Westfield Washington Township in Hamilton County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Rhodes Family Incident

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 29, 2009

1. Rhodes Family Incident Marker (Side A)

Inscription.
In 1837, an enslaved family of three escaped from Missouri; settled six miles north of here 1839 with name Rhodes. In 1844, Singleton Vaughn arrived at their home to claim them; family resisted until neighbors arrived. Vaughn agreed to take family to Noblesville for trial. In route, a crowd stopped Vaughn, demanding the family be taken to Westfield.

Urged on by the crowd, driver of wagon carrying family sped to Westfield; family escaped before wagon reached town. Vaughn sued some in crowd, for interfering with his right to reclaim slaves. In Vaughn v. Williams, 1845, jury found defendants not guilty, finding Rhodes family had been freed when a previous owner moved them to Illinois, a free state.

Erected 2008 by Indiana Historical Bureau, Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and the Town of Westfield. (Marker Number 29.2008.1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Civil Rights • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.

Location. 40° 2.998′ N, 86° 7.774′

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

W. Marker is in Westfield, Indiana, in Hamilton County. It is in Westfield Washington Township. Marker is on Hoovert Street west of North Union Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker stands adjacent to the Asa Bales Park parking lot, across street from Westfield High School, and about 0.3 miles east of US Route 31. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 155 W Hoover St, Westfield IN 46074, 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. Bryan Clauson (approx. 5.9 miles away); R.L. Wilson House (approx. 6 miles away); Judge Stone House (approx. 6.1 miles away); J. L. Evans Building (approx. 6.1 miles away); The Noblesville Commercial Historic District (approx. 6.1 miles away); Norman Norell 1900-1972 / Dean of American Fashion (approx. 6.1 miles away); Hamilton County (Indiana) Honor Roll (approx. 6.1 miles away); Lybrand-Oursler Block (approx. 6.1 miles away).

Also see . . . Vaughn v. Williams. (Submitted on February 21, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Rhodes Family Incident Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 29, 2009

2. Rhodes Family Incident Marker (Side B)

Rhodes Family Incident Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 29, 2009

3. Rhodes Family Incident Marker

Westfield High School in background.

Asa Bales Park Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 29, 2009

4. Asa Bales Park Sign

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,026 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on February 20, 2023, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 21, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.