Levi Coffin Essay - 1556 Words

Levi Coffin was a well-known abolitionist, and a very important individual to the success of the Underground Railroad. Dictionary.com describes an abolitionist as a person who tries to stop or get rid of any law or practice that is harmful to the society (â€Å"Abolitionist†). Levi Coffin was that and much more. He and most of the people involved in the Quaker religion believed that all men were equal and it was his divine purpose to do everything in his power to help. Levi took it a bit further than most. He was exposed to slavery at a young age and was taught by his family not to support it; he took those teachings and applied them to various stages of his life; including his young adulthood, marriage and retirement (Ludwig). Levi Coffin†¦show more content†¦Later the masters of the slaves, that were attending, began to oppose the school and it was then liquidated (Powell). Shortly after in 1822 Levi followed his brother-in-law Benjamin White to Indiana. The persecu tion of Quakers had become unbearable in the Southern Territories. He lived with Mr. White for about a year and then returned to North Carolina. â€Å"He was convinced that Quakers and slavery could not coexist and decided that he himself would move to Indiana† (â€Å"Levi Coffin†, Wikipedia). Fig. 1. â€Å"Levi Coffin.† Wikipedia Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. 8 Dec 2011. Web. 16 Jan 2012. In 1824, Coffin married Catherine White at the Hopewell Church in Guildford County. Four years later in 1826 they moved to Newport, Indiana, which is now Fountain city (Powell). The couple’s move to Indiana was postponed when Catherine became pregnant with their first child, Jesse, the first of six children to come. The Coffins opened a general store and Levi became a prosperous business man. Soon after the family had relocated in Newport, they discovered they were on the path of the Underground Railroad. The fugitives using the Underground Railroad generally stayed with those colored people of the community and they more often than not did not reach their destination. (Coffin) Levi Coffin was quoted in his book,Show MoreRelated The Underground Railroad in North Carolina Essay1277 Words   |  6 PagesUnderground Railroad in North Carolina The Underground Railroad was perhaps the most active and dramatic protest action against slavery in United States history and as we look at the Underground Railroad in North Carolina we will focus on the Quakers, Levi Coffin’s early years, and the accounts of escaped slaves from North Carolina. The unique blend of southern slave holder and northern abolitionist influences in the formation of North Carolina served to make the state an important link in the effortsRead MoreThe Underground Railroad1145 Words   |  5 Pagesfamous was Levi Coffin. A source I found very helpful was Documenting The American South. What I learned from this source was that Levi Coffin was better known as the President of the Underground Railroad because of his involvement in the abolitionist movement. As Hoskins notes in this source Coffin and his wife Catherine moved to Wayne County, Indiana where they opened up a store and were first introduced to the Underground Railroad (Hoskins). In 1847 the c ouple moved to Ohio because Coffin didn’t feelRead MoreThe Underground Railroad And Its Impact On American Culture1608 Words   |  7 Pages The Underground Railroad was an innovated organization whose main goal was to free slaves. This amazing system was founded in the 18th century, by a man names Levi Coffin. It used as an escape for any slaves in the South. . The courageous people within the organization help to shape a new America. The course of this organization ultimately changed the course of American history. This legendary organization was known for many things, but in retrospect it help spark the civil war. To have a fullRead MoreEssay about History of Slavery in America1731 Words   |  7 PagesWest Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kentucky. The people who worked in the Underground Railroad were anti-slavery and were either white families or free slaves. Some people who worked in the Underground Railroad were in their teens. Levi Coffin was known as the president of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was kept in secret. Only slaves and the people who helped knew about the Underground Railroad. If it was kept in secret then how do we know about it? We know aboutRead MoreThe Underground Railroad And The Civil War1709 Words   |  7 Pagesher train off the track and never lost a passenger on the Underground Railroad. Levi Coffin, devoted his life helping men and women flee from slavery. He and his wife Catherine White affirmed that they helped some 3,000 men and women escape from captivity. The title, â€Å"the President of the Underground Railroad† was given to him for providing shelter to over 3,000 slaves over the years. On October 28, 1798, Levi Coffin was born in New Garden, in Guilford County. He was the descendant of a family whoRead MoreAmerican History: UnderGround RailRoad Provided a Scape to Slaves1359 Words   |  6 Pageswith the letters S.S (slave stealer), be imprisoned or put to death. In a letter between Levi Coffin and William Still, where Coffin described Seth Concklin’s fatal fate as a result of his involvement in the Underground Railroad, â€Å"I seriously doubt that he had made his escape. Language would fail to express my feelings†¦ his heart is full of the milk of humanity; one of our best Anti-Slavery spirits,† (Levi Coffin to William Still, Ma y 11, 1851). Another encumbering danger they faced was the threat ofRead MoreThe Underground Railroad Is Not Like The Railroad1387 Words   |  6 Pageswho helped them on their journey, which I will discuss later throughout this paper. There over 3000 people who helped the runaway slaves to freedom. (The Underground Railroad). There are a few that stand out in history: Harriett Tubman, Levi and Catharine Coffin, William Still, John and Jean Rankin, and Captain John Brown. Each of these people has great stories to tell about their journeys and helping the black folk to freedom. Let’s talk about a couple of these famous people for a minute and howRead MoreThe Underground Railroad : The Secret System Of Escape During Slavery1107 Words   |  5 Pagesused by the African slaves to escape the slave states and travel to the northern states, such as Canada (â€Å"Underground Railroad Where History†) . The Underground Railroad also had many prominent figures including Harriet Tubman, John Fairfield, and Levi Coffin (â€Å"People and Events†). The Underground Railroad is known as one of the most secret systems of escape during slavery. The history of the Underground Railroad began in the mid 1800’s and was aided by people involved in the Abolition movement. ByRead MoreThe Underground Railroad1073 Words   |  5 Pagesthe routes of the Underground Railroad (â€Å"John Fairfield Forgotten Hero of the UGRR†). Also there was Levi Coffin, a Quaker, who helped and aided over 3000 slaves in her lifetime. She was often referred to as the President of the Underground Railroad. She used her an eight-room Federal style brick home in Newport, Indiana, as a resting house and safe haven on the slaves’ journey to Canada (â€Å"Levi Coffin House†). The journey through Underground Railroad was not a day trip, it was however an all nightRead MoreThe Underground Railroad And The American Civil War1203 Words   |  5 PagesSmith Haviland). Quakers Levi and Catherine Coffin were instrumental in helping as many as 2,000 slaves over a period of 20 years. Their house in Newport, Indiana was modified to create hiding places between the walls. A secret indoor well was used to accommodate the large amount of water needed for slaves that passed through their doors. In addition, most rooms contained at least two exits. Catherine also provided home-made clothing for the fugitives. In 1843, Levi and Catherine were expelled