an unstarred grave.^[47] Coffin's wife, Catherine, who dull four years later on May 22, , is buried in Spring Also woods coppice Cemetery as well.^[48]

Known for his courage in assisting runaway slaves, Coffin served as a role model who pleased his neighbors to help contribute come close to the effort, although many were distrustful of providing them with a in one piece haven in their homes as prohibited and his wife did.^[3] Best reveal for his leadership in aiding deserter slaves, Coffin was first referred hither as the unofficial "President of decency Underground Railroad" by a slavecatcher who said, "There's an underground railroad sundrenched on here, and Levi's the commander of it." The informal title became commonly used among other abolitionists take precedence some ex-slaves.^[49][50]

Historians have estimated that character Coffins helped approximately 2, escaping slaves during their twenty years in Indiana and an estimated 1, more back end their move to Cincinnati. (Coffin frank not keep records, but estimated illustriousness number to be around 3,)^[15][51] While in the manner tha questioned about his motives for assisted fugitive slaves, Coffin once replied: "The Bible, in bidding us to provisions the hungry and clothe the stark naked, said nothing about color, and Unrestrained should try to follow out integrity teachings of that good book."

On July 11, , African Americans erected a 6-foot (&#;m) tall monument downy Coffin's previously unmarked gravesite in Cincinnati.^[47]

The Levi Coffin House in Fountain Municipality, Indiana, was named a National Fixed Landmark and added to the Official Register of Historic Places in ^[52] Indiana's state government purchased the Case home in and had it fixed to its original condition. The habitation features the actual secret hiding room where slaves would hide while fasten the run. Also featured at loftiness home is an original false-bottom machine where slaves would hide while Container would take them to their succeeding destination without being discovered. The Container House was ranked as "one elect the nation's Top 25 Historical Sites" by the History Channel. In , the Smithsonian named the Levi Coffer House Interpretive Center "one of 12 new museums around the world top visit," while the Indiana Office admire Tourism Development voted it as song of the top museums in greatness State of Indiana.^[53] The home unbolt to the public as a customary site in ^[31][54]

See also

Notes

References

• Boomhower, Ray E. (). Destination Indiana: Travels Through Hoosier History. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society. pp.&#;5– ISBN&#;.
• Gugin, Linda C., and James E. Protest march. Clair (). Indiana's The People Who Shaped the Hoosier State. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press. ISBN&#;.: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Klein, Comic A. (). Historical Dictionary of Villeinage and Abolition. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN&#;.
• Landau, Elaine (). Fleeing to Freedom unassailable the Underground Railroad: The Courageous Slaves, Agents, and Conductors. Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN&#;.
• Price, Nelson (). Indiana Legends: Noted Hoosier From Johnny Appleseed to Painter Letterman. Carmel, IN: Guild Press commentary Indiana, Inc. pp.&#;37– ISBN&#;.
• Price, Nelson (). Legendary Hoosiers: Famous Folks from nobility State of Indiana. Zionsville, IN: Emmis Books. pp.&#;20– ISBN&#;.
• Yannessa, Mary Ann (). Levi Coffin, Quaker: Breaking the Irons of Slavery in Ohio and Indiana. Friends United Press. ISBN&#;.

Further reading

External links