History Of John MCCORMICK Jr. & Bethiah Case
Hamilton County,Indianapolis,Indiana
May 28, 1998

John MCCORMICK Jr. Married Bethiah CASE in 1811 when Great Britain declared war the second time, he left his young wife in Hamilton,Ohio and enlisted in the army the Indiana war in Ohio fighting Indians employed by the English.When peace was declared they left Ohio and returned to his fathers homestead in Connersville, they remained there until a treaty with the Indians signed a strip of land thru Central Ohio and Indiana to the Goverment called the "NEW PURCHASE". This was done under a big sycamore Tree in Greenville,Ohio. March 1820 they decided to strike out for a new site Westward. Brother Samuel went along. they cut through the Vigin Forest,traveling by Castadaga Wagon Placed on sled runners.Brother Jamesfollowed with their famlies. they settled in the banks of the white river known as Fall Creek. it took them eight days to go 60 miles.There they built a cabin ,established the first white settlement that Indian Territory.Samuel settled near Military Park

. The following May,state commisioners appointed by the first governor of Indiana met at the McCormick cabin and tavern combined because it was the most convenient.The State Capital was formed, the town was platted "MILE SQUARE" John's wife Bethiah helped to muster courage at the special session of Indiana General Assembly. She got up on the Platform and said..."We and the Pogues were the first settlers in this part of the State, i know you must think i'm a little bragger indead to be standing here in front of you, i didn't want to but i want you very much to consider the name Indianapolis the Goverment Seat." And it was estabalished Indianapolis, "State Capital Of Indiana". The John Pogue Family moved the following month in April after the McCormick's. Pogue on the west bank of the river and McCormick's on the eastside. Bethiah welcomed her new neighbors who came to the new settlement......BATES / OSBORNS / RAY or ROY / HARDINGS / MAXWELLS / JOHNSONS / COWANS / BARNHILLS / WILSONS / DAVIS / CORBALAYS. John and James McCormick started the first sawmill.

Children Of...
John Jr. MCCORMICK & Bethiah CASE

(1) Jacob b.1811
(2) Katherine b.1812
(3) John W b.1815 Married... Susan GREGG
(4) Lavina b.1816 (Twin) Married... Issac MARTZ (Twin)
(5) Tabitha b.1816 (Twin) Married... Moses MARTZ (Twin)
(6) William Henry Harrison b.1818 Married... Katherine DRENNAN
(7) Mary Ann b.1819 Married...James HAWKINS
(8) Eliza Ann b.1821 Married...Hiram GARDNER
(9) Jane b.1826 Married...Ebenezer JONES

After John's Death in 1825 Bethiah and children returned to Connersville,Indiana and she married John KING and had three more children. Bethiah Died in 1874 in Arcadia,Indiana
(1) Julia A b.1829
(2) John C b.1830 Married...Martha PACK or PARK
(3) Cornelius b.1832

Stories Told By...
Bethiah, That's Been Handed Down Through Generations

At First we had to paddle down the river to Spencer Town to buy salt,wheat,cornmeal. Travelers passed through and some stayed.the Indians called the river the musical name..."Wa-Ma-Ca-Me-Ca" name meaning, pure clean water. i had a hired girl to help me with the meals and general housework. John hunted and fished and managed the business. there were a few bad Indians,but having experiences in Ohio and Fort Connersville we were determined not to make any trouble with them and give them excuses to molest us.the woods were full of them.there chief was called Johnny QUAKE and he could talk some English.He was a nice old Indian and never favored the bad ones and told us "Don't be afraid to drive the bad ones away".and we did except a couple of times. One bright sunny morning,middle of March 1831 one Deleware Indian threatened to scalp me if i didn't ferry him across the river, of course i screamed * HELP MURDER* i was alone but soon the neighbors gathered and he was guided down and i was not hurt.

Another time,William Henry Harrison was nearly killed by a bad Indian. he was asleep in his cradle, the men folk had gone to the field and we were alone in the cabin. in the event the Indians bothered us again,all i had to do was to blow a horn and the men would come running back. i was ironing when suddenly i looked up and there was a drunken Indian standing in the doorway. i went to get the horn but it was not there where we kept it. he was yelling WISK-WISK,IN THOSE DAYS EVERYBODY KEPT THE RED JUICE,and i told him no! because he was already drunk and could hardly stand up. Seeing the baby,he staggered over to the cradle and held up his TOMMY HAWK and said CHOP-CHOP, if i didn't give him some of that fire water.Frightened, i gave him some, but before he got away the men came home and what a wolluping that Indian got.he was knocked out and when he came to,he was told to skin out and never come back. "we never saw him again".

For photo of Bethiah Case McCormick click here.

Data Entry Volunteer: Kelly Ann Runyon....Chattanooga,Tennessee
My McCormick History Web Site


Eudorus J. Whetsel
Reference to the agricultural affairs of Hamilton County would be incomplete were no mention made of Mr. Whetsel, among others engaged in tilling the soil. The farm of which he is the owner and proprietor consists of seventy-nine acres, and is pleasantly located upon section 30, Fall Creek Township, in the midst of a fine farming region. So successful has he been in his chosen occupation, that is opinions upon all matters pertaining to agriculture carry with them great weight in the community in which he lives.

Born in Union County, Ind, January 18, 1837, our subject is the second among eight children included in the family of William Wallace and Irene (Hourn) [HOWREN} Whetsel. Of this family the following survive: E.J.; Elizabeth E., wife of Jessee Stevens, of White River Township; Isaac N., whose home is in Boone county; and Rachel J., who married Thomas J. Souders, of Eureka, Kansas. Four are deceased, namely: Mary, who died at the age of seventeen; Amanda, who passed away in young womanhood; Elmer W., whose death occurred at the age of fifty; and Daniel, who died at the age of eighteen.

In Union County, Ind., where he was born, William Wallace Whetsel grew to manhood, and thence, about the year 1845, he removed to Hamilton County, where he has since resided. During his active life he was a farmer by occupation, but being now advanced in years (eighty-one) he lives retired. His wife, whose maiden name was Irend Hourn [Howren], was born in Union County, Ind, bring a daughter of William Hourn [Howren] a prominent resident of that county. At the age of nine years the subject of this sketch accompanied the family to Fall Creek Township, and from that time, 1846 until the present he has continued to reside here.

When eleven years old, Mr. Whetsel commenced to work by the month in the employ of others, and continued thus engaged until his marriage. That important even occurred January 17, 1857 and united him with Mary J. Souders, who was born in Fall Creek Township February 28, 1839. She was one of seven children in the family of Michael and Margaret (Kinnaman) souders, both of whom died in this township, the father at the age of seventy-nine, and the mother in 1846. Mr and Mrs. Whetsel are the parents of two living children: Floyd P. and Frederick Souders, both of whom reside at home. Those deceased are William M., Louisa Margaret, Albert Burton and Minnie Ellen.

In 1857, immediately after his marriage, Mr. Whetsel located upon a farm in Fall Creek Township, near the Wayne Township line, and continued there until 1875, when he sold the property and purchased the farm on which he has since made his home. In politics he has always been a Democrat from principle, and advocates the measures of that party with fidelity. Though not a church member, he is a firm believer in the beneficial influence of the church upon the community, and with the late Calvin R. Cassaday, was instrumental in the erection of the church edifice situated upon land taken from his farm, and known as the Christian Church. The building was completed in 1893, and is a work creditable to its projection and doubtless fully appreciated by all who enjoy the results of their efforts.

Note from transcriber, a picture of the Eudorus Whetsel farm is found on previous page.

Transcribed by Jerri Lewis Barton, a Whetsel family researcher
Portrait & Biographical Record of Madison & Hamilton Counties, Indiana. Chicago. Biographical Publishing Co 1893, page 280


Isaac Newton Whetsel
The Whetsels are decendants of the Pennsylvania Dutch family of Whetsels. The line of Whetsels under discussion are lineal descendants of Daniel Whetsel, who, accompanied by a brother, removed from Pennsylvania and settled in Union County, Ind. about the beginning of the present century. Other members of the old family emigrated to the west and southwest, and one of them became known in history as the great Indian fighter of West Virginia ? Lewis Whetsel. Nine children were born to Daniel Whetsel, viz: Zachariah, William Wallace (born December 5, 1812), Theodore, Rasmus R., Margaret, Mary, Jane, Eliza and Lydia. Five of these children still survive and have reached ages ranging from sixty-five to eight-four years, viz: Zachariah, Theodore, Rasmus, Margaret and Lydia. Daniel gave to all his children farms in central Indiana. Zachariah, Theodore and William received land in Hamilton County, and Rasmus received a farm in Boone county. To their respective possessions the brothers removed at an early day. William W. was a carpenter and millwright, but abandoned his trades temporarily in order to clear up his portion of the wilderness. He was married to Irene, daughter of William and Rachel Howren of Union county, Ind., and settled on the land alluded to in Fall Creek Township, Hamilton county in 1845. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted in the Seventy-fifth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry in which he served four years and four months. The regiment took active part in many encounters, in one of which he was wounded. His wife, Irene, died in 1856, having borne him eight children, as follows: Elmer, Eudoris, Elizabeth, Mary, Isaac N., Daniel, Rachel and Elvira. On account of the limited facilities, these children received but meager educations. But four of them survive, viz: Eudoris J., a prosperous farmer of Hamilton County, Isaac N., Elizabeth, wife of Jesse Stevens of Strawtown, Hamilton county, and Rachel, wife of Thomas J. Souders, of Severy, Kansas. Elmer, Eudoris and Isaac served in the Civil War. After the war closed the father resumed his trades. In his declining years he was granted a pension and died at the residence of his daughter, Elizabeth Feb. 22, 1894 at the age of eight-one years.

Isaac Newton Whetsel was born in Union county, Ind., May 23, 1842, and removed with the family to Hamilton County, Indl, in 1845. His mother's death rendered his early life one of hardship, as he was reared as a farm laborer. In 1859, at the age of seventeen, he was married to Nancy Ellen, daughter of Thomas Olvey. She is of North Carolina parentage and was born July 10, 1842. In 1872 she became a member of the Baptist church. During the war Isaac N. was a soldier in company D., Ninth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry and served until honorable discharged in 1865. He participated in the campaigns in Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and Louisana, principally on guard duty. He was sick in the hospital at Shield's Mill, Tenn., with measles, and at Bull's Gap, Penn., with small pox. At the close of the war Mr. Whetsel learned the blacksmith trade at Fortville, Hancock county, Ind, and began business for himself at Oleo, Hamilton County. He removed from there to Marion county about 1873 and conducted business at Castleton and Allisonville for thirteen years. In the summer of 1886 he removed to Hazelrigg, Boone county, Ind., where he has since resided and conducted a prosperous business. He ahs been an Odd Fellow for twenty years and is a member of Boone lodge No 9, F&A M, Lebanon, Ind. He receives a pension of twenty two dollars per month, owns a cozy home, and like all the Whetsels, is a democrat in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Whetsel are the parents of eight children, five of whom passed away in infancy. The survivors are: Henry Monroe, born in Fall Creek township, Hamilton county, Ind August 25, 1860; learned the blacksmith trade but abandoned it at the age of twenty-one, was made a Mason; took service with Walbash railway as a locomotive fireman; married September 16, 1885 to Dora A., daughter of H. H. and Susan Bassett of Indianapolis; she died childless January 21, 1888. Henry then removed to La Fayette, Ind; June 10, 1891 he was married to Laura Lee Cowell of that city, a son Dudley Monroe was born to them August 5, 1892. Henry is now a passenger engineer on the L.N.A. & C. railway. Julian Stuart was born at Oleo, Hamilton County, IN July 23, 1867; served in Indianapolis post office from 1888 to 1891; by profession he is a bookkeeper. Mahalon Everett was born at Oleo, Hamilton Co, Ind, August 29, 1869, entered the railroad servie as fireman at the age of seventeen; was married to Nancy E. Murray of Peru, Ind. August 23 1891; now resides in Peru, employed by the L.E.&N. railway as passenger locomotive fireman.

Transcribed by Jerri Lewis Barton, a Whetsel family researcher
A Portrait & Biographical Record of Boone & Clinton Counties, pg 514


Theodore H. Whetsel
If to one class of people more than another the United States owes a debt of gratitude, it is to the diligent, perservering farmers, on whom our prosperity as a nation so largely depends. Among those who for a long time have follwed agricultural pursuits in Hamilton County may be mentioned the name of Mr. Whetsel, who now in the twilight of his useful existence lives somewhat retired from active business cares, although he still retains a general oversight of his valuable property.

Coming to Hamilton County in 1850, Mr. Whetsel has since made his home in Fall Creek Township. He is the owner of two farms, the one in Fall Creek Township compromising two hundred and forty acres, while the other, near Pendleton, consists of one hundred acres. Of the entire acreage, about two hundred have been placed under cultivation as a result of Mr. Whetsel's energy and industry. In former years he engaged in stock-raising on an extensive scale, but since retiring from active life he has given little attention to that branch of agriculture. He raises the various cereals, making a specialty of corn and wheat. In 1890 he erected upon the home farm a fine windmill which is especially noticeable on account of there being but one other in the township.

A native of Indiana, our subject was born in Union County December 3, 1822, and is the sixth among twelve children born to the union of Daniel and Jane (Davis) Whetsel. His father, a native of New Jersey, removed to Pennsylvania in boyhood and there married Jane Davis, whose native home was in the Keystone state. A few years later he brought his wife to Indiana, and settling in Union County engaged in farming there until his death. Upon soming to this state he journeyed down the Ohio on a flatboat from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, which at that time was simply a settlement with three cabins. Daniel Whetsel died at the age of seventy-seven, and his wife passed away when seventy-five. The Whetsel family originated in Germany. Grandfather Daniel Whetsel was a native of New Jersey and died in Pennsylvania at an advanced age.

In early life Theodore H. Whetsel lived upon a farm in Union County. In 1850 he came to Hamilton County and settled in Fall Creek Township, where he has since resided. In 1849 he married Miss Alzina Burch, a native of Cayuga County, N.Y. and a resident of the state of Ohio at the time of her marriage. She is a daughter of Alfred and Cynthia (Reed) Burch, who removed from New York to Ohio and resided in that state until their deaths. Mr. and Mrs. Whetsel are the parents of seven living children, namely: Cynthia, wife of B. Smith of Pendleton, this state; Cornelia J., who married John Sylvester of Madison County; Martha, Mrs. David Adams, of Madison County; Daniel, of Fall Creek Township; George M., a resident of Noblesville; Leander F., who resides on the home farm; and Alfred O., who is also assisting in the operating the homestead. Three sons are deceased, one of whom died unnamed in infancy. The others are Wilbur, who died at the age of twenty-eight; and Pierson, who passed away in childhood.

A Democrat politically, Mr. Whetsel has always supported the principles of this party and advocated its platform. Socially, he is identified with the Improved Order of Red Men, being a member of Manitou Tribe No. 53 at Fortville. As one of the early settlers of Fall Creek Township and as an active, enterprising farmer of Hamilton County, he is justly respected and honored wherever known. He and his family are highly esteemed in social circles and are people of prominence in the township.

Transcribed by Jerri Lewis Barton, a Whetsel family researcher
Portrait & Biographical Record of Madison & Hamilton Counties, Indiana. Chicago. Biographical Publishing Co 1893, page 598






Deb Murray