Near Lafayette in Tippecanoe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Buddell Sleeper House

Underground Railroad Station

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, June 15, 2021

1. The Buddell Sleeper House Marker

Inscription.
Buddell Sleeper (1806-1888) and his wife, Elizabeth Welch (1802-1889), arrived in Tippecanoe County in the Fall of 1835. The Sleepers would become prominent members of the Farmers Institute Quaker Community and the Greenfield Monthly Meeting of Friends. They followed a Quaker belief of placing God’s Law above man’s law and took a strong stance against slavery, war, and all forms of oppression.

Buddell Sleeper is best remembered for his role as a stationmaster on the Underground Railroad by offering a safe house for fugitive slaves traveling the Freedom Trail to Canada. The Sleeper family and their nephew, Isaiah, courageously provided food, shelter, and protection to the slaves while risking serious consequences. During the day, the runaways used a trap door to hide below the dining room floor. By nighttime, Mr. Sleeper concealed the “cargo” with sacks of wheat in a horse-drawn wagon with a false bottom and transported them to the next station, the Hawkins family home in Otterbein.

Erected 2018 by General de Lafayette Chapter NSDAR.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:

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Abolition & Underground RR • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the Quakerism series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.

Location. 40° 18.943′ N, 87° 0.462′ W. Marker is near Lafayette, Indiana, in Tippecanoe County. It is at the intersection of West 700 South and South 550 West, on the right when traveling east on West 700 South. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5449 W 700 S, Lafayette IN 47909, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Farmers Institute Academy (approx. 0.9 miles away); Trail of Death (approx. 5.9 miles away); The Wea Plains (approx. 6.3 miles away);

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, June 15, 2021

2. The Buddell Sleeper House Marker

Granville (approx. 6.4 miles away); Romney Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.4 miles away); Post Ouiatenon Site (approx. 6.6 miles away); Site of the Birth Place of Rev. Anthony Foucher (approx. 6.7 miles away); Fort Ouiatenon (approx. 6.7 miles away).

Other markers no longer nearby. Underground Railroad (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Scott's Expedition (was approx. 3.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

The Buddell Sleeper House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, June 15, 2021

3. The Buddell Sleeper House

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2021, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,842 times since then and 145 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 21, 2021, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A better quality photo of the house. • Can you help?