Pyrmont in Carroll County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Pyrmont
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1812 Hopkins’ Expedition
Photographed by Christopher Light, May 29, 2007
1. Pyrmont Marker (south facing side)
Pyrmont. John Wagner built a dam, race and saw mill about a mile South in 1833 and added a grist mill. He sold to John Fisher who sold to John Fetterhoff who built a large frame mill. Joel Wagoner, James Allen, Elias Morkert, J. J. Cripe, Wm. Gardner, Bert Smoker were later operators. It burned December 7, 1929. Fetterhoff’s Mill Post Office established 1851, was changed to Pyrmont in 1866.
1812 Hopkins’ Expedition. On November 22nd 60 mounted scouts were ambushed and 18 killed about a mile west. This skirmish was called Spurs Defeat. Benoit Bezallion was captured and died at the stake that night in large Indian camp about a mile south. The next day a larger force under Capt. Zachary Taylor burned the empty camp in the big bend of Wildcat Creek North of the church. The army returned to Vincennes.
Erected 1977 by Carroll County Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #12 Zachary Taylor series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1878.
Location. 40° 28.049′ N, 86° 40.801′
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Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana and specifically in Central Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lancaster Covered Bridge (approx. 3.3 miles away); Claude R. Wickard (approx. 6.4 miles away); Prophet’s Town (approx. 7.9 miles away); Paper Mill Complex (approx. 8 miles away); Margaret Fry (approx. 8 miles away); Wabash and Erie Canal (approx. 8 miles away); Wabash And Erie Canal (approx. 8 miles away); Commerce & Culture (approx. 8 miles away).
Additional commentary.
1.
The sign verbiage is not completely accurate regarding the mill. There were two mill locations. The first mill was built by John Wagoner (my ancestor), circa 1830. However, the first mill was not destroyed by fire and is not where the stone foundation exists today. The first mill was located about a ¼ mile north of the second mill location on property I presently own. All evidence of the first mill location was apparently removed when the 1913 flood changed the path of the Wildcat Creek to where the first mill’s race way was located. The second mill was destroyed by fire in 1929 a few years after my grandfather operated it.
Photographed by Christopher Light, May 29, 2007
2. 1812 Hopkins’ Expedition Marker (north facing side)
Photographed by Christopher Light, May 29, 2007
3. Marker location in Pyrmont
Photographed by Al Wolf, May 22, 2011
4. Up-Date Photo 2011 - - Looking North
Photographed by Al Wolf, May 22, 2011
5. Up-Date Photo 2011 - - Looking South / West
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 4,754 times since then and 74 times this year. Last updated on December 28, 2025, by Glen Miller of Delphi, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. 4, 5. submitted on June 17, 2011, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
