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Three Oberlin Graduates’ Abolitionist Experiment in Iowa

In 1852, three Oberlin College graduates built more than just a town in Iowa—they planted a bold idea.

George Gaston, Samuel Adams, and John Todd first tried settling near the Missouri River, but floods and mosquitoes pushed them to higher ground.

Soon after, they founded Tabor on a bluff, naming it after a biblical mountain. The town quickly grew as families from Ohio brought their strong anti-slavery beliefs west.

They opened Tabor Literary Institute in 1853, welcoming students of all races and genders.

Meanwhile, their homes served as Underground Railroad stations, hiding freedom seekers and later storing John Brown’s weapons. The Todd House still stands today, revealing this remarkable frontier experiment in equality.

Three Friends With a Bold Frontier Dream

George Belcher Gaston, Samuel Adams, and John Todd were buddies with big plans. These Oberlin College grads carried their school’s forward-thinking ideas westward in 1848.

They wanted to build a community that fought against slavery and gave everyone a chance to learn, no matter their skin color or gender. Todd, a church minister, joined after his friends talked him into their dream.

Together, they set out to create what people called an “Oberlin of the West” in Iowa’s open spaces.

Civil Bend Became Their First Settlement Spot

The three friends first settled at Civil Bend near the Missouri River in 1848.

Several families from Oberlin, Ohio joined them, bringing their church faith and strong anti-slavery beliefs. The settlers built homes and farms while sticking to their ideas about freedom and fairness.

They held prayer meetings about ending slavery and started planning a school. The community grew as word spread about this outpost of forward-thinking on the western frontier.

Mosquitoes and Floods Forced a Change of Plans

Life at Civil Bend turned out harder than they thought. The spot near the Missouri River caused big problems they hadn’t counted on.

Yearly flooding wrecked their homes and fields, making farming tough.

Worse yet, swarms of mosquitoes bred in the wet lowlands, bringing sickness that spread through the community. After a few rough years, the group knew they needed higher ground.

They started looking for a better spot to keep everyone safe and healthy.

A Hilltop Haven Named After Biblical Heights

In 1852, the group found what they needed—a bluff in southwest Iowa that sat safely above flood levels. They named their new town Tabor after Mount Tabor from the Bible.

The higher ground fixed both their main problems: no more flooding and fewer sickness-carrying mosquitoes. The founders mapped out streets and lots for a proper town.

Families from Civil Bend packed up and moved to the new spot, ready to start fresh with their anti-slavery community.

First Houses Rise on Prairie Bluffs

Gaston built the very first house in Tabor in 1852, picking a spot at Park and Orange Streets. His simple home became the starting point for the new community.

Samuel Adams built his family home nearby soon after. In 1853, John Todd finished his house, which still stands today as a historic site.

These three homes formed the heart of the settlement, with other Oberlin families building around them. The town grew as more people came, drawn by stories of this frontier community built on fairness.

A School Takes Shape Among Pioneer Homes

The founders quickly worked toward their education goals.

In 1853, they started the Tabor Literary Institute, holding classes in their homes before real school buildings could be built.

Unlike most frontier schools, this one welcomed students of all races and both boys and girls from the start. Students learned classic subjects along with hands-on skills for frontier life.

Bible study and talks about slavery were key parts of learning. Teachers came from eastern colleges, bringing higher education to the Iowa prairie.

Freedom Seekers Found Safety in Tabor

The community quickly became known as a safe stop on the Underground Railroad. Escaped slaves traveled north from Missouri, often led by guides who knew Tabor would offer help.

The Todd house served as a key station, with hiding places where freedom seekers could rest. Monthly anti-slavery prayer meetings brought everyone together to support this risky work.

John Brown, the famous slavery fighter, visited Tabor several times between 1856 and 1859, finding friends for his cause among the townsfolk.

Oberlin Values Flourished on Iowa Soil

The Tabor community lived their beliefs every day. They practiced racial equality when such ideas faced strong opposition across America.

Women took part in town decisions alongside men, unusual for the 1850s. Their church services stressed personal freedom and social duty.

Community members read anti-slavery newspapers and books by writers like William Lloyd Garrison.

They sent money and supplies to anti-slavery causes while creating a local society that showed their vision for America.

College Doors Open to All Students

Tabor College officially opened in 1866, growing from the earlier Literary Institute. The school took in students of all races and genders when many colleges still kept women and minorities out.

Students studied arts, sciences, math, and religion while joining talks about social issues.

The college ran from a three-story brick building built with community donations and help from eastern churches that shared their vision.

Campus Life Blends Learning With Social Reform

By the 1870s, Tabor College had grown into a busy campus with several buildings, a library, and student clubs. Students lived in dorms or with local families who backed the college mission.

The school kept learning standards high while keeping costs low enough for frontier families. Music programs, book clubs, and debate teams gave students chances beyond classroom learning.

Graduates became teachers, ministers, doctors, and leaders who carried the Tabor spirit across the Midwest.

A Vision That Outlived Its Founders

Tabor College operated until 1927, educating generations of students in the principles its founders valued.

Though financial struggles eventually forced the school to close, its impact continued through the thousands of graduates who carried its values into their communities.

The town of Tabor still stands today, with the Todd House preserved as a National Historic Landmark.

The founders’ vision of creating a place where education and equality worked hand in hand shaped southwest Iowa for decades.

Their experiment proved that Oberlin’s progressive values could take root and flourish on the western frontier.

Visiting Todd House (Underground Railroad), Iowa

The Todd House on Park Street in Tabor is one of only four remaining Underground Railroad stations in Iowa.

This 1853 frame building was the third structure built in the town founded by Oberlin College graduates as an abolitionist community. You can tour the two-story house by calling (712) 313-0102 for an appointment.

The Tabor Historical Society maintains original Todd family furniture and decorations inside this National Register property.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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