What’s in a Name?

Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name: Michigan Road

Michigan Rd. Lake Michigan Built in the 1830s as one of Indiana’s first major highways, the Michigan Road was the original pioneer trail connecting central Indiana with Lake Michigan to the north and Madison to...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s In a Name: Mollenkopf Road

Although a small segment of Mollenkopf Road is in Marion County (a few blocks between Fall Creek Road and 96th Street), most of Mollenkopf Road is actually in Hamilton County. This picture is from slightly...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s In a Name: Pentecost Road

Pentecost Road William B. Pentecost, early landowner, Franklin Township Trustee William Pentecost was an early property owner in Franklin Township. He was born in in 1832 to Thomas and Elizabeth Pentecost and married Nancy Jane...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name: Moore Road

Moore Road Tolbert Robert O. Moore, early landowner Once known as the “Tolbert Moore Free Gravel Road,” Moore Road was the main route from Traders Point to Zionsville. It was name for Tolbert Moore, who likely paid for and maintained the road...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s In a Name: Mitthoef(f)er Road

Editor’s Note: As you will note in this article, the name of the road is spelled both “Mitthoeffer” and “Mitthoefer.” The correct spelling is explained in an earlier article – HI Mailbag: Mitthoeffer Road and German...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s In a Name: Oliver Avenue

Oliver Avenue John Holliday Oliver, dean Indiana Medical College & early landowner The land surrounding Oliver Ave. was once owned by Dr. John Holliday Oliver, a professor of surgery at the Indiana University School of...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s In a Name: Paddock Road

Paddock Rd. Paddock family The Paddocks were early settlers in Decatur Township and owned the land around present day Paddock Road. One of the earliest Paddocks on record was Jonathan, who was born in 1823 in Preble County, Ohio. He died in January...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name: Milhouse Road

Milhouse Rd. Location: Decatur Township Samuel Compton Milhouse, early settler The Milhouse family came for Ireland where Henry Milhouse was born in 1736 in the County Kildare. One of his sons, Robert, moved to America...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name: Neal Avenue

Neal Ave. John Stetson Neal, landowner, former steamboat captain Neal was born in 1820 in Pittsburgh and spent much of his early life there learning the machinist trade and becoming a master engine builder. He...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s In a Name: Oscar Robertson Boulevard

Oscar Robertson Blvd. Oscar Robertson, Hall of Fame Basketball Player Oscar Robertson, who grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Crispus Attucks High School, is one of the greatest high school, college, and professional basketball...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name: Senour Road

Senour Road Edward Senour, early settler of Warren Township Edward Senour was born November 25, 1799, in Boone County, Kentucky to Phillip and Mary Senour who both hailed from pre-Revolutionary War Virginia. Edward was one...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name: Sanders Street

Sanders Street Dr. John Sanders, early settler of Indianapolis John H. Sanders was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky in 1791, and lived and worked there before first moving to New Castle and then to Indianapolis...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s In a Name: Spann Avenue

Spann Avenue John S. Spann, real estate developer Spann was the owner of John S. Spann & Company, a real estate, loan, and fire insurance business established in 1859. Spann was born in Jefferson County,...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s In a Name: Schofield Avenue

Schofield Ave. Jonathan Schofield, early settler Jonathan Schofield was born around 1777 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and was married to Eleanor Brown (1784-1858) in 1806. The couple had at least ten children – Samuel, Sarah,...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name: Stop 10, Stop 11, and Stop 12 Roads

Stop 10, Stop 11, Stop 12 Roads Location: Southside Stops on the old Indianapolis Interurban In the early 1900’s, Indianapolis was home to an advanced and successful interurban train system, connecting various Indianapolis neighborhoods with...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s In a Name: Sam Jones Expressway

Sam Jones Expressway Location: Former Airport Location Sam Jones, first president of Indianapolis Urban League The road was originally known as the Indianapolis Airport Expressway. When the new midfield terminal was under construction, it became...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s In a Name: Marsh Road

Marsh Rd. Location: Pike Township Abraham Marsh and family, early landowners of Pike Township The Marsh family was among the earliest settlers of Pike Township and owned land throughout Pike Township. Two of the first...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name? – Spring Mill Road

Spring Mill Rd. Seth Bacon’s grist mill, called “Spring Mill” Once know as the Spring Mill-Williams Creek Gravel Rd., Spring Mill was named after an old mill site located roughly where present day Spring Mill...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name? – Sargent Road

Sargent Rd. Jacob Sargent family, early landowners Sargent Road was named after the Sargent family, a prominent family of landowners in and around Lawrence Township. John Sargent was born in Kentucky in 1818 and moved to...

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Posted in: What’s in a Name? What’s in a Name? – Reed Road

Reed Road Location: Eagle Creek Reed Family, early landowners The land around Reed Road was once owned by the prominent Reed family of Pike Township. One of the early members of the family was John...

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