When Harold Riehm mentions the name of the Rev. Richard Cordley, most people know he’s talking about someone for which a Lawrence elementary school is named.

But that’s about all they know.

“This was such a great man,” Riehm said. “He’s one of the fathers of this community, but so few people know about him.”

Now Riehm is taking the story of the nearly forgotten Cordley along with his firsthand accounts of early Lawrence history and retelling it with a twist.

Riehm dresses in period clothing and portrays an elderly Cordley making a public appearance in 1904 shortly before his death and reminiscing about life in 1800s Lawrence.

Riehm gave his first performance last week before a gathering of the Plymouth Women’s Program in the church at 925 Vt. Riehm’s wife, Donna, also got into the act, portraying Cordley’s wife, Mary.

Speaking in the first person as if he were Cordley, Riehm traces Cordley’s life after graduating from a seminary in 1857 to his arrival in Lawrence where he became pastor at Plymouth Church.

Riehm also recounts Cordley’s role as an abolitionist, including how he and his family escaped Quantrill’s raiders and how he helped hide a slave and sent her north to freedom.

“Take that story and multiply it dozens of times and you have the impact of the Underground Railroad,” Riehm, speaking as Cordley, said.

Portraying Lawrence educator Dr. Richard Cordley, Harold Riehm explains the long and sometimes tragic history of the Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vt. Riehm and his wife, Donna, dressed in clothes from the 1800s on Wednesday and told stories about Cordley's stint as Plymouth pastor, community leader and abolitionist.

A mural by Lawrence artist Dave Lowenstein about the slave’s escape can be seen on an exterior wall at Cordley School, 1837 Vt.

“I think the label he wears most proudly in his early days was as ‘the abolitionist preacher,'” Riehm said.

Cordley also made a name for himself in education. In addition to being Plymouth’s pastor for 38 years, he also was a founder of Washburn University in Topeka and he served several years on the Lawrence school board. He wrote numerous articles about history and two books, “Pioneer Days” and “History of Lawrence.”

¢ A History of Lawrence, Kansas by Richard Cordley¢ Cordley School Web site

Riehm, a retired Kansas University political science professor and lobbyist, said he had always been interested in Cordley.

A member of Plymouth Church himself, Riehm said he came up with the idea for a personal portrayal of Cordley while researching for the Lawrence Sesquicentennial Committee. He also recalled actor Hal Holbrook’s portrayal of Mark Twain in a show years ago.

Riehm said he will make appearances to talk about Cordley upon request at no charge. He said he hopes his portrayals will spur more interest in Cordley and other historical Lawrence figures.

Those who saw his performance last week were impressed.

“It was wonderful,” Virginia Conard said. “I was watching the faces of the people and they were just taken in by him.”

Plymouth’s associate pastor, Lew Hinshaw, agreed. “As a member of this congregation it is a privilege to be connected with such a rich past,” he said.