Does anyone recognize where "Bethel" as described in some family papers
might be?
"My grandfather then moved to Indiana at a place about 20 miles south of
Indianapolis called Bethel there my Grand father John Baker No 3 purchased
a farm on the main highway built a road house and a flour mill...There was
no rail road from Indianapolis to Cincinatty (sic). Cincinatty was the
stock market and the farmers would put their fat hogs all in one drove of
about 200 head take several loads of corn and start to market 2 or 3
hundred miles away...In those days would stop at the roadhouse where my
Grandfather had several lots fenced in where he could put several lots of
pigs up for the night."
The only Bethel I've been able to find in historical gazetteers or modern
atlases is New Bethel in Franklin Twp, Marion Co, but that is only about 10
miles from Indianapolis. (Of course, the memoir may be inaccurate in
giving distance.) Is the road described now known as Rte 74? I'm guessing
this was in the 1830s?
Thanks for any help,
Mary