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.  He served in Ohio fighting Indians employed by the English. When peace was declared Bethiah and he left Ohio and returned to his father's homestead in Connersville, Indiana.  They remained there until a treaty with the Indians was signed.  The treaty gave the USA government a strip of land thru Central Ohio and Indiana  called the "NEW PURCHASE". The treaty was signed under a big sycamore tree in Greenville, Ohio. In March 1820 John and Bethiah decided to strike out for a new site Westward. They cut through the Virgin Forest, traveling by Conestoga wagon placed on sled runners. Brother Samuel went along and brother James followed with their families. It took them eight days to go 60 miles. They settled on the banks of the White River, then known as Fall Creek.  There they built a cabin and established the first white settlement in that Indian Territory. Samuel settled near Military Park.

The following May state commissioners 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 indeed 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 Government Seat." And so it was established Indianapolis, "State Capital Of Indiana". The John Pogue Family had moved  in April the following month after the McCormicks. Pogues on the west bank of the river and McCormick's on the east side. 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.

(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

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 Delaware 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".

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

Pam Arnold