The founder of the Oneida community was John Hamphrey Noyes. The Utopian “Promise Land” was near the United States and Canadian border what would have become very convenient in case of persecution in the future. The economic base of the Oneida community was agricultural and industrial. The Oneida community had approximately forty acres of partially cleared land on which to farm and there was also a Indian sawmill in which to help produce lumber. John Hamphrey Noyes was intensely concerned about God’s will for him. Noyes teachings were practiced by the community. The most teaching that received the foremost criticism was that of "Complex marriage." In complicated marriage, each man was married to each lady and vice versa. This practice was to
