CONNERSVILLE, IN — As the country builds momentum toward the upcoming America 250 Anniversary Celebration, Fayette County Historian Donna Schroeder is making sure local residents know exactly how deep our community’s roots run in the story of American independence.
Working hand-in-hand with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Fayette County Historian Schroeder has played a role in researching, tracking down, and uncovering the names of early patriots who eventually made their way to East-Central Indiana.
Schroeder shared a historical look back at a massive milestone for the country, pointing out that on this very day, June 28, 1776, the “Committee of Five” formally presented the first draft of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress. The group tasked with the project Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston spent days reviewing and refining Jefferson’s initial text before handing it over. Congress then spent the next several days debating and editing the document before its historic adoption on the Fourth of July.
But the history didn’t stay out East. Schroeder noted that decades after those monumental debates in Philadelphia, the actual patriots who took up arms to secure that freedom eventually migrated west, with dozens settling right here in our own backyard.
Thanks to the dedicated preservation and research efforts of Schroeder and local DAR members to uncover these forgotten names, residents can connect directly with that legacy. Schroeder provided a comprehensive archival roster detailing the final resting places of these Revolutionary War veterans, categorized by local townships:
- Columbia Twp.: Philoman Conner, Thomas Halstead, John Garrison, Jonathan Gilliam, William Jackson, Sr., Lemuel Perin, James Stevens, and Robert Winchel.
- Connersville Twp.: James Justice, Sr., John McCormick, Phineas McCrea, Benajah Roots, Lewis Sofield, Richard Thomas, and Samuel Vance.
- Fairview Twp.: Jacob Smith and Richard Nash.
- Harrison Twp.: William Dickey, William Frazee, Jacob H. Goodlander, and Adonijah Morgan.
- Jackson Twp.: John Bird (Byrd), James Hamer, and John Salyer.
- Jennings Twp.: Hugh Bell, Samuel Foster, John Huff, Gabriel Hutchin(g)s, Amos Milner, Harrod Newland, and Jesse Pigman.
- Orange Twp.: Robert Gray, Othniel Johnson, James Pierce/Pearce, and Samuel Seward.
- Posey Twp.: Samuel Cole, Benjamin Ellis, Nicholas Kemmer, and Philip Kilander.
- Waterloo Twp.: Jonathan Davis, Ebenezer Heaton, Henry Ridgeley, and Alexander Sleeth.
Through the ongoing historical research by Schroeder and local advocates, Fayette County can head into the nation’s landmark 250th anniversary with a clear picture of the local pioneers who helped shape the fabric of the country.
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