Todd House NPS Photo

The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 pitted "free-soilers,"-- those who advocated free states--versus supporters of Popular Sovereignty, which promoted the right to bring slaves into a territory. Framed against the nationwide conflict over the spread of slavery, Kansas was the battleground for the forces of liberty and bondage, and "Bleeding Kansas" was born. Iowa became an important route for free-soilers entering Kansas, as well as the nearest free state to those escaping slavery in Missouri.

Todd's home was an established Underground Railroad stop, and Tabor enjoyed a wide reputation as an anti-slavery stronghold. George Gill, an associate of John Brown, once wrote, "Tabor had been the staging point for the free-state movement in Western Iowa." Brown himself came through Tabor on many occasions, including his escape after his celebrated "invasion of Missouri." On this occasion, 14 slaves were rescued, though one slaveholder was killed. Todd decried the violence but still provided aid to the escapees during their northward trek. The basement of the Todd House was also used to store arms later used in Brown's violent raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, though Todd had no knowledge of Brown's apocalyptic plans.

Todd also played an important role in building Iowa's Underground Railroad network, recruiting abolitionist Congregationalist ministers, such as George B. Hitchcock of nearby Lewis, Iowa, to come to the Great Plains to aid in the struggle. Further, many of Todd's sermons focused on slavery's evils, often using sentiments expressed in the Declaration of Independence to address the paradox of slavery in a "free" society. Todd served as a Chaplain in the Union Army in 1864 and was instrumental in building progressive Tabor College, founded in 1866 and open to all students regardless of race or gender. Rev. Todd died in Tabor in 1894.

The Todd House is located in Tabor, Iowa on Park Street. It is open to the public by appointment. Call (712)629-2675 for more information.

Previous | List of Sites | Home | Next