Rendville in Perry County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Richard L. Davis: The Sage Of Rendville
I say white brother, because I believe that to be the proper phrase, inasmuch as I believe in the principle of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of all mankind no matter what the color of his skin may be. Richard L. Davis championed the cause of racial equality throught the eastern coalfields, calling for an end to the color line and for all miners to unite against wage slavery. He was born in Roanoke County, Virginia in 1862 and arrived in racially integrated Rendville in 1882, where he became an organizer for the Knights of Labor. In 1886, a year after the Great Hocking Valley Strike, Davis wrote his first letters to the editor of the National Labor Tribune, extablishing himself as the voice for miners in the labor movement.
From 1890 to 1899, he wrote a total of 168 letters to the editors of the National Labor Tribune and the United Mine Workers Journal about the need to organize for fair wages and working conditions, and for racial equality in the mines. Davis was one of two African Americans from Ohio who attended the founding convention of the United Mine Workers of America held in Columbus, Ohio in January 1890. He next served for five years on the executive board of Dictrict 6 (Ohio) of the United Mine Workers of America before being twice elected to serve on its National Executive
Committee in 1896-97. Blacklisted by mine operators, Davis fell on hard times and died in 1900. He is buried in Rendville Cemetery.Erected 2018 by Rendville Historical Preservation Society; The Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 15-64.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Communications • Industry & Commerce • Labor Unions. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1890.
Location. 39° 37.166′ N, 82° 5.406′ W. Marker is in Rendville, Ohio, in Perry County. Marker can be reached from Main Street just south of Valley Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6460 Valley St, Corning OH 43730, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rendville (a few steps from this marker); Hemlock (approx. 3.6 miles away); Saltlick Township Memorial Park (approx. 6˝ miles away); Knights of Labor Opera House (approx. 6.6 miles away); Shawnee (approx. 6.6 miles away); Welcome to Shawnee and the Little Cities of Back Diamond Region (approx. 6.6 miles away); A Boom Town (approx. 6.6 miles away); Black Diamonds and Bricks (approx. 6.6 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 5, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 333 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 5, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 4. submitted on January 7, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5. submitted on February 5, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.