Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1900 — NAMING THE HOOSIER CAPITAL. [ARTICLE]

NAMING THE HOOSIER CAPITAL.

Tecumseh, Snwarrow and Other* 8n«geeated Before Choice Was Made. W. A. Bell, now president of Antioch College and formerly a resident of Indianapolis, has written an interesting paper on the development of Indiana, devoting considerable attention to the naming of Indianapolis in 1821. On this subject Mr. Bell says: Judge Jeretniah Sullivan, of Jefferson County, tells the following story: Gen. Marston G. Clark proposed “Teeumseh’' (in honor of one of Indiana’s most distinguished citizens), and very earnestly insisted upon its adoption. When it failed he suggested other Indian names. One member of the commission proposed "Suwarrow.” Other names were proposed, discussed, laughed at and voted (lown. Finally I moved to fill the blank with “Indianapolis.” The name created quite a laugh. Samuel Merrill, however, seconded the motion. We discussed the matter fully, the members conversed with each other, informally, the name gradually commended itself and was finally adopted. In 1821 another-commission platted the city, a mile square, and sold at auction over 300 lots. The lot bringing the highest price—ss6o—was the one on the northwest corner of Washington and Delaware streets. Up to this time almost the entire city plat was covered with immense forest trees. The first store came in 1821 and located on the bank of White River. There was no' county organization and therefore no - courts—not even a justice of the peace. This was then a part of Delaware County, but the citizens had to go to Com nersville, in the White Wabash district, for all court business. About this time a young couple concluded to marry, and there was no marriage license to be had nearer than Connersville, sixty miles away, through an almost unbroken wilderness. But the young man, nothing daunted, started out on foot, and in due time returned with his license. Even now the trouble was not over, for the couple had to wait three or four weeks for a preacher to come along who was authorized to solemnize their marriage. Mooresville, fourteen miles southwest, for many years outranked Indianapolis as a business center. When Calvin Fletcher, I. and Nicholas McCarty opened a dry goods store as partners they advertised through the papers by circulars that they had opened a stock of goods which in size, variety, in quality and price could not be excelled at LaHvrenceburg, Madison or Mooresville. —-V- — — ; J ~ £==