The Anointed One is the story of Seth Paine, founder of the Village of Lake Zurich. Seth’s story evolves against a backdrop of cross-country migration and change from 1816-1872.

Born in Vermont, Seth headed west to Chicago with a dream to make a name for himself and seize new opportunities. Seth’s outgoing nature and pioneering spirit garnered him success in business while he dreamed of seeding a new community that would reflect his values.

Seth was an integral part of forming the anti-slavery society in Illinois, while secretly transporting the formerly enslaved on the Underground Railroad. He was an active member of causes related to temperance, peace, and equality for the formerly enslaved, women, and the working class.

During the Civil War, Seth worked in Washington D.C. to emancipate slaves from the Washington Jail. Seth then worked with his friend Allan Pinkerton from the frontlines of Civil War battlefields writing reports. After the war, Seth returned home and established the Chicago Woman's Home, which provided comfortable housing and support for single women.

Seth learned hard lessons in pursuit of his commitment to make a positive impact on the world.

His legacy carries on today.

E. Olivia Darden, Esq.Ms. Darden, is the 11th African American woman admitted to the Maryland Bar. Her early legal career focused on class action civil rights cases on behalf of Black and female police officers, firefighters, longshoremen and steel workers in Maryland and across the nation. She has earned national, state, international and local recognition, including induction into the 2020 Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame, the 2022 U.S. President’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2023 Global Woman Impact Award. Ms. Darden is a maternal descendent of Rev. Samuel Green, Sr., an Underground Railroad Conductor, Visionary Founder of Morgan State University and first cousin to Harriet Tubman.