Terre Haute
Indiana
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Town Of Fortville
About Us
Tribes of Miami and Potawatomi Indians first inhabited the land in the upper corner of Hancock County. One of the first recorded white settlers was Francis Kincade. There were clearly defined roads throughout the area he occupied as early as 1826. He filed a plat of 24 lots in 1834. His property was known as "The Crossroads" because the GreenfieldNoblesville Pike (now S.R. 238) and Main Street (now SR 36/67) through this property.
Thomas R. Noel built and operated a general store and post office at this location for a number of years. This settlement was known as Phoebe Fort. The post office bore the name "Walpole" in honor of Thomas D. Walpole, a prominent attorney and politician in Greenfield.
Cephas Fort made the original plat survey of Fortville on his property in 1849. He anticipated the arrival of the railroad throughout the area, and hoped to see it run through his property. The "Bee Line" Railroad (later the New York Central) did exactly that in 1852. The railroad station was named Fortville in honor of Cephas Fort. The town center grew somewhat south and east of its original location as a result. Fortville was officially incorporated in 1865 with a population of 240 inhabitants. The petition was brought before the county commissioners in September. They designated September 30 as the day to hold the vote. Thirty-six people voted for, and nineteen against incorporating the town.
Tribes of Miami and Potawatomi Indians first inhabited the land in the upper corner of Hancock County. One of the first recorded white settlers was Francis Kincade. There were clearly defined roads throughout the area he occupied as early as 1826. He filed a plat of 24 lots in 1834. His property was known as "The Crossroads" because the GreenfieldNoblesville Pike (now S.R. 238) and Main Street (now SR 36/67) through this property.
Thomas R. Noel built and operated a general store and post office at this location for a number of years. This settlement was known as Phoebe Fort. The post office bore the name "Walpole" in honor of Thomas D. Walpole, a prominent attorney and politician in Greenfield.
Cephas Fort made the original plat survey of Fortville on his property in 1849. He anticipated the arrival of the railroad throughout the area, and hoped to see it run through his property. The "Bee Line" Railroad (later the New York Central) did exactly that in 1852. The railroad station was named Fortville in honor of Cephas Fort. The town center grew somewhat south and east of its original location as a result. Fortville was officially incorporated in 1865 with a population of 240 inhabitants. The petition was brought before the county commissioners in September. They designated September 30 as the day to hold the vote. Thirty-six people voted for, and nineteen against incorporating the town.