Adirondack Pioneer Lyman E. Eppes, Sr. | Searching for Timbuctoo

Lyman E. Eppes, Sr. (1813?-1897), was a farmer, trail guide, music teacher, and pioneer who settled with his family in North Elba, New York, in 1849 on lands gifted to him by Gerrit Smith as part of a plan to enable Black men in New York State to meet the property requirements for voting. In this video and primary source activity, students will learn more about how Eppes was able to successfully settle in North Elba.

This resource is intended as a companion to “Black Communities in the Adirondacks | Searching for Timbuctoo,” which provides an overview of the Adirondack settlement in North Elba sometimes known as “Timbuctoo” and includes an 8-minute video and background essay.

NOTE: This resource contains language that is either representative of the time in which it was spoken or has evolved beyond its original use and is considered by modern standards of taste to be outdated.