Glover, a descendent of a Roberts Settlement founder, serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors. (Photo provided)
Posted By: The Reporter February 13, 2026
Submitted
The Westfield Rotary Club recently welcomed Bryan Glover, Vice President of the Board of Trustees of Roberts Settlement, as he shared the history of one of Indiana’s earliest Black pioneer communities.
Glover, himself a direct descendant of a Roberts Settlement founder, explained that the settlement began in the 1830s when free people of color, originally from North Carolina, migrated to Indiana due to restrictive slave codes and economic pressures. With help from Quaker neighbors, the Roberts family first settled in Rush County before establishing the Roberts Settlement in Hamilton County.
The settlement, located along 276th Street just east on U.S. 31, once spanned 1,700 acres and supported about 300 residents. The community was largely Wesleyan Methodist, and many descendants became teachers and preachers.
Glover highlighted the Roberts Settlement Legacy Walk, dedicated in 2024. It is an interactive, self-guided experience with four exhibit stations, QR codes, a storytelling app (including a child-friendly animated version), and ongoing efforts to make it fully accessible.
He encouraged everyone to visit the site to experience this important local history firsthand. You can learn more at RobertsSettlement.org.
