From The Greeley Tribune (Sarah Arnusch):
Nathan Meeker was no stranger to the utopian society model when he issued “The Call” in The New York Tribune in December 1869.
He and his wife, Arvilla, had lived two years at the Trumbull Phalanx in Braceville, Ohio, which was based on the philosophical principles of Francois Fourier. These principles included the belief that everyone is entitled to a minimum income which would allow for a comfortable living, that prosperity is possible only through collective production, that every woman should be enabled to become economically independent, and that the unifying bond of community would be free, elective love, therefore abolishing the institution of monogamous marriage.
The Trumbull Phalanx, like many others established in the 1840s, was along a stream with fertile land for agriculture. The Phalanx was a self-sustaining commune where all the needs of the inhabitants were met within the structure of the colony itself. They grew their own food, cared for the children, had a library and other buildings and dwellings for the benefit of the members. The Meeker family lived at the Phalanx for several years, and Arvilla gave birth to their first born child, Ralph, while living there. Though Meeker saw the benefits to utopian living, there were some aspects of Fourier’s philosophy he just could not accept — namely free love and the rejection of monogamous marriage.
However, Meeker still believed there were some merits to the socialist utopian lifestyle. When he issued “The Call” he slightly modified Fourier’s ideas by placing a strong emphasis on the family structure, but he held on to many of Fourier’s other economic principles. For example, Fourier believed in the ownership of private property but also saw the need for a society to have common facilities to benefit the community. Meeker planned for the Union Colony to be divided into lots in town and outside of town. Each family would be apportioned a section outside of town for farming. Lots in town would be auctioned off, and the proceeds would be used to build a church, school and library. Meeker even envisioned a communal laundry and bakery for the Union Colony, but this idea never came to fruition.
Religion also played an important role in the colony. Unlike his contemporaries, Marx and Engels, Fourier believed that religion could actually be a benefit to society, and he encouraged the practice of organized religion. In “The Call” Meeker stressed the importance of family and religion by explaining, “In particular, should moral and religious sentiments prevail; for without these qualities, man is nothing.” At the same time, tolerance and liberality should also prevail. “One thing more is equally important: happiness, wealth and the glory of the state spring from the family, and it should be an aim and a high ambition to preserve the family …”
The Union Colony that Meeker eventually established attracted hard-working, temperate, family oriented people. The colony survived and prospered because it placed emphasis on working together for the benefit of all, particularly by supporting public education and culture, but still allowed for exceptionally hard working and innovative people to become prosperous in their own right.
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