The Beginning – Conner’s Claim

Picture this, you are William Conner, a recently licensed trader in the wilderness that is Indiana – what do you do? You do what everyone else did, find a great place to live and settle!

Conner’s history stems from the very foundation of the United States. He was born in Ohio in 1777. Seriously, can you get more American than that? He grew up in Ohio and was forced by the British to  travel to Michigan with his family, Moravian missionaries, and the missionaries’ Delaware Indian converts. Before the age of 18, Conner was given over 4,000 acres of land by his father, who was firmly established in Michigan land ownership. Even though he had so much land, Conner was a true entrepreneur and decided to broaden his horizons into another venture – trading.

Trading with the local Native Americans led Conner and his brother to Indiana. By 1801, they became officially licensed traders. Soon after, the Conner brothers settled in Indiana near the Delaware Indians along the White River. Conner married Mekinges (Dancing Feather), the daughter of the Delaware chief, Chief Kikthawenund (Chief William Anderson – Anderson, Indiana’s name origin). They had six children, but unfortunately were controversially separated when Mekinges decided to travel west with her family since the Delaware made a treaty to move west of the Mississippi River by 1820.

Conner’s home and land have now become Conner Prairie and Hamilton County, Indiana. He was also heavily involved with the founding of Connersville, Noblesville, Alexandria and Strawtown.

Fishers is obviously more than a pioneer outpost, so visit us again to find out more about the history of this great town.