Historically, the town was predominantly settled by Quakers, and was one of Iowa's most important stations on the Underground Railroad.

[5] Springdale was also the home of Lawrie Tatum, a farmer who served as a frontier Indian agent and the legal guardian of future President Herbert Hoover.

[2] No downtown business district remains in Springdale; it is a cluster of houses with a United Methodist church.

William Maxson's home, where Brown's men were quartered, was razed in 1938, but its location is marked by a plaque provided by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Although often described as Quaker, Maxson was raised in the faith but at the time of Brown's visit considered himself a follower of spiritualism.