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Second Baptist Church

Description:

Founded in 1836 as the Colored Baptist Church, The Second Baptist Church at 196 N. 17th Street got its current name in 1839. Ten other churches trace their origins back to the Second Baptist which is the second oldest church in the area. A historical marker to the Reverend James... Read more

Founded in 1836 as the Colored Baptist Church, The Second Baptist Church at 196 N. 17th Street got its current name in 1839. Ten other churches trace their origins back to the Second Baptist which is the second oldest church in the area.
A historical marker to the Reverend James Poindexter sits in front of the church. Reverend Poindexter became pastor of the Second Baptist Church in 1858 after it and the Anti-Slavery Church merged. He joined the Underground Railroad shortly after coming to Columbus with his wife Adelia in 1838, and he helped drive passengers along with other prominent conductors of the Underground Rail Road. A barber by trade, he was a prolific writer and articulate orator, speaking against slavery and discrimination in his many speeches. He also became the first African-American member of Columbus City Council, serving 10 years.
John Ward was a prominent parishioner of Second Baptist Church, and like Reverend Poindexter, Ward also played a role in the Underground Rail Road in Columbus. He and his son founded The Ward Transfer Line in 1881 with a team of horses, a wagon and two helpers, and it was the start of what would become one of the oldest -- and most established -- moving and storage companies in Ohio. The company now called E.E. Ward has been recognized as one of the oldest African-American Owned Businesses in the United States by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Categories
Architecture
Address:

186 N 17th St, Columbus, OH 43203, USA
Columbus, Ohio 43203
Franklin County

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