John McCormick came from Hamilton, Ohio with his two brothers and their families. They became the first European settlers of Indianapolis. John McCormick and his brother built a log cabin on the east bank of the White River in 1820. He lived there with his wife and eight children. Mr. McCormick was one of the first three county commissioners of Marion County. It was in his home that Indianapolis was chosen as Indiana's state capital. The engineer who laid out the plans for Indianapolis stayed with Mr. McCormick to do his work. John McCormick died in 1824, but relatives of Mr. McCormick call Indiana home today.

McCormick's Rock commemorates the site of John McCormick's cabin as the first settler of Indianapolis. It is located on the east bank of the White River located in White River State Park.