Junior College Neighborhood Association in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

From Slave to Rights Activist

— Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery —

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 11, 2026

1. From Slave to Rights Activist Marker

Inscription.
John Richards (1824-1879), Sonoma County's first civil rights activist, was born a slave in Kentucky. He and wife Philena (1812(?)-1880) arrived in Santa Rosa in 1856 where Richards opened a barber shop that emerged as the most popular place to hear news of the world. Richards sheltered former slaves and grew wealthy expanding his business and property. In a town full of Confederate sympathizers, Richards' funeral was the largest Santa Rosa had seen.

Erected by City of Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 38° 27.383′ N, 122° 42.323′ W. Marker is in Santa Rosa, California, in Sonoma County. It is in the Junior College Neighborhood Association. It can be reached from Franklin Avenue, on the right when traveling north. The marker is stop No. 25 on the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery self-guided tour. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1625 Franklin Avenue, Santa Rosa CA 95404, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

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marker is in Wine Country,

in the San Francisco Bay Area,

in the North Coast,

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Santa Rosa 1906 Earthquake Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery Lost Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away); Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery (about 300 feet away); A Legacy of Redwoods (about 700 feet away); Mableton (approx. half a mile away); Fremont Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); Rosenberg’s Department Store (approx. 1.1 miles away); Santa Rosa Post Office and Federal Building (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Rosa.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Comstock House Restoration (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been confirmed

From Slave to Rights Activist Marker and Richards Family burial plot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 11, 2026

2. From Slave to Rights Activist Marker and Richards Family burial plot

missing).

John Richards’ grave monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 11, 2026

3. John Richards’ grave monument

Marker illustration: John Richards’ Barber Shop image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Grafton Tyler Brown

4. Marker illustration: John Richards’ Barber Shop

“John Richards' Barber Shop and residence is on the left in this 1862 drawing. Santa Rosa House, the town's first hotel and a stage stop, is on the right. The hotel's actual size is misrepresented, as Richards' property consisted of three parcels while Colgan had only two. The drawing was likely commissioned by Colgan.”

Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 12, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.