About Fortville
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.
