Calvin Fletcher facts for kids

Calvin Fletcher (born February 4, 1798 – died May 26, 1866) was an important American lawyer. He became a successful banker, farmer, and state senator in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1821, Fletcher moved from Vermont to Indianapolis. He built his wealth there and helped the city grow.

Beyond his businesses, Fletcher played a big part in developing schools and community projects in Indianapolis. After he passed away, one of his farms became a neighborhood. Today, Fletcher Place is a famous historic area. Fletcher also kept a detailed diary. This diary, published in nine books, shares many stories about his life and the community.

Calvin Fletcher's Early Life and Education

Calvin Fletcher was born on February 4, 1798, in Ludlow, Vermont. He was one of fifteen children. Even though his family wasn't rich, his father made sure his children got a basic education. Young Calvin went to local schools until he was sixteen. He also worked on the family farm.

In 1815, at age seventeen, Fletcher left home. He worked on farms in Windsor and Royalton. Later, he attended school in Randolph, Vermont and Westford, Massachusetts. After finishing school in 1817, Fletcher traveled south. He passed through Connecticut, New York City, and Philadelphia. He then went west to Wheeling.

Fletcher finally settled in Urbana, Ohio, in 1817. There, he taught school and studied law. He learned from James Cooley, who later became a diplomat. In 1820, Fletcher became a lawyer in Ohio.

Calvin Fletcher's Family Life

Calvin Fletcher married Sarah Hill on May 1, 1821, in Urbana, Ohio. They moved to Indianapolis that same year. When they arrived, Fletcher had very little money. But he soon became a rich lawyer, banker, and landowner.

Calvin and Sarah had eleven children together. Their children included two daughters and nine sons. Their oldest son, James Cooley Fletcher, became a minister and missionary. Sarah Hill Fletcher passed away in 1854.

One of their sons, Calvin Fletcher, Jr., married Emily Beeler Fletcher. Emily was a nurse during the American Civil War. She helped care for sick and wounded soldiers. She also helped start the Indianapolis Home for Aged Women in 1867.

In 1855, Fletcher married his second wife, Keziah Price Lister. She was a school teacher from Hallowell, Maine. After they married, Fletcher moved his family to a new home in Indianapolis.

Calvin Fletcher's Career and Public Service

Law and Government Work

Calvin Fletcher started his law career in Ohio. He then became the first lawyer to practice in Indianapolis. He worked as a prosecutor for Marion County in the early 1820s. He also worked for the Fifth Circuit Court. Fletcher later formed a law firm with other lawyers. In 1846, he left his law practice to focus on farming and banking.

In 1825, people in Marion County elected Fletcher as their state senator. He was re-elected and served until 1833. This was the only elected political job he held, besides being a prosecutor.

Fletcher was involved in different political groups. He supported the Whig party and later the Republican Party. In 1860, he supported Abraham Lincoln for president.

Banking and Railroads

In 1844, Fletcher helped create the State Bank of Indiana. He served as a director and later as president of its Indianapolis branch. He stayed active in banking for the rest of his life. In 1863, he helped start the Indianapolis National Bank. This was the second national bank in the city.

Fletcher also invested in railroads. He was a stockholder and board member for the Indianapolis and Bellefontaine Railroad. He even served as its board president for a short time.

House built in 1895 for Fletcher's grandson, Calvin I. Fletcher (III), in Indianapolis

Farming and Land Development

From 1839 to 1855, Calvin Fletcher owned a large farm called Wood Lawn. This farm later became the Fletcher Place neighborhood. His son divided the land into smaller lots for homes. Many important people lived there, helping Indianapolis grow. Fletcher owned many farms around Indianapolis, totaling about 1,400 acres. He also owned farms in other counties.

Calvin Fletcher's Community Contributions

Supporting Education

Fletcher strongly believed in public education. He helped lead many activities to support his community. In 1851, he became one of the first superintendents for the new Indianapolis free public schools. He was also appointed to the Indianapolis Board of School Trustees in 1853.

Fletcher was a trustee for Asbury College, which is now DePauw University. He also served as a trustee for the Marion County Seminary. He was president of the board for the Indiana Female College.

Helping Agriculture

Fletcher supported farming and helped organize Indiana's first agricultural fairs. He helped start the Marion County Agricultural Society. He became its treasurer and later its president. Fletcher also helped found the State Horticultural Society.

Abolition and Temperance

Calvin Fletcher was an abolitionist. This means he was against slavery. In 1829, he helped four enslaved women win their freedom in court. He also supported a plan to help Black people in Indiana move to Africa. Fletcher helped start the Indiana Total Abstinence Temperance Society. This group worked to reduce alcohol use. In 1863, he led the Freedman's Aid Commission.

Military Support during the Civil War

Fletcher and his family helped during the American Civil War. Three of his sons served in the Union army. He also supported the creation of the U.S. colored troops in Indiana. The 28th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops trained on his farm.

During the war, Fletcher helped soldiers' families. He also welcomed returning soldiers home. He bought weapons for Indiana's army at the request of Indiana Governor Oliver P. Morton. After the war, he gave money to the Freedman's Aid Society.

Public Welfare and Church Work

Fletcher helped the Indianapolis Benevolent Society, which aided the city's poor. He was also interested in helping widows and orphans.

Calvin Fletcher was a very religious man. He joined the Methodist Church in 1829. He gave money to help other churches build their buildings. He was a superintendent for Sunday Schools at Methodist churches. The Fletcher Place United Methodist Church was built where his house once stood. Fletcher also helped create Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. He was later buried there.

Preserving Indiana History

Fletcher was very interested in history. He was one of the first members of the Indiana Historical Society (IHS), founded in 1830. His personal diary was given to the IHS by his family. This diary is a very important source for understanding life in early Indiana.

Calvin Fletcher's Legacy

Calvin Fletcher passed away on May 26, 1866. He was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. His second wife, Keziah, sold their home and moved away. Several of Fletcher's children had successful careers. His son, James Cooley Fletcher, became a missionary. His son, Dr. William Baldwin Fletcher, became a state senator and organized a sanatorium.

A marble bust (a sculpture of his head and shoulders) of Calvin Fletcher is in the Indiana Statehouse. His old farm, Wood Lawn, became a neighborhood called Fletcher Place. This area is now a historic district. Fletcher Avenue, a major road in Indianapolis, is named after him.

The Indiana Historical Society published The Diary of Calvin Fletcher in nine volumes. These diaries describe daily life in Indianapolis from 1817 to 1835. They are still a key source for studying early Indiana history.