On this day, October 28, 1798, Levi Coffin — later known as the “President of the Underground Railroad” — was born in what is now Greensboro, North Carolina. A white Quaker with little formal schooling, Coffin became one of the most dedicated allies in the fight against slavery. After settling in Indiana, he and his wife Catherine turned their home into a safe haven for enslaved people escaping to freedom. Their courage and compassion inspired the characters Simeon and Rachel Halliday in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Though many pro-slavery neighbors boycotted his business, Coffin’s faith and resolve never wavered. After emancipation, he continued his work for justice, helping newly freed Black Americans rebuild their lives. He died in 1877 at the age of 78.
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