Northwestsiders, IPL to battle over trees

A group of Traders Point residents are preparing to battle Indianapolis Power and Light over what they see as a violation of their property rights.

Mary Ann Stevens and Jerry Baker are two of the neighbors living near 86th Street and Moore Road who say they've been notified by IPL that the utility company intends to cut down or prune back trees that are growing within approximately 50 feet of its power lines sometime before the end of the year. Both say while the poles are in the agreed-upon right-of-way, the threatened trees are on their private property and shouldn't be cut without their permission.
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Stevens estimated a large swath of trees along 86th Street from Lafayette Road to I-465 could be affected.

Neighbors say they faced a similar situation with IPL in 2005 that not only left them with fewer trees, but also feeling threatened and bullied by the utility's emplyees.

When contacted late Thursday afternoon, IPL spokesperson Crystal Livers-Powers said she wasn't aware of any specific tree-trimming plans for the Traders Point area.
Call Star reporter Robert Annis at (317) 444-5572.

Fog this morning over the fields on Moore Road

Could it be a different William Conner?

Several years ago, when I first made the connection between Traders Point and William Conner, I sent an email to Conner Prairie's Historian, Timothy Crumrin, to share my findings. I was disappointed but not entirely surprised when he dismissed my William Conner as being different than his William Conner.
(I assume you wish me to be frank. I well know the thrill of the initial burst of excitement of getting your teeth into research on a subject like this and that this dicovery may be a boon to your hopes for getting landmark status, but I caution you from overplaying too much at the outset. Let further research reveal the proper balance and things will work out in the end. Be careful of loaded and agrandizing terms like "land baron" and be careful not to overstate the importance of William Cnner. As I tell people during training sessions here, there was a William Conner in every county in Indiana and other states of the Midwest and if not for Lilly buying and preserving this land Old Bill woud be little more than a footnote in a local history. That is not to say that he did not live an interesting and often thrilling life, only that he was no Washington, Jefferson, or Clark. It is best to use him much as you did as exemplar of others like him.
I trust you are not offended by the above, It is not meant as a criticism. Instead I am speaking to you as I would another historian/colleage, merely offering you my professional comments.)

Having spent a couple of years of my life working at Conner Prairie, I understood the dismissal. I had circumstantial evidence but no primary source linking the two to be one in the same. Conner did not maintain a journal or a diary. Much of his life, while remarkable, was not memorialized by him or others at the time. So there is no written record that he had invested in land in Marion County, other than the land patent issued to a William Conner of Marion County in 1823. That in and of itself is not sufficient to prove that it was the same person. So for me to convince others more scholarly than myself, we have to understand the circumstances of his life, of the times and his other land patents to feel comfortable that it is the same person. We have to see a preponderence of circumstantial evidence that it must be the same person.

In order to support the theory that it is not the same person, we would prefer to find some evidence that a different William Conner lived at the same time in central Indiana. There is none. We know that Conner sold the Traders Point patent before it was improved. In fact it was nearly 30 years later before the improvement of the grist mill would be erected at the north end of the parcel. Most parcels being patented at the time were for settlement. Owing to its access to water and tillable land, the Eagle Creek valley of Pike Township was the earliest area to attract settlers. We have a public record that the subject parcel was rated second rate, unsuitable for farming, by the government surveyor who scouted land for the Indiana Territory for the federal government. Conner would have had access to this report prior to his purchase. A farmer or a settler would have no reason to buy such a parcel, especially at a time when ALL THE OTHER TILLABLE PARCELS IN THE TOWNSHIP WERE AVAILABLE! The Traders Point parcel was without doubt purchased by a speculator. Hamilton County's William Conner can certainly be viewed as a speculator based upon what we know about his many land patents in and outside of Hamilton County. The 1823 time period of the patent also support the theory that it is the same person. By 1823 Conner had separated from his Indian wife, Mekinges, when she and their mixed children, all considered native Americans, were forced to relocate to Oklahoma. Earlier in 1823 Conner had perfected title to a land parcel on White River in Hamilton County where he was operating a Trading Post. Originally Conner had been sent to this area as a Canadian fur trader. His familiarity with native customs and languages served him well and later he was a treaty negotiator with multiple tribes. There is evidence that a settlement of Miami Indians existed at the time near Conner's Traders Point patent. (An article published by an Indianapolis newspaper has a wonderful first person account supporting this. In 1885 Anna Wilson was interviewed. Then 80 years old, her grandson Ad Wilson lived west of the Conner patent, south of Wilson Road in an area now within the Eagle Creek Park. "I was very much afraid of the Indians, for there was a small settlement in our neighborhood. The men and squaws would frequently come in our door with articles for sale, but they gave us no trouble. Sometimes however the braves would have sham battles along the creek, and we could hear their yells for miles. Mrs. Wilson came to the area in 1825. And we know from another published account that Albert Hardin, who farmed the J.K. Lilly dairy near Wilson Road and Dandy Trail, learned from his grandfather that white men and Indians traded livestock on Eagle Creek at its bend, thus the name Traders Point. And we know that William Conner was in the site selection meetings years earlier in which Indianapolis was chosen as the location for the new state capitol. We do not know the level of influence that Conner had in these discussions but for him to have been in the room says something about his importance. I have not found records of others named Conner acquiring land in the vicinity until much later in the century. I am familiar with several of the pioneer era cemeteries in the Traders Point area and there are no William Conners buried in them, (in fact, I am not aware of anyone named Conner in the area cemeteries for this time period). For there to be a different William Conner in Traders Point we must believe that there were others named William Conner in 1823 in central Indiana acquiring land for speculative purposes, in an area known to be populated with Indians, at a strategic crossing of a heavily traveled route and a navigable waterway, with no interest in establishing a home on the site. Highly unlikely. And we know William Conner was involved in many disparate activities simultaneously. 1823 is also the year credited with the completion of his Hamilton County residence, the first brick home in Hamilton County, on display daily at Conner Prairie. And this coincidental observation about Conner: The first person to embark in the Indian trade in this county was William CONNER. His store was four miles below Noblesville. Prior to the incoming of white settlers, his trade was exclusively with the Indians, who were reported to have had great confidence in his integrity and in the accuracy of his judgment. It is related of him "that when the Indians came in to trade, they were paid in part for their furs in whisky. They were required by Mr. CONNER to pay for each article as it was sold. One gallon of whisky would be measured out to them and then paid for, and then another; and so on until the furs were all taken up." He had long resided with the Shawanoes, and was also very familiar with the manners, customs and usages of both tribes, and with the White Water, White River and Wabash tribes generally.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Conner

Not a bad view

View of the neighbor's place from my mail box in Traders Point, Indiana (taken today)

Traders Point Hunt

In the fall of 1930, Thomas Ruckelshaus and Russsel Fortune Jr. Organized a series of chases on horseback, eventually leading to discussion of organizing a drag hunt on horseback. TPH met informally for the first time at the red barn on Moore Rd on November 14, 1931 with Mr. George Bailey as Master of Fox Hounds, Huntsman Russel Fortune Jr., and Whippers-in Nate Davis and Wells Hampton. Riders in the field number 16 of Indianapolis’ most prominent citizens. The territory at that time was the hills and valleys along Eagle Creek from 56th to 96th in the area that is currently northwest Indianapolis and Zionsville. source: http://www.traderspointhunt.com/

Conner's Patent is remarkable today for many reasons

We've outlined in red the location of Conner's patent over a recent Google Earth aerial photo of the area. Although we have no evidence that William Conner had a trading post within the site, we do know that he never lived here. But it is instructive to understand some of what occurred in or near the 80 acre parcel following Conner's ownership.
1. 1864: Traders Point is laid out by John Jennings and Josiah Coughran who erected a flour mill on this site. In 1897 the mill was deeded to the Traders Point Church of Christ when they broke away from Ebenezer Christian Church.
2. 1886: Site of Ebenezer Christian Church which is today known as Traders Point Christian Church. (this church has a long history of "moving to higher ground. The original site of Ebenezer Christian Church was south of Wilson Road. Following the dislocation of the Traders Point community in 1962 Traders Point Christian Church built a new facility at the intersection of Moore and Lafayette Roads (today New Life Worship Center).
3. Dandy Trail once intersected with Lafayette Road at this location. As Traders Point grew, this intersection was populated with two gas stations, a restaurant and a grocery store.
4. Site of the original commercial district of Traders, Point Indiana.
5. Site of a dairy farm once owned and operated by J.K. Lilly
6. Site of Cassilly Adam's 8 acre homestead at the time of his death in 1926
7. Site of J.K. Lilly's private orchard. (Note the rows of trees still visible today).

So what can we say about Conner's parcel today? It continues to be filled with irony and surprises. Over 185 years after his patent the parcel is still unpopulated. It is located largely within the boundaries of the Eagle Creek Park and Nature Preserve. And there are no commercial enterprises located within the parcel. The next time you cross Eagle Creek by car on Lafayette Road, or pass under the bridge by boat, remember that this "x" created by the spot where the creek and the road intersect, may once have been a spot where commerce occurred between the native Americans and the first generation of Indiana settlers such as William Conner. Remember after all that Conner's first wife was the daughter of Chief Anderson of the Delaware Tribe. Conner was a multi lingual Indian scout--as comfortable sitting around the fire in Indian dress with Tecumseh as he would have been entertaining neighbors in his mansion; the first brick home in Hamilton County. Conner was an enigma in his day. And he has left us with many unanswered questions about the true meaning of the term "Traders Point".

There is another element to the patent that may be even more startling and exciting. Conner's Traders Point parcel bears striking similarities to his Hamilton County parcel made famous by Conner Prairie, a Living History Museum in Noblesville. Consider the following shared characteristics:
1. Close proximity to Indian activity and settlements (a neighbor of ours claims to have evidence of a native American settlement near their property. I will protect their privacy and disclose their identify and location on a limited basis.)
2. Potential for or known existence of a Trading Post where trade between native Americans and early settlers and traders could occur. (we know Conner had a Trading Post along the White River. We only have the anecdotal evidence of the town's name to infer a trading post existed near Eagle Creek).
3. large expanse of floodplain bottomland (prairie) that was prone to flooding.
4. creation of levees that decreased seasonal fluctuations in tillable acreage within the prairie lowlands.
5. vast expanses of acreage that are devoted to public use today (Eagle Creek Park and Conner Prairie).
6. Eagle Creek and White River parcels include heavily forested wooded uplands overlooking the prairie where first generation beech, walnut and oak trees have been preserved. This is unusual because it was the tendency of the early farmer and pioneer to remove the first generation of hardwoods to increase tillable acreage. Although the pioneers used some of these cut trees for construction of cabins and out buildings, most of the wood would have been burned in large piles. The pioneers lacked the resources to transport the trees, which were plentiful everywhere and viewed as a nuisance by farmers. There is some folklore that the heavy hardwoods in the valley of Eagle Creek were preserved because Daniel Boone had surveyed the area and carved a bear paw in a Beech tree near Conner's patent. Challenging topography would have also preserved some of the trees. Both the Eagle Creek parcel and the White River parcel that Conner purchased include both the upland and the low land. Conner would have had the ability to choose the precise location and characteristics of the parcels he purchased and no one would have held a gun to his head encouraging him to acquire land that was prone to flooding, not tillable without tree removal, and potentially inhabited by Indians. So what was his motive for the acquistions if not to establish trade at the spot where trails bisected a navigable waterway.
(south of Conner Prairie there is a private house, built by Eli Lilly and owned by Conner Prairie, known as the Chinese House. It is hidden within a vast forest of heavy hardwoods left untouched by the pioneers.
7. Why would Conner select two sites, both in central Indiana but separated a considerable distance by horseback for two of his first two acquisitions? Was it these similarities in characteristics? Did Conner know something about bottomland farming or harvesting hardwoods?
8. Unrelated to Conner's motives is the Lilly family coincidence of the 1920s. Around the time J.K. Lilly was acquiring land within Conner's Eagle Creek patent from depression-ra farmers, Eli Lilly, brother, was doing the same thing in Hamilton County and each would donate their parcels to Purdue University in the 1950s, only to have Purdue transfer its interests in the 1960s.
Purdue agreed to a transfer of the Hamilton County donation to Earlham College when they admitted to Mr. Eli they were not interested in telling the story of the sturdy pioneer. Purdue donated the Eagle Creek parcel to the City of Indianapolis for the creation of Eagle Creek Reservoir and park.
I was employed by Conner Prairie from 1980 to 1982 but it would be years later when, as a new resident of Traders Point, I would trace the legal description of Pike's first property owner
to the spot where Eagle Creek crosses Lafayette Road. What a fun journey. This discovery of the Conner connection to Traders Point has led me to appreciate the considerable coincidences of these two areas.

And all these years later, can we believe it is just coincidence that attracted one man to two sites that share so many characteristics?

Confirming the location of Conner's patent

The patent contains a legal description of the precise location of the 80 acre parcel that William Conner "patented" in 1823. We gave the legal description to a registered land surveyor, Mike Deboys, and it was a fairly straightforward matter for him to locate the parcel based on its legal description: The east half of the south east quarter of section twenty eight in Township seventeen of Range two, in the District of Brookville and State of Indiana, containing 80 acres. This is the parcel's DNA, its unique marker that enables us to confirm today the location of Conner's patent. His 80 acre land parcel would be the first parcel legally owned in Pike Township of Marion County following the native American occupancy of the area, so it has some significance just for that reason. But we now believe Conner, who was neither a farmer nor a settler in Marion County, was motivated by his knowledge of the unique characteristics of this specific parcel. We believe his desire to patent this particular parcel (as opposed to parcels more tillable) was motivated by his business interests that already were taking place on the site (such as a trading post) or that he believed a business enterprise such as land speculation might be profitable in this location. The discovery that the patent was graded second rate for farming, by the original surveyor of the Indiana Territory, further confirms that the parcel was being acquired for speculative purposes.

William Conner's Patent

Certificate No. 3847

The United States of America

To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:

Whereas William Conner of Marion County Indiana has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Brookville, State of Indiana whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said William Conner according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24^th of April, 1820, entitled “An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands,” for The East half of the South East quarter of section twenty eight in Township seventeen, of Range two, in the District of Brookville and State of Indiana, containing eighty acres according to the official play of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said William Conner.

Now know ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, have Given and Granted, and, by these presents do give and grant, unto the said William Conner tenances, of whatsoever nature, thereto belonging, unto the said William Conner and his heirs and assigns forever.

In testimony whereof, I, James Monroe, President of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.

Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the twenty sixth day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty three, and of the Independence of the United States the forty eighth. By the President. Geo. Graham, Commissioner of the General Land Office.

Crown Point Cemetery

I just received a note from former resident Dr. Ruth Ann Parish, that I would like to pass along to any interested in or curious about the small cemetery located on Wilson Road at Crown Point Road, the Crown Point Cemetery.

Gentlemen:

Just a note to let you all know that I received a nice letter today from Mr. John Greeley, 5035 Lafayette Road, Inpls, In 46254-1941 (the street address was given to me by the Pike Twp division of the County Assessor's office). This is what Mr. Greeley said:

"Dear Ruth Ann,

The Crown Point Cemetery is maintained by descendants of the Caldwell family. The cemetery is private, and used by the family members. The war members are remembered and the American Legion has an annual service and provides a flag and pole. Thank you for your interest.

Yours truly,

John Greeley, Trustee"

And this summary from Trish Bliss via website interment.net:
Crown Point Cemetery Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
8200 W. Crown Point Rd, Indianapolis, INLat: 39° 53' 16"N, Lon: 86° 18' 31"W
Contributed by Trish Bliss, Jun 28, 2004 [krmom@indy.rr.com]. Total records = 123.
Take I-465N to I-65N. Exit on 71st St. exit number 124. Turn right on 71st. Turn left on Lafayette Rd. Turn left on Traders Ln. Traders Ln curves around and turns into Wilson Rd. Turn right on Crown Point Rd. (Tree lined) Make quick left into cemetery.
I do not know the ownership or anyone to contact, but the cemetery is wWell maintained.
I transcribed this cemetery on Jun 26, 2004 by walking and reading all existing and legible headstones.
- Trish Bliss

Birt, Henry, b. 1867, d. 1934Brumfield, Lucy, d. 26 Feb 1892, age: 70y 4d, w/o Nathan BrumfieldBrumfield, Nathan, d. 27 Dec 1889, age: 75y 1m 7dBrumfield, Susan, d. 17 0ct 1911, age: 67y 4m 17dBuntin, Emma D, b. 1866, d. 1935, s/w William WBuntin, William W, b. 1850, d. 1934, s/w Emma DButton, Esther, b. 17 May 1856, d. 24 Sep 1904Button, Harrison, b. 01 Jan 1813, d. 22 Feb 1897, age: 84y 1m 21d, s/w SarahButton, James, d. worn, s/o HW & S ButtonButton, Sarah, d. 16 Aug 1887, age: 71y 8m 19d, w/o H W Button s/w HarrisonCaldwell, Albert, b. 1866, d. 1930, Father s/w Emily CaldwellCaldwell, Andrew, b. 1861, d. 1925, Front: At Rest Caldwell s/w CassieCaldwell, Barbara, d. May 1948, age: InfantCaldwell, Bessie, b. 08 Oct 1888, d. 19 N0v 1951, MomCaldwell, Carl W, b. 1885, d. 1946, FatherCaldwell, Cassie, b. 1864, d. 1918, age: Front: At rest Caldwell s/w AndrewCaldwell, Catharine, d. Aug 1855, age: 50y, w/o James s/w James cracked 2nd stone placed nearbyCaldwell, Doris 'Pat', b. 1925, d. 1989, s/w Floyd A CaldwellCaldwell, Edd, b. 18 Oct 1888, d. .24 Apr 1936, DadCaldwell, Edith, d. 3 Jul 18__, age: 39y 5m 6d, w/o C G Cald H Birt o half stone sunkenCaldwell, Elmer A, b. 1914, d. 1971, s/w EvaCaldwell, Emily, b. 1867, d. 1938, Mother s/w Albert CaldwellCaldwell, Eva M, b. 1912, d. 1988, s/w ElmerCaldwell, Floyd A, b. 1922, d. 2002, Vet. W W II s/w Doris Caldwell, J D, b. 1855, d. 1930, s/w LouisaCaldwell, James, d. 15 Feb 1874, age: 76y 6m 20d, s/w Catharine CaldwellCaldwell, John, d. 07 Oct 1893, age: 59y 7m 15d, Father s/w Mary AnnCaldwell, Louisa, b. 1857, d. 1916, his wife s/w J D CaldwellCaldwell, Mary Ann, d. 29 Aug 1891, age: 80y 10m 14d, Mother w/o John Caldwell s/w JohnCaldwell, Oliver, b. 14 Apr 1854, d. 02 Oct 1874Caldwell, Raymond R, b. 1906, d. 1906, s/o E & B CaldwellCaldwell, Rebecca, d. 21 Aug 1867, age: 18y 10m 28d, d/o R G & F stone between CaldwellsCaldwell, Richard, d. 11 Dec 1862, age: 41y 10dCaldwell, Victoria, d. sunken, d/o John M Caldwell rest worn & sunkenCarter, _ilton, d. 07 Dec 1818, age: 15y 8m 19d, top left corner sunken Carter, Mary, d. 28 Feb 1855, age: 72y 1m 25d, w/o Henry Carter Cherry, James W, b. 1928, d. 1989, s/w DorisCombs, Benjamin, b. 1892, d. 1977, s/w Nellie E CombsCombs, Elizabeth, d. 08 Mar 1871,,Liberty, MO,,,, age: ,29y 3m 16d, w/o J M CombsCombs, Levi, b. 1809, d. 1865, age: 58y 6m 4d, s/w Lucinda 2nd stone who departed this life Sep 13 A.D. 1865Combs, Lucinda, b. 1816, d. 1900, s/w Levi CombsCombs, Nellie E, b. 1893, d. 1975, s/w Benjamin W CombsCouchren, Catherine R, d. 05 Jan 1861, age: 40y 25d, w/o Josiah CouchrenDelong, James E, b. 04 Jul 187_, d. 31 Jul 1872, s/o Saag N & Marinda Delong (stone cracked)Delong, William, d. 28 Sep 1871, age: 28y 8m 19d, s/o Jacob & Sarah DelongDickerson, Burton, d. 13 Jan 1864, age: 75yDickerson, George A, d. 28 Jan 18_0, age: 5y 10m 5d, D/O RW & JA Dickerson s/w Robert WDickerson, Infant, d. none, infant of J & S DickersonDickerson, Robert W, d. 04 Mar 1856, age: 31y 8m 13d, s/w George A DickersonDickerson, Sarah A, d. 09May 1882, age: 54y 10m 19d, w/o J G Dickerson s/w concrete slabDickerson, Sarah, d. 17 Mar 1869, age: 68y 9m 10d, w/o Burton DickersonDickerson, Susan, d. 01 May 1869, age: 28y 1m 15d, d/o B & S DickersonDuncan, Carrie, b. 08 Apr 1873, d. 03 Oct 1873, d/o Henry & R DuncanDuncan, Effie, b. 08 Dec 1870, d. 21 Oct 1894Duncan, Henry, b. 17 Nov 1840, d. 17 Feb 1896, s/w Rebecca worn-___REG CO F IND VOLSDuncan, John, b. 1874, d. 1928Duncan, Rebecca, b. 30 Jun 1844, d. 06 Apr 1901, age: w/o Henry DuncanDuncan, William, b. 11-Feb-05, d. 1933Graham, James T, d. 10 Jun 1859, died of Ph__isis (worn) s/w PhineasGraham, Margaret G, d. __Sep___, d/o T & M Graham rest is wornGraham, Phineas B, d. 26 Aug 1879, age: 21y 5m 7d, died of Phth___ (worn) s/w James GrahamHightshue, Edna, b. 1854, d. 1942, s/w EliasHightshue, Elias, b. 1851, d. 1929Hoffman, Lena, d. 31 Mar 1995, age: Mom CourtneyHuls, Alfred D, b. 31 May 1834, d. 07 Feb 1888, CO H 7 REGT IND VOLS s/w MaryHuls, Elisabeth, d. 12 Jan 1877, age: 87y 12d, w/o ThomasHuls, Elisabeth, d. 18 __t 1872, age: _y 11m 18d, w/o James H Huls left side of stone sunkenHuls, Harrison, b. 1856, d. 1933, s/w VictoriaHuls, James, d. 22 Apr 1891, age: 63y 4dHuls, Mary B, b. 14 Feb 1849, d. 10 Jun 1902, age: s/w AlfredHuls, Thomas, d. 21 Sep 1856, age: sunkenHuls, Victoria, b. 1858, d. 1929, Mother s/w HarrisonJohnson, Ernest, b. 15 May 1879, d. 01 May 1899Lower, Henry C, d. none, CO G 116 IND INFMarvel, Clara, d. none, Margaret Ettie and Clara c/o George W & Sarah MarvelMarvel, Ettie, d. none, Margaret Ettie and Clara c/o George W & Sarah MarvelMarvel, Margaret, d. none, Margaret Ettie and Clara c/o George W & Sarah MarvelMarvel, Sarah, b. 1834, d. 1875, Mother w/o George W MarvelMcCorkle, Mary, b. 1806, d. 1849, w/o Campbell MillerMcGuire, Edward, d. 17 Mar 1862, age: 30y 7m & __, s/o WH & S McGuire bottom right sunkenMiller, Alexander, d. 18___187_, death date sunken-age wornMiller, Alexander, d. 30 Jan 1853, age: 23y 11m 6dMiller, James, d. worn, all info wornMiller, John, b. 03 Oct 1801, d. 05 Feb 1885, age: 83y 4m 2dMiller, William, b. 01 Mar 1757, d. 08 Nov 1840, PVT 8 REGT PA & VA LINES Revolutionary WarParker, Robert, b. 1929, d. 1986, s/w Donna Korean War VeteranRansburg, Blanche, b. 1910, d. 1974, Blanche (Bobbie) empty name plate on stoneRedding, Louis, b. 1902, d. 1967, HusbandRedding, Mary, b. 1908, d. 1994Resler, Homer R, b. 1880, d. 1945, S/w Lavada ReslerResler, Lavada, b. 1890, d. .1968, age: s/w Homer R ReslerRoss, Alexander, d. 11 Nov 1876, age: 83y 8m 13dRoss, Elisabeth, d. ___1891, w/o ___Ross (very worn)Ross, Infant, d. 18 Apr 1861, d/o JM & MJ RossRoss, John M, b. 1821, d. 1868, s/w Mary J RossRoss, John M, d. 02 Apr 1868, age: 17y 2m 26dRoss, Margaret B, b. 1863, d. 1944Ross, Margaret, d. worn, w/o John M RossRoss, Mary J, b. 1827, d. 1905, s/w John M RossRoss, Nancy, d. sunken, w/o Alexander RossRoss, Victoria, d. worn, d/o JM & MJ RossShelburne, Allie, b. 1862, d. 1919, also a smaller marker by her feet w/ Allie on itSimmons, Jessee E, b. 1885, d. 1952Snyder, Ed, b. 1870, d. 1926Snyder, George, b. 1897, d. 1984, CPL US ARMY World War ISnyder, Joseph S, d. 06 Jun 1880, age: 28/9y 20d, s/o W & R Snyder Age is slightly wornSnyder, Malinda, b. 28 Dec 1848, d. 02 Aug 189_, death date slightly worn (poss 1894)Snyder, Rachel, d. 02 Aug 1900, age: 80y 10m 5d, w/o William SnyderSnyder, William, d. 06 Dec 1882, age: 67y 1m 14dStum, Stephen, b. 1947, d. 1989Tolin, Mary M, b. 1913, d. 2002, s/w Paul also 2x4 at foot reads Linda Tolin Tarpley (mother Mary CaldwellTolin, Paul L, b. 1911, d. 2001, s/w Mary also 2x4 at foot reads Linda Tolin Tarpley (mother Mary Caldwell)Vorhis, Nancy, d. 29 __c 1860, age: 53y 7m 22d, w/o Henry T Vorhis death month sunken 'aged' crackedWalker, Judith, d. Wilkins, Alice, b. 1876, d. 1902Wilkins, Benjamin H, b. 1888, d. 1968, s/w Dora H WilkinsWilkins, Dora H, b. 1889, d. 1944, S/w Benjamin H WilkinsWilkins, Griffith, b. 1861, d. 1937Williams, Gregory Steven, b. 22 Sep 1970, d. 24___1975, Notre Petit Ange-death date 24 Juillet 1975-Tu Nous ManquesWilson, Marian, b. 19 Aug 1825, d. 05 Sep 1906, age: 81y 16d, d/o Reuben & Marian Wilson and mother of Chas WilsonWood, Harry, b. 01 Apr 1880, d. 05 Sep 1899, wornWood, Lizzie, b. 23 Feb 1859, d. 01 Jan 1884Wood, Will, b. 1858, d. 1905Misc:18 Broken-off stones (base and part of marble left)8 unnamed stones9 worn illegible stones

A Traders Point Landmark to close

We have just received the sad news that Hoosier Orchid Co. a Traders Point landmark, will close in August. Bill Rhodehamel, owner, once told me that his interest in orchids began at Madeline Fortune Elder's greenhouse on Moore Road. For many years he operated in the heart of the Traders Point triangle near West 82nd Street and Lafayette Road. Sad news for our area and a commentary to what's happening to mom and pop businesses in the United States

Wed. July 30 - 2008

By Erik StegemillerSpecial to IBJ

Hoosier Orchid Co., a far-northwest-side company that grew to become one of the nation's most specialized orchid growers, is going out of business at the end of August.Founder William Rhodehamel said the ornamental flowers have become a commodity now stocked even at stores like Costco."It used to be that if you wanted orchids in Indianapolis, you had to come to us," Rhodehamel said.Business also withered because fewer people are showing interest in the myriad specialty versions that Rhodehamel raised. Membership in the American Orchid Society, a group of hobbyists and enthusiasts, has fallen substantially in recent years.Rhodehamel started Hoosier Orchid in 1989 after a gift of three of the flowers from a friend sparked an ongoing fascination. He eventually cultivated orchids never before grown from seed, as well as some varieties that have never received scientific names."We have some incredibly rare plants here, some not maintained anywhere else in the world," Rhodehamel said. "We'll put those in botanical gardens where we know they'll be safe."Almost all the plants in the 5,000-square-foot greenhouse at 82nd Street and Lafayette Road will be offered to the public through Hoosier Orchid's Web site and sales on site.Operations with mail-order and walk-in customers will continue as usual until Aug. 30, when shelves will be cleared.