The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-17

left in Indianapolis.
The house in which he lives has been
standing for forty-six years, and during
all Of this time it has never been occupied
by anyone other than Mr.. Mccormick and
his family.
1t is, of course, an old-style structure,
with high ceilings and large. comfortable
rooms and when one enters them they re-
mind him of the old colonial days, for all
of the furniture is in keeping with the
house. II is of heavy carved walnut such
was used many years ago, and is of a
pattern seldom seen nowadays.
Mr.. Mccormick and his ancestors were
the first settlers that came to Indianapolis
and his mother enjoyed the distinction of
being the first white woman in this local
ity. When she and her husband came here
from Connersville in 1920 the Indians were
quite numerous. but they were friendly and
the settlers experienced no trouble with
them.
James Mccormick, father of John L. Nc
Cormck, and his brother arrived here on
March 6, 1890. The ground at the time was
covered with a heavy snow which had fall
len many weeks before. They made the
trip on sleds and with them were twelve
other men. who came to aid them in build
ing their cabins.
These two men. when they left Corners
vile TO seek another location at which TO
establish homes, had no idea just where
they were going to stop, and as the road
lay along White river they were taken
through the most beautiful part of the
country.
At last they came to a point which in
later years was between the old wooden
hri6 md he IRON hrtI WuCh limo on
street
PLEASED WITH THE FISH.
1t is said that John Mccormick uncle of
the present John Mccormick. got down off
the sled and walked to the river bank. One
of the men in the party asked him if this
was where he intended to stop.
Eyes" said John: there are two many
| fish here for me to go further" And it
was at this exact spot that the two Nc
| Cormicks built a double log cabin.
James, however, did not remain long and
went back to .Connersville, where the pres
| ent John Mccormick was born. In 1925
he removed again to this locality and es-
tablished farm on land now occupied by
Crown Hill, where he lived for a number
| of years
John Mccormick. who is the son of this
man, although he is seventy-nine years old,
| does not show his age and looks a num-
| Der of years younger than he really is.
He is still very active and, as he is al
| ways engaged in healthy vigorous occupa-
/ tons, he is not in the least feeble, and re-
| tans all of his faculties wonderfully well.
He and John HOugh are the only surviv-
\ ing teamsterS who, in the early days be-
| fore the railroads We're ever thought of,
| hauled freight 10 this city in large wagons
/ similar to the old prairie schoOners-
Mr.. Mccormick enjoys talking of the
| city when il was merely a settlement. In
| speaking of il to a Journal reporter the
other day he said:
1.-The old settlers of indianapolis are be-
| coming very scarce. and it will only be a
few years now until they Will be entirely
| extinct.
"The things that strike me as the most
strange the different modes of convey
/ ance. When l first came here railroads
| were not thought of and a hOrseleSS car
/ suppose If anyone had proposed that bug
/ giles and wagons would some day be run
| without horses we would have thought him
| crazy and always avoided him after that
| Il. however. have lived TO see il come
! 10 pass and have also seen the railroads
/ become transformed from oddly to a
i necessity. When they first started we
/ hardly thought they would be as universal
| " used rs they are now. for we could no
| move realize the Importance of them then
| than the average person now can realize
\ 10 what importance the automobile will at
i tain in few years from now
BEAUTIFUL LOCALITY.
| Mr.. Mccormick was asked what was his
| general impression of the country around
indianapolis when he first came here
| 1T was "a very beautiful locality" he
said. This part where the city is now
located was covered with timber of the