Samuel and Nancy Sam*** McGeorge arr 1824
(1778-1834;1779-1851)
Arrival
Samuel and Nancy Sam*** McGeorge arrived in Sheffield township in 1824,
probably from Hamilton county, Indiana. Samuel had served with a company of
Rangers at Vincennes in 1813 during the War of 1812. They may have come to
southern Indiana from Virginia, since one daughter gives Virginia as her
birthplace. They came to Sheffield township about the same time as a number
of other families from Hamilton county who lost their land when it was sold
out from under them at the government sale.
Trader
Samuel, whose name suggests he was of Scotch-Irish origin, was a trader who
profited from dealings with the Indians. He sold goods to the Indians,
built buildings for them, and had a license to go after unlicensed traders
in Indian country to the north. He was also a horse trader, and termed a
gambler by the Clinton County History. Sanford Cox praises him highly,
however. In 1828 the Eel River Miami gathered on Richardville Reserve to
negotiate a treaty. The Reserve still belonged to the Richardville family,
but McGeorge seems to have been already settled on it, and he received
payment for goods in the treaty.
Home in Sheffield township
Sometime after 1827, the McGeorges built the second brick house in the
township on land now belonging to William Widmer. This house was still
standing at the end of 1800s when the Frederick Rebman family lived in it.
Its fate is unknown: perhaps it was used as an outbuilding for the Widmer
farm after the present frame house was built in front of it. Several
buildings that were behind the present house, some made of brick, have been
torn down.
Bought Richardville Reserve
In 1829 Samuel bought Richardville Reserve from the Indians and in 1830
sold half of it to William Heaton. Whether the Indian village remained on
McGeorge's land or went with Heaton's land has not yet been determined. The
deed description makes a jog which suggests that the village, located at
the center of the reserve, was kept on the McGeorge land.
Black Hawk War scare 1832
In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk War, Samuel McGeorge led a
company of men who marched to meet the Indians. This company was part of
the Lafayette Guards. The Guards marched to Sugar Creek, then decided to
turn back, since they had encountered no Indians. A group of about 45 men
determined to continue the march to Hickory Creek, where trouble had been
reported. McGeorge was elected captain of this group, with Andrew Ingraham
and Amos Allen as lieutenants. The group did cross Hickory Creek, but found
no Indians, and finally turned back. The only incident reported occurred on
the return trip when a sentinel was shot by another sentinel.
Samuel died 1834 as a result of a kick by a horse
In 1834 McGeorge was watching his horse "Hoosier Tom" run at a track
located in West Lafayette, at the west edge of the Purdue campus
(approximately where State and Russell Streets are today). His horse was a
local favorite, but the odds favored a horse from Kentucky. The race was
close, with the Kentucky horse and "Hoosier Tom" the two leaders. In the
home stretch, "Hoosier Tom" took the lead. Captain McGeorge and some
friends rode inside the ring to call a few words of encouragement to the
rider as he passed. As McGeorge spoke, he was kicked in the side by the
horse of the man next to him. He fell to the ground and lay unconscious for
several minutes. His horse won, but when told of it he replied, "Yes, but I
have received my death wound." He was carried home to Dayton, where he died
a few months later.
7 daughters: Nancy, Ursula, Emily, Martha, Judith, Elizabeth, Mary Allen
The McGeorges had seven daughters. In 1828 or 1832 Emily married John
Holloway, the second wedding in the township. Holloway was a partner in a
mill on Wea Creek. He was also a partner with Samuel McGeorge in several
ventures with the Indians. John died in 1844 or 1845. Emily and her family
were buried in Wea cemetery. About 1874 the graves were moved to Springvale
cemetery, and Emily was buried there when she died. Ursula married Daniel
Hart. Where they lived is not known. Ursula is buried in Wyandott cemetery.
Judith married Philip Waters. Waters is a family name from Wea township. A
man named Thomas Waters entered into a government contract with Thomas
Goldsberry and William Eaton to sell beef to the Indians through Potawatomi
chief Simion Langlois. The only description of the Indians at Wyandott is
traced to Elmer Waters, Thomas's grandson. Elizabeth married a man named
Tarkington and is buried in Wyandott cemetery. Martha married Ezra Bush.
They lived south of Dayton for a while, perhaps in the family home, and may
have operated a tavern. They later moved into Lafayette. Nancy married
Mitchel Lank. She was active in the Dayton Presbyterian church. The Lanks
lived east of Dayton for a while, then on family land, and in the McGeorge
house. They are both buried in Wyandott cemetery. Mary Allen died in 1845,
and is buried in Wyandott cemetery. Samuel Favorite and Father Carnahan
witnessed her will. Samuel and Nancy, and daughters Elizabeth, Ursula, and
Mary Allen share a large white obelisk in Wyandott cemetery (Ursula also
has a stone of her own.). The Lanks have their own stone.
Memberships
Nancy McGeorge was a charter member of the Presbyterian Church in 1834.
Daughters Judith, Nancy, and Martha joined later. Samuel stood as a
candidate for the Indiana General Assembly in 1831.
--Bibliography prepared by Susan Y. Clawson from censuses, local records,
published treaties, and Tippecanoe County, Clinton County, and Hamilton
County published biographies, and Sanford Cox's "Old Settlers." Nancy
McGeorge's maiden name seems to be on the tombstone, but I can't decipher
it. Any corrections welcomed.
Susan Y. Clawson clawsons(a)purdue.edu
Purdue Studies in Romance Literatures OFFICE (765) 494-3843
1359 Stanley Coulter Hall FAX (765) 496-1700
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1359 HOME (765) 296-3121
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