Whetzel Trace
After the War of 1812
Side A
After the War of 1812, the U.S.
renewed efforts to obtain Indian lands
in the Indiana Territory. In October
1818, the Miami, Potawatomi, Wea,
and Delaware nations under pressure
signed treaties with the U.S.
exchanging millions of acres of
their lands in central Indiana for
annuities and goods, opening this
forest region to settlers looking
for land to farm.Side B
In 1818, Jacob Whetzel, his son Cyrus,
and axmen cut an east-west trail
that began near Laurel on the
Whitewater River, crossed the Big
Blue River near here, and ended near
Waverly and the bluffs on White
River. Settlers from east and south
used this trace and helped establish
Shelby, Rush, Johnson,Morgan, and
Marion counties and the new capital
at Indianapolis.
Marker is on State Road 9 (Indiana Route 9) ½ mile north of County Route 425N, on the left when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
