Welcome From the General de Lafayette Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution

Welcome From the General de Lafayette Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
On behalf of the General de Lafayette Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, welcome to this blog, "Road to Freedom Through Greater Lafayette." We have attempted to post brief biographical sketches of many of the men and women who were involved in Abolitionist activities in the Greater Lafayette, Indiana, area during the mid-19th century. We hope that it inspires further research into their lives and activities, because we believe the history in our community is worthy of national, state, and local recognition. Please forgive any imperfections. While we are lovers of history, we aren't degreed historians. We will always accept correction and learn from others who have studied history longer than we have. If you see an error, or if you would like to contribute information or photographs, please contact us at generaldelafayette@gmail.com. This website is a work-in-progress, and we will be adding to it, so please check back frequently.

Frederick Douglass Visited Lafayette Twice; Helped Raise Funds for Historic A.M.E. Church

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Frederick Douglass, former slave and Abolitionist leader, was known for his fiery speeches in opposition to slavery, calling it a "disease" and its abolition "essential to the security of the country."  After slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment, Douglass shifted his focus to the promotion of racial justice and political equality.

Douglass visited Lafayette twice after the Civil War, once in 1867 and again in 1880. His first visit was at the invitation of his friend and associate, Martin Peirce, an Abolitionist and former Tippecanoe County sheriff. The goal was to help the African American community raise funds to purchase the 1846 church building and lot, which became known as the AME Church, located on Ferry Street. Proceeds of over $200 from the Douglass speech event helped fund the purchase.


The April 18, 1867, edition of the Lafayette Daily Courier reported that “every available seat in the Baptist Church was filled…and the aisles and platform crowded to hear and see the great representative man of the [African American] race. Many went away unable to gain admission. That the distinguished lecturer more than realized the highest expectations of the audience is a safe assertion. For nearly two hours and a half he held his audience in all absorbing and unwearied interest. His theme was the dangers which menace the Republic.”

It was reported that Douglass “stood before his audience like a statue of Jefferson done in bronze – calm, majestic, impressive – the true type of a self-made man, rising superior to the circumstances which chained him down, and achieving greatness in the face of unreasoning prejudice and unscrupulous wrong.” 

The transition from abolitionist to that of a civil rights leader was complete as Douglass impacted the course of history with his ideas and reason. After a rocky start in their relationship, President Abraham Lincoln had won over won of his most vocal critics after he sought guidance and advice from Douglass in 1864 on how to maintain freedom for African Americans in the event that Lincoln lost the election. Douglass became a respected advisor to Lincoln and was invited to Lincoln’s second inaugural address. Douglass remarked afterwards that the president’s speech “sounded more like a sermon than a state paper.”  Lincoln later told Douglass that, “There is no man in the country whose opinion I value more than yours.”

Frederick Douglass became the most photographed American of the 19th century, even more so than Abraham Lincoln. He never smiled while being photographed, because he “never wanted to look like a happy, amiable fugitive slave.”  He chose a confident and assertive pose to combat racist and inaccurate depictions of Black people who were often stereotyped in negative ways.

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