Dixon Stewart Jr. Family circa 1890

Growing Community

The families sold their farms, packed their worldly possessions along with their expectations for a better future. They traveled on foot and in covered wagons on the perilous Wilderness Trail for over 700 miles.

Throughout their journey, the families held tightly to their Freedom Papers which were legal documents from county officials that proved they were free and not enslaved people. All free Black Americans were required to obtain and always carry these papers to avoid kidnapping or death.

Months later, these pioneers arrived in Lost Creek where they purchased land from the United States government through the Land Act of 1820. Although the wooded and marshy land that was sold to them was unsuitable for farming, their determination and hard work enabled them to clear and drain the land for cultivation and build log cabins.

Although Indiana’s 1816 constitution prohibited slavery, Black Americans were still denied basic freedoms and civil rights.  Nonetheless, these families demonstrated remarkable resilience and fortitude in creating their own destinies. Soon they established their own schools, churches, businesses and social organizations. With the purchase of thousands of acres of land, the settlement became a thriving farming community — a hub of the economic, social, spiritual, and intellectual lives of its residents for generations. According to the Indiana Historical Society, the Lost Creek Settlement maintained the largest number of Black farmers in the State.

Perhaps most importantly, the founders of the Lost Creek Settlement were autonomous and progressive who defied racist assumptions about their capabilities and challenged the status quo. Their perseverance and deep connection to the land allowed them to prosper and inspire many future generations.