Roberts Settlement to Get Historical Marker
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Historical Bureau will hold a public dedication ceremony Saturday in Atlanta to commemorate the new Indiana state historical marker for Roberts Settlement. The IHB says the marker recognizes the free people of color who migrated from the south and built the Hamilton County community in the mid-1800s.
The marker is located on East 276th Street in Atlanta, just east of U.S. 31. The IHB said, "The settlement is representative of the transitions that many agriculturally-based communities experienced in Indiana and the Midwest during this period."
The state marker, titled "Roberts Settlement," will have the following text:
Free people of color left the South starting in the 1820s as threats to freedom and property escalated with slavery expansion. In 1835, Hansel and Elijah Roberts and Micajah Walden of North Carolina bought land in Hamilton County near anti-slavery Quakers. By 1838, Roberts Settlement farmers owned over 900 acres. In 1847, residents built school and church meetinghouse. Association with Wesleyan Methodism by late 1840s fostered ties with neighbors. Agricultural fortunes improved after the railroad’s arrival in 1850s. By 1870, Roberts included over 200 residents and 1700 acres. Emphasis on education prepared new generations for college and careers such as medicine, law, and clergy. Descendants celebrate annually since 1924.
The dedication, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, is taking place during Roberts Settlement’s annual homecoming celebration, which runs through Sunday. You can learn more about Roberts Settlement by clicking here and viewing the video below: