Meachum was born Enslaved in Goochland County Virginia on May 3, 1789.
Meachum a highly skilled craftsman earned enough money from carpentry to purchase his freedom and, soon after, the freedom of his father. In 1815 before Meachum had earned the necessary funds to purchase his wife’s freedom, she was moved to Saint Louis. He followed her there and then purchased her freedom with his earnings.
In Saint Louis after being ordained in 1825, Meachum officially opened the First African Baptist Church.
Through the Church Meachum began offering religious and secular education to free and enslaved black Saint Louisans. Meachum’s school attracted up to 300 pupils and did not charge tuition to those who could not afford it. Although white Missourians had initially supported black schooling racial tensions arose and led many of them to see educated blacks as a threat to slavery. Around the time reverend Meachum opened his school Saint Louis passed an ordinance prohibiting free blacks from receiving an education.
Meachum and his wife also facilitated the Underground Railroad through their home and their church. His carpentry business was successful enough for him to purchase and free twenty enslaved black people. In Saint Louis meachum trained each in carpentry and other trades so that they could support themselves. Nearly every individual repaid Meachum allowing him to free others.
The work of Meachum and his wife on the Underground Railroad is now commemorated at the Mary Meachum Crossing in Saint Louis where the two led slaves across the Mississippi River to freedom in Illinois. The First African Baptist Church (now the First Baptist Church) continues to operate in Saint Louis. John Berry Meachum died at his pulpit on February 19, 1854.
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