Haviland History

 
The name of Haviland came to prominence in the State of Kansas after a settlement of pioneers in Kiowa County named their church organization after a Michigan Quaker woman named  Laura S. Haviland.  The life and influence of this woman prompted the  choice.  Liberty Monthly Meeting of Friends was organized in 1885, and  was changed to Haviland Monthly Meeting a year later.  The Haviland Town  Company was formed in May, 1886 and the charter filed for the  organization of Haviland, Kansas on July 12, 1886.
 Laura  was born in Kitley Township, Ontario, Canada, December 20, 1808 to  Daniel and Sene Smith.  Her father was a recorded minister and her  mother an elder in the Society of Friends in New York state.  When she  was sixteen Laura met Charles Haviland and the couple exchanged vows in  1825 in the Friends Meeting according to the marriage service in use by  that Society.  In addition to their own six children, Laura and Charles  provided a home for many orphan children at different periods of their  life together.
 The  Havilands' started many schools for indigent children and aided other  Friends in training children to become useful men and women.  Assisted  by Laura's brother, they started the first school in the young state of  Michigan.  Their main purpose was to train individuals who would teach  without racial prejudice.  Both white and colored pupils enrolled in the  school.
        During the busy years of rearing a family and starting schools  she was also active in helping fugitive slaves and continued her work  even after her husband's death in 1845.  Her children were grown by the  time the slavery issue erupted in a full scale Civil War and Laura  assigned her educational responsibilities to others and went into the  south.
        Traveling with the Union Army, her determined efforts secured  supplies for both soldiers and slaves.  Many times she went ahead of the  lines in helping homeless negroes.  Her compassionate concern led her  to care for wounded soldiers on battlefields and in hospitals and to  visit in southern army prisons.  Laura Haviland  was motivated by love and indomitable courage as she risked her life in  selfless devotion to the cause she advocated.
        Before her death in 1898, her experiences included pleasant  months spent in England.  Her adopted city, Adrian, Michigan, has  documentary tributes in its library and has erected a statue honoring  her memory.
        Although Laura Haviland was of Quaker background and belief, her  long life of humanitarian service included years during which she was  affiliated with the Methodist denomination.  It is appropriate that  Haviland has two congregations - the Friends Church and the United  Methodist Church.
        Laura Haviland's book, entitled "A Woman's Life Work", is available at the Haviland Library.  It is a revealing record of personal activity and includes many historical events not found in any other volume.
        Haviland is proud to bear the name of a lady who was stirred by  desperate needs - impelled by a challenging vision - sustained by a  vital faith.