The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-28
He Was Born Sept. 30, 1926, and Had
Spent Most of His Life i'm
This City.

condition he refused to take the trouble
seriously and laughingly requested that
mo one worry about him." He had an
other stroke late in the afternoon in at
tempting to rise from a chair in his draw
ing room and he passed away shortly after
in the presence of his wife and son and his
brother, Dr. w. B. Fletcher. His death
came peacefully and his last moments were
entirely free of suffering
The life of Calvin Fletcher was filled with
activity, even up to the age when most men
are obliged to withdraw from energetic
pursuits. AS boy he was always the lead
er Of athletics with his school companions.
among whom were Admiral Brown, the late
Austin Brown, Simon Yandes and other of
the best known men who were his con-
temporaries in the days when Indianapolis
was country town. He was rugged and
strong up to his sixtieth year, and even at
this advanced age was able to throw a
handspring" as he called it, on the hard
ground with the agility of young gym
mast. He was essentially an out-of-doors
man, as the poet Whitman would have
termed him-a lover of birds and animals,
and possessing an unusual knowledge of
agriculture, horticulture and forestry. His
remarkable memory made him an authority
on the pioneer days of Indiana. His death
removes from this city one of those strong,
Interesting characters that were bred in the
early days of this city's history.
BORN IN INDIANAPOLIS.
Calvin Fletcher was born in Indianapo-
lis Sept. 80. 1926. His parents were Calvin
Fletcher, native of Vermont and Sarah
Hill. native of Kentucky, who were mar
ried in Ohio in 1870, after which they re-
moved to the then recently located capital
of Indiana. Calvin, jr., who was one of a
family of nine sons and two daughters,
born in a little one-story wooden
dwelling, which was little better than a
cabin, situated at the intersection of Wash
ington and Illinois streets and Kentucky
avenue-the site across the broad thor
oughfare from the new Claypool Hotel
upon which a big business block now
stands. Educational facilities were very
good for the period, and Mr.. Fletcher, after
the usual course at the County Seminary,
spent two years in the store of Harrison *
Porter at a salary of s. month-the first
money he had ever earned At the end of
this service in 1876 he entered Brown Uni
versity. Providence, r. l., and after spend
ing three years at the college gave up his
studies and came back to Indianapolis TO
adopt the life of a farmer.
On Sept. Is. 1S49, he was married to Emily
Beeler, of Marion county, Indiana. She
was the daughter of Joseph and Hannah
Beeler, natives, respectively, of Virginia
and North Carolina. For ten years Mr..
Fletcher and his wife resided on a large
farm where the suburbs of Brightwood
Is now located, and then they removed into
the city on account of severe illness,
which threatened TO make Mr. Fletcher,
who had previously been the very picture
of health, an invalid for life. During the
years of the war his wife was ''the better
soldier" as he used to express il, because
of his continued physical weakness, and
while she spent two years in hospital work
and other duties of relief in and about In
dianapolis, he devoted himself to a number
of active businesses and public enterprises
such as would allow him to live in the open
air to insure good health. AS farmer, stock
trader, nurseryman and identified with the
organization and control of the various
county and state agricultural and horti-
cultural societies, his life was most ac-
tive one. 1t was he who built the frs
turnpike roads that were ever known in
Marion county, and he introduced new
agricultural inventions, such as threshins
and moving machines, in this section of In
| diana. In 1866 he united with Judge Frank
| lin and many others for the purpose Of
| building the Indianapolis & Vincennes
| Railroad, and as managing agent for Gen
! eral Burnside, the famous soldier devoted
| three years to the completion of the work
A PERMANENT HOMESTEAD.
1t was while he was engaged in the worl
of building the new road that he becam,
| acquainted with the locality which after
ward became his home for many years, anC
then the village of Spencer in June. 1869, t,
carry out the purpose of his hfe-that o
making a permanent homestead for hi
family. The spot that he chose for hi
home abounded in the natural beauties
| characteristic Of that part of Indiana-th
rolling green hills the grand forest tree
and the many running streams, who's
banks are bordered with the beautiful
ferns for which Owen county is famous
| Here he built magnificent home which
| was not unlike the old castles seen in Eu
| ropean countries, with its spacious rooms
wide Railways and great fireplaces. Mr.
| Fletcher spent the greater part of his life
| time and most of his fortune in beautifyin
| his estate, which soon became known a
| the most picturesque country residence Il
| that portion of this State. He plante
| many trees, some of which are very rar
| specimens imported from other countries
| which are to be seen to-day in all tn
| grandeur of their maturity. He planne
and superintendent the making of severa
| lakes and ponds in various parts of hi
| grounds and planted in their beds exquisit
varities of water lilies, while he filled tn
| waters with many kinds of fish and frog
and practically worked out the problem 0
fish culture in small ponds. His success /
this industry led to his appointment as ifs
| commissioner of Indiana. His methods O
farming were far In advance of his day
| everything he did being accomplished alon
the most scientific lines.
Early in the winter of 1873 Mr.. F'letche
visited southern California, and in the in
terests of the Indiana colony subdivide
the site of Pasadena, which is now know
everywhere as the paradise of the Pacifi
coast. At this time Mr.. Fletcher owne
what are now the most beautiful and mos
valuable parts of Pasadena. He was 5
impressed with the future possibilities c
this particular place that he wanted 10 Civ
up his Indiana home and reside permanent
" in California, but was persuaded to re
turn to the Spencer homestead by his fam
ily and so sold out his interests at Pasa
dena at a figure, which. in the light c
the present Importance of this Calforni
garden spot, seems ridiculously low.
VISITED EUROPE.
In September, 1874, Mr. Fletcher sale
with his family for Europe, and after tw
months journeyings through Ireland, Scot
land and England went by way of Franc
to Italy, where the young people-h
daughters. Sarah and Emily. and his som
Horace and Calvin. jr.-remained for stud
at Naples. while Mr.. Fletcher and his vii
took passage for Egypt. Palestine. Turke!
Greece and the islands OF the Meditel
ranean. After visiting the cities of Ital
he left his family for three years stud
at Lausanne. Switzerland. on Lake Lemal
and returned home through France an
England.
After many years of country life in h
beautiful homo i'm Spencer-when he hs
brought his estate up 10 his ideal of pc
fection-he suffered financial losses throug
some unfortunate investments and W;
finally obliged TO sell the home that Ia
become his pride. OF recent years he mac
his home in the house where he died We
terday. He leaves a widow Emily Beel
I.~lnf. f1ar old lost he