History of the Icarian Movement
A Brief Overview
An accounting of significant Icarian history would begin at Dijon, France where Etienne Cabet was born on January 1, 1788. Perhaps a nod should be given to Bastis, Corsica where Cabet briefly served as Procuror General. Likewise a brief salute to London, England where Cabet, at the age of 46, went to spend 5 years in political exile.
In London, inspired by the writings of Thomas More and his library research as well as personal friendship with Robert Owen, he penned his seminal book, Voyage en Icarie. Following Cabet's return to Paris in 1839, he set about the task of publishing his book and resumed the circulation of Le Populaire which resulted in the attraction of perhaps 400,000 adherents. Even today, the most notable Icarian historic site would be the Icarian Movement's headquarters at 18 rue du Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
A milestone event occurred on February 3, 1848, when the 70 man Icarian Premiere Avant-Garde (First Advance Guard) assembled at Le Havre, accepted Cabet's charge to establish an Icarian colony, sang Patrons pour Icarie (Let Us Depart for Icaria), and embarked on the Ship Rome for America. During the next few years, several hundred more men, women and children would gather at LeHavre, wait for the next sailing, and begin their voyage to America. They departed, forsaking the home, relatives and friends that they had known all their lives but resolved to create a better life for them and their descendants. The ventures of the Icarians in America led to the establishment of several identifiable historic sites and colony sites.
The first historic site in America would be New Orleans where a preponderance of the nascent colonists disembarked. Pending selection of a colony site they occupied apartment houses on St. Ferdinand Street. While nearly half of the arrivals defected by returning to France or entering the New Orleans community, a total of 280 finally departed up the Mississippi River to establish a colony on March 1, 1849. Sadly, the apartment building on St. Ferdinand Street is no longer standing.
Several minor historic sites may be recognized as way stations along the Advance Guard's route to attempt a colony in Texas. Contrary to their expectations, they found they could travel by steam boat only as far as Shreveport, Louisiana. There they built a warehouse for storage of excess material and equipment. The next Texas historic site would be a small tract slightly northwest of Mount Pleasant, Texas. They purchased it to establish a temporary rest point furnished with a few log cabins which they called Sulfur Prairie.
A more significant historic site is the location just north of Justin, Texas near the mouth of Oliver Creek where the Peters Land Company had sold a 3,000 acre tract to Cabet. The pioneers reached this site in May of 1848. By mid September, the toll of heat, drought, cholera and defections led to abandonment of the venture and retreat back to New Orleans. There are no present day identifiable buildings at any of the Texas historic sites.
The Icarians sailed up the Mississippi River and arrived at their newly chosen colony site of Nauvoo, Illinois on March 15, 1848. In February, 1851, the state legislature approved an Icarian Community charter and Nauvoo became the first Icarian colony, the mother colony of all that were to follow.
In 1856 dissension led to an expulsion of Cabet and his followers. Cabet in turn dissolved the colony and took his followers, around 180, to Saint Louis where he died a few days later. To further complicate the matter for the approximately 200 remaining in the Nauvoo area, Cabet had title to all of the property which in turn passed on to his wife in France. The group had to reorganize and gain title to the land through the courts....essentially becoming a new colony.
Following the death of Cabet in Saint Louis, his followers persevered in temporary quarters until the spring of 1857 when they settled onto a 1,000 acre farm west of town. Originally called Sulphur Spring, it had been renamed Cheltenham which became the colony. Within a few years, defections and Civil War enlistments decimated its ranks and it was abandoned in 1864.
Adams County, Iowa east of present day Corning was the site of a series of organized colonies. First established as a satellite of the Nauvoo colony in 1852, it came into its own in 1860 when the Iowa Legislature enacted new laws of incorporation and granting its charter.
Eighteen years later increasing tension led to a court trial and a dissolution of the colony in 1878. The opposing parties divided the physical assets and reorganized into separate colonies. One colony composed of the older conservative members was to survive until 1898 and become the last existing colony to close.
The other colony suffered from internal problems and decline. By 1884 many of the remaining members resolved to join the Icaria-Speranza colony in California which had been established in 1881 by dropouts. In an unusual twist, the remnant charged with disposal of the property, announced in 1884 that the colony had ceased to exist and would be replaced with a new society (Icarian Community) with new rules. This version of the colony was finally dissolved in June of 1886.
The Icaria-Speranza colony in California had anticipated that liquidation of the Corning colony would help stabilize their finances which depended primarily upon grape culture. However, it was not to be and by August of 1886 the colony was dissolved by court order and its real estate was liquidated to satisfy the creditors. To learn more about the history of the Icarian movement, the lives of its adherents, and its legacy to America, go to the literature catalog link to view all of the various books and pamphlets available.