McCarty Family Letter
S1762
7 May 1853
1 folder

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Processed by: Christina Baich, March 2006

Biographical Note:

Nicholas McCarty, Sr. was born on September 26, 1795, in Moorefield, Hardy County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He settled in Indiana in 1823, where he became a successful businessman. In 1828, he married Margaret Hawkins with whom he had four children, Susanna, Nicholas, Margaret, and Frances. In addition to his business ventures, McCarty was also a public servant. He was a Canal Fund commissioner (1832-1836); Indiana State Senator (1849-1852); and Indianapolis City Councilman (1853-1854). McCarty lost bids for U.S. Representative (1847) and Governor of Indiana (1852). He died on May 17, 1854.

Nicholas McCarty, Jr. was born on February 8, 1834, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended Brown University (Providence, RI) until his father’s death required him to return to Indianapolis. He managed the family’s affairs well, growing the estate to include most of what is now the west side of Indianapolis. While McCarty was active in Republican politics throughout his life, he never held a public office. He played a significant role in the building of the first bridge at Kentucky Avenue, which connected Indianapolis with the southwestern portion of the city, as well as the building of the Belt Railroad. He never married and died on January 8, 1916.

Sources:
“Nicholas McCarty, Jr.” Citizens Historical Association. March 1934. In McCarty, Indiana Biography Clipping File. Indiana State Library.

Shepherd, Rebecca A., Charles W. Calhoun, Elizabeth Shanahan-Shoemaker, and Alan F. January, comp. A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly, Volume 1, 1816-1899. Indianapolis: The Select Committee on the Centennial History of the Indiana General Assembly, 1980.

Scope and Content Note:

The collection contains a letter from Nicholas McCarty to his son, Nicholas McCarty, Jr., while attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Item Listing:

1853 May 7 McCarty, Nicholas to Nicholas McCarty, Jr., ALS
   

Collection Information:

Size of Collection:

1 folder (1 item)

Collection Dates:

7 May 1853

Provenance:

Curtis Shake, 10 April 1968
Access: This collection is open for research.

Restrictions:

None

Reproduction Rights:

Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript Section, Indiana State Library.  Possession of a reproduction from an Indiana State Library collection does not constitute permission for use.
Language Materials are entirely in English

Alternate Formats:

None

Related Holdings:

 

Notes:

 

Photocopying Policy:

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