Indianapolis, the Capital + This Issue Concludes Our the Town Is Presented on Page 5

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Indianapolis, the capital + This issue concludes our the town is presented on page 5. commemoration of the 175th On pages 6-8, the sale of Focus anniversary of the founding of land in Indianapolis in October Indianapolis. 1821 is examined. On page 9, Errata: The Indiana Historian, March 1996, page 8. In Part 1, in the March 1996 many of the early residents are paragraph four, the second issue, ended with the January 6, introduced. sentence should read “Italic 1821 act that named the town The organization of Marion type indicates TIH editorial entries.” and appointed commissioners to County is covered on pages 10-11. lay it out. On pages 12-13, there is an This issue covers the begin- account of the move of the critical

The Indiana Historian nings of Indianapolis and Marion parts of Indiana’s state govern- June 1996 ISSN 1071-3301 County. It closes with the arrival ment from Corydon to Indianapolis. Editor of state government to the new “Behind the Scenes,” on page Pamela J. Bennett Lead Researcher capital in the fall of 1824. 14, presents some personal Paula A. Bongen On page 3, the commission- elements of historical research. Designer Dani B. Pfaff ers are introduced, with a focus Page 15, as usual, contains Contributing Editors Carole M. Allen, Janine Beckley, on Christopher Harrison. bibliography and resources. Alan Conant, Dani B. Pfaff, On page 4, the surveying and The back cover provides a Virginia Terpening platting of the town is covered. map showing the movement of The Indiana Historian provides resources and models for the study of local Alexander Ralston’s 1821 plat of early Indianapolis’ settlers. history to encourage Indiana’s citizens of all ages to become engaged with the history of their communities and the state of Indiana. The Indiana Historian (formerly The Indiana Junior Historian) is issued quar- terly from September through June. It is a membership benefit of the Indi- Founding Indianapolis ana Junior Historical Society. One compli- mentary subscription is provided to Indi- ana libraries, school media centers, and 1820 January 11—An act “to select and locate cultural and historical organizations. Annual subscriptions are available for a site for the permanent seat” of state $5.00 plus tax. Back issues are available government. at individual and bulk pricing. This material is available to visually May 22-June 7—Site commissioners meet, impaired patrons in audio format, cour- 1820 tesy of the Indiana History Project of the select site, and prepare report for General Indiana Historical Society. Tapes are available through the Talking Books Program of Assembly. the Indiana State Library; contact the Talk- ing Books Program, 317-232-3702. 1820 November 29—Site commissioners submit The Indiana Historian is copyrighted. report to General Assembly. Educators may reproduce items for class use, but no part of the publication may be January 6—Act to appoint commissioners reproduced in any way for profit without 1821 written permission of the Indiana Histori- to lay off town, name it Indianapolis, and cal Bureau. authorize land sales. 1821 January 8—Memorial to U.S. Congress Cover illustration: This painting, by from General Assembly to route National English artist Thomas B. Glessing, circa 1872-1873, supposedly represents Road through Indianapolis. Treasurer of State Samuel Merrill 1821 January 9—Act to appoint justices of the arriving in Indianapolis with the state peace for Indianapolis. records and treasury. See pages 12-13. Glessing lived in Indianapolis from 1821 April—Indianapolis commissioners to meet; 1859 until 1873. The painting was first only Christopher Harrison comes. reproduced in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Spring—Commissioner Harrison hires Elias Newspaper, September 26, 1874. An 1821 engraving was made for the book P. Fordham and Alexander Ralston to published by Robinson, reproduced here. survey and plat Indianapolis. The painting, and its companion used in October 8—Sale of lands in Indianapolis the March 1996 TIH, reportedly hung in 1821 an Indianapolis high school and were begins. eventually destroyed because of 1821 November 28—Act legalizes Harrison’s significant damage. actions as commissioner. From: Picturesque Indianapolis (Indianapolis: J.R. Robinson Publishers, 1821 December—Alexander Ralston plat of 1890). Indianapolis printed. 2 The Indiana Historian, June 1996 + © Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1996 + The commissioners and the agent

The act approved on January and place. He decided to forge 6, 1821 provided for the appoint- ahead and fulfill his duties. He ment of three commissioners to hired surveyors Alexander Ralston lay out the town of Indianapolis and Elias P. Fordham to plat the and an agent to oversee the sale town. He hired Benjamin I. Blythe of lots. Christopher Harrison, as clerk. He oversaw the manage- James W. Jones, and Samuel P. ment of the sale of lots in October Booker were chosen commission- 1821 after the town had been ers. General John Carr was platted. named agent for the sale of lots. The General Assembly, in a The act gave very specific November 28, 1821 act, legalized instructions on how to plat the his actions working as the lone town and how to sell lots in the commissioner. town. The commissioners were to Sources: Dunn, Greater Indianapolis; meet in April 1821 to begin their Nowland, Early Reminiscences; Laws assignment. of Indiana, 1820-21; the January 6, Christopher Harrison was 1821 act is summarized on page 13 the only commissioner who of the March 1996 TIH. appeared at the appointed time

Christopher Harrison General John Carr Harrison, who was born in General John Carr was born in Maryland, was wealthy and well- Perry County, Indiana on April 9, educated. He moved to Indiana in 1793; his family moved to Clark 1807 near Hanover, where he lived on County, Indiana in 1806. a high bluff for seven years as a His military career began with recluse, having (as reported by Dunn) the Battle of Tippecanoe, November 7, lost his true love to another man. 1811. During the War of 1812, he In 1815, he moved to Salem was made lieutenant of a company of Indiana Historical Society.

where he opened a store and became William H. English Collection, United States Rangers. He served as an active participant in his commu- brigadier general and major general nity. of the Indiana Militia until his death. In 1816, he ran on the ticket He was clerk of Clark County, with Jonathan Jennings and was 1824-1830, and a presidential elector elected Indiana’s first lieutenant Christopher Harrison in 1824. He served in the U.S. House governor. In 1819, he ran against of Representatives, 1831-1837 and Jennings for governor and was 1839-1841. He died in 1845 in Clark soundly beaten. County. During the time he was commis- well, washing, and had his wig off. Source: Biographical Directory of the sioner, Harrison lived with Matthias James happened to discover the want American Congress, 1774-1949 (Washing- Nowland. Years later, Nowland’s son of hair, and ran to my mother and ton, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950), 951. wrote in his reminiscences of Harrison, told her, ‘the Indians had scalped the “He had no more hair on his man that came last night.’ She did head than there was on the palm of not fully understand until she his hand, and wore a wig. I shall stepped to the door and saw his bald never forget the fright he gave my head.” younger brother James. The morning Sources: Dunn, Greater Indianapolis; after his arrival . . . he was out at the Nowland, Early Reminiscences.

In the spring of 1821, Com- from the Washington plat. vision—a projection of what the missioner Christopher Harrison Ralston’s 1821 plat map of town could be. Two quotations, employed Elias P. Fordham and Indianapolis on page 5 shows a provided below from early histo- Alexander Ralston to survey and neatly laid out little town with ries, give a more realistic picture plat the town of Indianapolis so wide, well-defined streets. Ac- of early Indianapolis. that a land sale could be held. cording to Holloway, “The bound- Sources: Bolton, Nathaniel, A Lecture Apparently, Ralston led the ary streets, East, West, North Delivered before the Indiana Historical survey team since early India- and South, were not included in Society, on the Early History of Indianapolis and Central Indiana . . . napolis histories give little credit the original survey. The Commis- (Indianapolis: Austin H. Brown, to Fordham. sioner [Harrison] seems to have Printer, 1853); Dunn, Greater India- Ralston was well-qualified for thought that nobody would ever napolis; W. R. Holloway, Indianapolis. his position. He had assisted live on the outside of the last line A Historical and Statistical Sketch of Major L’Enfant with the survey of of squares.” Harrison was subse- the Railroad City . . . (Indianapolis: Indianapolis Journal Print, 1870); what is now the city of Washing- quently convinced to add them to Nowland, Early Reminiscences; ton, D.C. The plat of Indianapolis the plat. Sulgrove, History. incorporated several elements The map was, naturally, a

Alexander Ralston “The first inhabitants principally settled immediately on the bank Ralston was born in Scotland. of White river, and the lower or western part of the city. Many of their He came to Indianapolis in 1820 log cabins were erected before the town was laid off, and when the with his black housekeeper, Cheney survey was made, their residences presented a singular appearance, Lively. After he platted the town of as to location. Some were in the center of the lots, others in the streets, Indianapolis, he made it his home. and all without the least regard to the streets or alleys” (Bolton, 8). He was employed as the county surveyor. He died on January 5, 1827, at age fifty-six. “Scattered cabins seemed to have dropped down with no order His obituary in the Indiana or purpose, thickening a little near the river, and thickening still more Journal, January 9, 1827 noted: “Mr. toward the East, but they marked no street except the line of Washing- Ralston was successful in his profession, honest in his dealings, ton . . . . It was crowded with stumps and heaps of logs and limbs, gentlemanly in his deportment, a which, in places, the close undergrowth of hazel, spice brush and liberal and hospitable citizen, and a pawpaw made impervious to all penetration” (Holloway, 15). sincere and ardent friend.” Source: Nowland, Early Reminiscences.

Workers who helped the surveying team were issued drafts for payment for their work. Robert Patterson, later elected a judge, was hired as a general laborer. Look carefully at the draft. How much was he paid per day? Indianapolis Donation, Indiana State Archives.

4 The Indiana Historian, June 1996 + © Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1996 +

Indiana State Library, Indiana Division.

© Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1996 + The Indiana Historian, June 1996 5 + Land sales begin A Crowd Gathers windy day. Major Thomas Carter During the first week in was the auctioneer, and James M. October 1821 Indianapolis was Ray was the clerk. overflowing with people. They had Jesse McKay made the first

September 20, 1821. gathered for the opportunity to purchase paying $152.75 for lot buy land in the new state capital. three in square seventy. The sale had been advertised The sale lasted a week. John since June 10, 1821. By law the Carr, the state agent in charge of

Indiana Gazette, commissioners had to announce the land sales, paid the highest the sale at least three months price for any lot— $572.00 for lot twelve in square fifty-seven. Corydon ahead of time in three newspa- pers. The advertisement to the left A total of three hundred and is a sample. fourteen lots were sold for a total Sarah Fletcher, wife of Calvin of $35,596.25; $7,119.25 was Fletcher, wrote in her diary, paid in cash. October the 8th. The sale of lots It would take the next fifty commenced near our house—a years to sell all of the original large concourse of people were donation land, with the last present. recorded receipt in 1871. The total amount received for the The four taverns were com- entire donation land was less pletely full. Many people stayed in than $125,000. private homes or camped out. Section twenty-three of the Peter Van Arsdale (1787- January 6, 1821 act specified that 1857) was one of many who went money received from the sale of to Indianapolis seeking to buy lots would be used to erect public land. He wrote the following: buildings. The money allowed for . . . during the summer 1821 the the construction of the clerk’s town of Indianapolis was Advertized for sale. about the first office, the governor’s mansion in of October, a number of us the circle (now Monument Circle), concluded to attend that sale, a house and office for the state accordingly we made up a larg treasurer, the first Marion County company of the Smalls [?] Demotts courthouse, and the first state &c. and we took a waggon to carry house. Part of the money went our provision and otherr lugage, toward construction of the first we had a company of ten. six were state prison in Jeffersonville. connected with the waggon four Sources: Dunn, Greater Indianapolis; rode on horsback and campd Thornbrough, Diary of Calvin together every night . . . Fletcher; Nowland, Early Reminis- cences; Peter Van Arsdale, A History. The Sale Written by Himself (handwritten The sale was held at manuscript), Peter Van Arsdale Matthias Nowland’s cabin, start- Collection, Indiana State Library, ing October 8, a cold and very Indiana Division, Manuscripts.

6 The Indiana Historian, June 1996 + © Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1996 + , opposite 33. Sketches Nowland,

This sketch, artist unknown, allegedly depicts the sale of lots at Matthias Nowland’s cabin. Various primary sources, however, indicate that there were large crowds of people. The sketch, nonetheless, may give a sense of what the auction must have looked like.

Good moral character needed

In compliance with the January 28, 1818 “Act to licence and regulate taverns,” anyone operating a tavern was required to obtain a license from the county commissioners and pay a $500 bond. They

, November 8, 1821. were also required to submit twelve certificates from “respectable house-holders” which attested to their “good moral character.” Nowland, like other tavern owners, was subject

Indiana Gazette to many rules and regulations, such as not selling liquors to minors. He was also not allowed to sell on

Corydon Sundays. An act approved January 5, 1821 changed the authority to license taverns from county commissioners to the circuit courts. Tavern keepers were required to keep “at least two good beds and furni- ture” beyond family needs, and “a good stable well Most likely, Nowland’s tavern was full furnished with suitable stalls for at least four horses.” for the land sale. The drawing of the Sources: Dunn, Greater Indianapolis, and Laws of Indi- three-story brick house was apparently ana, 1818, 1820-1821. a stock drawing for the paper; Nowland’s tavern was a log cabin.

Jesse McKay’s certificate of sale illustrates the process for purchasing land. By law, all purchasers of lots were required to put down one-fifth of the total due, and pay the rest in annual installments. Look carefully at McKay’s certificate. What was his down payment? What was his annual installment payment? How many years was he given to pay off his lot?

McKay actually sold the Indianapolis Donation, Indiana State Archives land soon after he purchased it. If McKay had made his last installment payment, he would have received a patent from the land agent. The patent would then have been taken to the county recorder’s office. There he would have received a land deed proving legal ownership. If McKay failed to make his payments, the land could be taken away by the land agent and resold.

This detail is from the Indianapolis Donation, Atlas of Selections, page 12. The lot purchased by John Carr, the state land agent for Indianapolis, was in a prime location, and he paid a high price for it. The front of his lot faced Washington Street, the main street of the town. The side of his lot faced the courthouse square, which was traditionally the center of business in county seats. Locate

John Carr’s lot on this map. Indianapolis Donation, Indiana State Archives. Locate this detail and Carr’s lot on the maps on pages 5 and 16.

8 The Indiana Historian, June 1996 + © Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1996 + Early residents of Indianapolis As soon as Indianapolis was named the future site of the state capital, people began to migrate

to the town. As the state capital, March 1, 1823. Indianapolis had the potential for

businessmen and tradesmen to Gazette, make money. Some early settlers, their professions, and when they

arrived in Indianapolis are listed Indianapolis below. Sources: Sulgrove, History of India- Newspaper advertisements are a napolis; Nowland, Early Reminis- rich resource. What can you learn about cences; Earline Rae Ferguson, “In how business was conducted from this advertisement? When did Scudder arrive Pursuit of the Full Enjoyment of in Indianapolis (using the list below)? Liberty and Happiness: Blacks in Antebellum Indianapolis, 1820- 1860,” Black History News & Notes, No. 32, May 1988.

1819 1821, Spring George Pogue—blacksmith John McClung—preacher You Be the Historian Fabius M. Finch—lawyer Alexander Russell—merchant 1820, Spring Joseph C. Reed—first teacher The list of early residents can re- John McCormick—tavern David Mallory—black barber veal a great deal of historical infor- Robert Harding—farmer 1821, Summer mation. The names allow for fur- Jeremiah Johnson—farmer James Blake—teacher, businessman ther research of specific individu- John Van Blaricum—farmer Eliakim Harding—farmer als. The professions can provide Jeremiah J. Corbaley—farmer Mr. Lawrence—teacher Robert Barnhill—farmer Daniel Larkins—grocery many clues about early living and Henry Davis—chairmaker Wilkes Reagan—butcher travel conditions. Samuel Davis—chairmaker Obed Foote—lawyer • Define what each profession is. Isaac Wilson—miller O.P.Gaines—first Presbyterian preacher Use a dictionary to look up any Dr. Isaac Coe James Linton—millwright 1820, Summer Amos Hanway—cooper you do not know. What clues Kenneth A. Scudder—first drug store James M. Ray—coach-lace maker does each profession provide James J. McIlvain, Jr.—farmer Samuel Rooker—first painter about life in Indianapolis at the William Townsend—miller 1821, Fall time? 1820, Fall Lismund Basye—became magistrate • Check your own county histo- Matthias Nowland—mason Calvin Fletcher—lawyer Dr. S. G. Mitchell Caleb Scudder—cabinet-maker ries. Are there early professions Thomas Anderson—wagonmaker George Smith—first publisher you can add? Alexander Ralston—surveyor James Scott—Methodist preacher • Compile a list of professions to- Cheney Lively—housekeeper, first black James Paxton—militia officer day by surveying your school or resident George Myers—potter Andrew Byrne—tailor Nathanial Bolton—first editor others in your town. Conrad Brussell— baker John Shunk—hatter • Which of the early professions Ephraim Ensaw—black laborer Isaac Lynch—shoemaker can still be found today? Which 1820, Winter Samuel Henderson—first postmaster ones cannot be found? What James B. Hall—carpenter Robert Patterson—became judge Harvey Gregg—lawyer new professions have you noted? Michael Ingals—teamster Robert Wilmot—merchant 1821, Winter What clues do your findings pro- Thomas Johnson—farmer Robert Wilmont—merchant vide about life today? Milo R. Davis—plasterer Daniel Schaffer—merchant • Where might some of the “old- 1821 Daniel Yandes—first tanner Thomas Johnson—farmer fashioned” professions be pre- James Kittleman—shoemaker served today? Andrew Wilson—miller Nathaniel Cox—carpenter Aaron Drake—first mail

When the commissioners and important to the interests of selected the site of Indianapolis in the state, merely on the ground of 1820, the site was in the midst of personal inconvenience to the

March 18, 1822. sparsely populated wilderness in officers of state, or of interest to a county (Delaware) that was not the citizens of Corydon.” yet organized. In 1821, residents As the new state capital in Gazette, of Indianapolis had no services, 1825, the town would have to their legal affairs had to be con- support many people and provide ducted in courts in another services comparable to the cur- Indianapolis county, and they were rent state capital in Corydon. unrepresented in the General Creating a local government to Assembly. insure a successful transition to In fact, according to the the seat of state government, Indianapolis Gazette, January 20, became a priority for residents of 1824, there was concern that the Indianapolis. Sheriff Hervey Bates proclaims governor would not sign the act The timeline below indicates Marion County‘s first election. creating Indianapolis as the seat some major steps in that process of state government. The author, of organization. however, had confidence that the Sources : Dunn, Greater Indianapolis; governor would not “hesitate to Laws of Indiana, various years. approve a measure so essential The First Steps 1821 December 31—Act creates Marion County and provides $8,000 for a courthouse. 1822 January 1—Governor appoints sheriff who calls election of county officials. Unorganized Territory April 1—First election for Marion County

1822 Indiana Boundaries, 156-59. officials. 1822 April 15/16—First meeting of Marion County

commissioners. Reservation 1822 September 3—County commissioners Delaware

award contract for courthouse for $13,996 Randolph Wabash Henry to John E. Baker and James Paxton. Wayne 1823 January 7—Marion County first represented Parke Fayette Marion Union in General Assembly. Rush Putnam Morgan Map based on Pence and Armstrong, 1824 January 2—Act provides additional $5,996 Shelby Vigo Decatur for Marion County courthouse. Franklin Owen Bartholomew Ripley January 20—Act establishes Indianapolis Sullivan 1824 Monroe Dearborn as permanent seat of state government. Greene Jackson Jennings

Jefferson Martin Switzerland Lawrence Washington Scott Knox Daviess

Orange Clark

Crawford Floyd This map shows Indiana’s county Gibson Pike Dubois boundaries at the end of December 1821. Vander- burgh Harrison Warrick Compare this map to the map for 1820 in Posey Spencer Perry the March 1996 TIH, page 9.

A drawing of the first Marion County Courthouse by Christian Schrader. Schrader was born in Indianapolis in 1842, and became interested in art as a young man. However, he did not pursue art as a profession. Instead, he became a merchant. In 1871 he opened a glassware shop on Candidates in Marion County’s first election. West Washington Street. Compare this list to the list of early Schrader retired in 1909 and began to work on his residents on page 9. sketches and drawings of early Indianapolis. These were donated to the Indiana State Library in 1930, ten years after Schrader’s death. His delightful collection offers a You Be the Historian rich visual history of early Indianapolis. • Investigate your county and local governments today. What Source: Schrader, Indianapolis Remembered,19-20. services and functions do they perform for citizens? If you were just starting out to form a local government, what services would you establish first and why? • Investigate the organizations and institutions that are part of your community today. If you were just establishing the commu- This November 12, 1822 contract is for “all the stone nity, which of these would you establish first and why? work of every kind and description” for construction of the • Investigate the early history of your community or county to learn Marion County courthouse. By this contract, architects how early settlers proceeded in building their communities. James Paxton and John E. Baker subcontracted the work with Samuel McGeorge for $1,850. Indiana State Library, Division, Manuscripts.

The following is excerpted from “Two of Indiana’s Capitals,” a handwritten manuscript by Colonel Samuel Merrill, in the Colonel Samuel Merrill Collection, Indiana State Library, Indiana Division, Manuscripts. The manuscript is not dated, but Merrill writes that he was born seven years after 1824 and was sixty-four at the time of the writing, circa 1895. The text here is reproduced line for line, with original punctuation and spelling. The lines of dots indicate where text has been omitted. Colonel Merrill was the son of Treasurer of State Samuel Merrill. Since the move he describes took place seven years before the author was born, he apparently obtained his information from versions told by his family and others. It was, obviously, a momentous event for those who took part in the journey.

Merrill submitted his report on the move to the Indiana Senate on January 11, 1825. The final cost reported for the move was $65.55. Senate Journal, 1825, p. 7.

...... It was a lovely day in the ded. Under the head of the Treasurer latter part of October 1824 when the State were two flint lock horse pistols, Treasurer who had charge of all there was carefully loaded for robbers. movable belonging to Indiana, started from ...... Corydon to the new seat of government. The floor of the little house Division, Photographs. His little family occupied a large cov- where the families stayed was covered wagon, & with them beside the docu ered with slumberers . . . . Indiana State Library, ments & records, was the strong box con- ...... taining about twenty five thousand Dollar. The three little girls who slept on Five powerful horses, four whit the floor that night, still honor & the one in the lead a magnificent Indianapolis by making it their home . . . . gray, driven by Mr. Seibert, drew the ...... Samuel Merrill was wagon through every mudhole through The road, if road you treasurer of state until 1834, out the long journey without once might call it, was so bad that at when he was appointed to times the men had to take axes, & organize the second State stalling. Behind came another wagon Bank of Indiana and its drawn by two horses, & in this convey cut a way thro. the woods around branches, serving as its ance was the family of Mr. John Douglass, the mudholes. Once the State Printers president for approximately the State Printer. Tied behind wagon stuck in the mire & would ten years. Nowland, this vehicle was a cow, invaluable not come out, till all hands & all Early Reminiscences. for the milk she furnished, to the little horses overcame its obstinacy. pilgrims. There was a saddle horse After going or trying to go all ridden by Mr. Douglass. day long, the travellers found at night Four men, two mothers, one beau- they were only two miles & a half tiful girl of sixteen, one boy of eleven, from their morning starting place. & six little children...... Flour was very scarce, but The first days journey was at one house, the hostess as a great eleven miles, & the place of entertainment treat made biscuits for supper. at night was a small one room frame As she had been dyeing yarn, house. Frame dwellings were rare the blueing on her hands colored the in the country, but the pioneer who dough, & gave the bread a streaked built this, was wealthy enough to own appearance. The grown folks did a little sawmill, & cut the lumber not seem to care for biscuits that himself. The men slept in the night, but the children enjoyed wagons, for the money had to be guar- them immensely.

12 The Indiana Historian, June 1996 + © Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1996 + At another place, all the cooking forward a country man, who chanced utensils the poor woman had was to be passing, to inform the people a deep skillet with an arched cover. that the seat of government was In the misfortunes that over coming. At the word, out poured take us all in this life, the skillet most of the five hundred inhabitants

had cracked & gone to pieces, so boys, girls, men & women to see a Division, Photographs. she turned the lid over, & made a sight that will never again be skillet of it, in which she boiled the seen in Indiana. Indiana State Library, water for the rye coffee, & the sage When the teams stopped at Blake & tea, then baked the bread, then fried Hendersons tavern . . . every citizen the meat, & everybody was happy. went home rubbing his hands & saying Whenever the caravan came to a the fortune of Indianapolis is made. small hamlet like Columbus or Frank ...... lin, Mr. Seibert who was very proud Colonel Samuel Merrill earned his military rank during of his team, would put immense sleigh the Civil War. bells in arches over the horses shoulders to give everybody to understand that something important was coming. After ten days journey, it being early in November, as they approached Indianapolis, coming along the road now called South Meridian St. the happy teamster, feeling that this was the proudest day of his life, refusing Samuel Merrill Collection. to listen to the pleadings of the ladies to the contrary, decked the horses Indiana Historical Society Library, with the loud sounding bells, & sent

The Merrill family moved into one of James Blake’s houses and shared it with Calvin Fletcher and his wife Sarah. This receipt, dated February 15, 1825, indicates that Merrill paid $60 rent for a year.

First state building in Indianapolis The building on the left is the first state struc- brick. Full one-third of it was covered with a vault, ture, built to house the offices of the state treasurer as we called it. It was of brick built up four feet, and auditor. It was located on the corner of Washing- plastered and with an iron door on top. Up and down ton and Tennessee (Capitol) streets. Samuel Merrill thro’ this double locked door went boxes and bags of lived here with his family. The state auditor, William silver.” Ketcham presented her reminiscences to her H. Lilley, had an office on the second floor. children, Christmas 1898. Merrill’s daughter, Jane Merrill Ketcham, wrote Source: Indiana State Library, Indiana Division, of her father’s office: “The office was paved with Manuscripts. , 114. Indianapolis Remembered Schrader,

© Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1996 + The Indiana Historian, June 1996 13 + “Behind the scenes” presents some aspect of how the Bureau staff produces each issue of the magazine. The focus may be, for example, the research process, an Behind the scenes interpretation problem, etc. It also enables us to thank our partners and demonstrate that research is a collaboration with often unexpected twists and turns.

Over the several men and women who played months of work on the major roles in the town’s develop- two Indianapolis issues, ment. Using firsthand knowledge, , frontispiece. our lead researcher has he provided character sketches become engaged by the that turned names into people. Sketches human element in the The story of John Givan below is history of the city. Two one example.

Nowland, early histories—Dunn, Months of daily research Greater Indianapolis and provided more resources and Sulgrove, History of created connections with these Indianapolis—were the people. It was exciting to locate, starting point. Names of hold, and read documents written individuals whose efforts by or related to them. Images were responsible for the located put faces to names. founding of Indianapolis Individuals and their homes, kept appearing. offices, stores, and churches were As research contin- placed in geographical perspective ued, John H. B. using the early detailed plats of John H. B. Nowland was the son of Nowland’s book, Early Reminis- Indianapolis. Matthias Nowland, one of Indianapolis’ founding fathers. cences of Indianapolis, was lo- Our researcher, working in cated. Nowland had grown up in the midst of what was 1820s early Indianapolis and knew the Indianapolis, has a new perspective on the area. People who lived and events that happened over 175 This store advertisement announced the years ago come vividly to mind partnership between James Givan and his son, John. The advertisement tells what is sold and when looking at the modern city. where. Nowland provides some insight: “Mr. This sense of excitement and Givan’s store was a perfect curiosity shop. In it

, March 1, 1823. discovery can be one reward of could be found any article that utility or research. The information gath- necessity might demand. A gentleman once inquired (in sport) for goose yokes, and to his ered provides historical context surprise they were produced by dozens.” which is necessary to under- Nowland also reveals aspects of John’s Indiana Gazette stand, interpret, and relate the character, commenting on his life and using anecdotes about his business practices. Nowland past to the present. often wrote in a sentimental style common to The researcher is an active

the period, appealing to the emotions of his Indianapolis participant in the process, weigh- readers. In the case of John Givan, Nowland was very frank: “His mind, from some cause, took an ing the clues—factual evidence unfortunate turn some years since, from which and personal perspectives—to resulted the loss of his property, or he might be produce a balanced story. Such today, as he once was, one of the prominent men active participation in the histori- of this city.” Nowland, in closing, made a poignant plea for assistance for John, cal process can breathe life into who was still living in 1870. what is often perceived to be an Source: Nowland, Early Reminiscences, 118-19. uninteresting subject in a school curriculum.

14 The Indiana Historian, June 1996 + © Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1996 + A Note Regarding Resources: Items are listed on this page that enhance work with the topic discussed. Some older items, especially, may include dated practices and ideas that are no longer generally Selected resources accepted. Resources reflecting current practices are noted whenever possible. Bibliography Considered the standard reference Provides useful early history of for legal boundaries of Indiana from • Dunn, Jacob Piatt. Greater India- General Assembly and legislators. territorial days to 1933. napolis: The History, the Industries, • Sulgrove, B. R. History of India- Selected Student Resources the Institutions, and the People of a napolis and Marion County, Indiana. • Beekman, Dan. Forest, Village, City of Homes. Chicago: The Lewis Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., Town, City. New York: Thomas Y. Publishing Company, 1910. 1884. Crowell, 1982. Although many early histories of History of early Indianapolis with The evolution of the city from small Indianapolis exist, Dunn’s excellent sketches and photographs of many village to metropolis is told through use of citations makes this a valuable early residents. limited text and delightful illustra- book. • Thornbrough, Gayle, ed. The Diary tions. • Indianapolis Donation. Atlas of of Calvin Fletcher, Vol. 1, 1817-1838. • Henry, Joanne Landers. A Clearing Selections, 1913. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical in the Forest: A Story About A Real This book, located in the Indiana Society, 1972. Settler Boy. New York: Four Winds State Archives, records land pur- Fletcher, one of the founding Press, 1992. chases in Indianapolis from 1821. It fathers of Indianapolis, gives a Indianapolis in the 1830s is depicted was compiled by George Pence, detailed day-to-day account of life in in this fictional account based on the examiner of the State Board of the city with many of its earliest and Calvin Fletcher diaries. Accounts, in 1913 in an attempt to most prominent citizens. • Henry, Joanne Landers. Log Cabin get the state land records in order. It in the Woods: A True Story about a uses early plat maps of Indianapolis Other Selected Resources Pioneer Boy. New York: Four Winds and records the date of sale of lots, • Barnhart, John D., and Donald F. Press, 1988. giving the names of purchasers. Carmony. Indiana: From Frontier to Oliver Johnson’s recollections of • Indianapolis Remembered: Chris- Industrial Commonwealth. 4 vols. New life in early Marion County rewritten tian Schrader’s Sketches of Early York: Lewis Historical Publishing for intermediate readers. Indianapolis. Indianapolis: Indiana Company, Inc., 1954; 2 vols. reprint, • Howe, Daniel Wait. Making a Historical Bureau, 1987. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Capital in the Wilderness. Indianapo- Schrader was an Indianapolis Bureau, 1979. lis: Indiana Historical Society, 1908. merchant during the mid-to-late Excellent general resource on A brief and readable history of 1800s. A gifted artist, he made Indiana’s history up to 1950. early Indianapolis based on primary beautiful pencil sketches of the early • Barnhart, John D., and Dorothy L. sources. Indianapolis he remembered as a Riker. Indiana to 1816: The Colonial • Mallett, Ann. A Child’s History of young man. Period. Indianapolis: Indiana Histori- Indianapolis. Indianapolis: The Indiana • Nowland, John H. B. Early Remi- cal Bureau and Indiana Historical State Museum Shop, 1985. niscences of Indianapolis, with Short Society, 1971. An interesting publication, origi- Biographical Sketches of Its Early A standard resource. nally published in 1973. Citizens, and of a Few of the Promi- • Bodenhamer, David J., and Robert nent Business Men of the Present Day. G. Barrows, eds. The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis: Sentinel Book and Job Indianapolis. Bloomington: Indiana Printing House, 1870. University Press, 1994. Nowland, son of one of the found- Comprehensive reference on ing fathers of Indianapolis, provides Indianapolis history. details about some of the earliest • Johnson, Oliver. A Home in the residents of Indianapolis in his Woods: Pioneer Life in Indiana: Oliver personal reminiscences. Johnson’s Reminiscences of Early • Nowland, John H. B. Sketches of Marion County. Bloomington: Indiana Prominent Citizens of 1876, with a University Press, 1978. Few of the Pioneers of the City and Account of everyday life in early County Who Have Passed Away. Indianapolis, first published by the Indianapolis: Tilford & Carlon, Indiana Historical Society in 1951. Printers, 1877. • Walsh, Justin E. The Centennial An expansion of Nowland’s 1870 History of the Indiana General Assem- Early Reminiscences. bly, 1816-1978. Indianapolis: The • Pence, George, and Nellie C. Select Committee on the Centennial Armstrong. Indiana Boundaries: History of the Indiana General Territory, State, and County. India- Assembly in cooperation with the napolis: Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Historical Bureau, 1987. 1933; reprint, 1967.

Indiana Historical Bureau 140 North Senate Avenue • Room 408 • Indianapolis, Indiana • 46204-2296 • 317-232-2535 • TDD 317-232-7763

Occupied Areas of Early Indianapolis This map shows the pattern of settlement in Indianapolis’ first fourteen years. Early settlers (1821) lived near, or on, White River. By 1823, settlement was focused farther east. Sulgrove, History of Indianapolis provides an explanation: “‘Towards the end of the summer and during the fall epidemic remittent and intermittent fevers and agues assailed the people, and scarcely a person was left untouched.’ . . . The effect of the epidemic of 1821, on the settlement was to force it back from the river, and extend it eastward past the Circle and Court-House Square along Washington Street” (30-31). By 1835, much of the original mile square plat remained unsold. Whi te R iv er Indianapolis Population 1820 15 to 20 families 1823 600 - 700 people 1824 100 families 1826 720 people 1827 1,066 people 1830 1,500 people 1821— 1835 1,683 people 1823— Sources: Dunn, Greater Indianapolis; Sulgrove, History. 1835—

Map adapted from: Ignatius Brown, Chart of Indianapolis showing outlines of population; and Occupied Areas of Early Indianapolis. Both maps are located in the Indiana State Library, Indiana Division. 16 The Indiana Historian, June 1996 + © Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1996