The Story of Susan Richardson
Susan Richardson’s existence after death was essentially silenced due to her grave not being marked, therefore her life story became unimportant and her successes would naturally die with her. This was until 1940 when a grave marker was fundraised for her by the people of Galesburg. Her story can also be related to myth because many people may see it as selfish and neglectful that she left her two sons behind in captivity while on her search for freedom. However, you can not judge someone when you are not in their position, especially since she ended up making a living for herself in Galesburg. This can be related to the Galesburg social relations today because you can take Knox students as an example. When looking at it from a broader perspective, the students of Knox College all left their initial lives to travel to Galesburg in order to make a living for themselves, oftentimes leaving their families behind. It is a myth that Susan Richardson made the wrong decision by fleeing because, in the end, she became a free woman, a local seamstress, and bought her own home here in Galesburg. It took over 75 years for people to recognize her efforts and fundraise the headstone that she deserved after all that she had done with her new life in Galesburg, IL.