Shipshewana in Lagrange County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Shipshewana
Chief Shipshewana
(Shup-she-wah-no)
Photographed By Joel S., June 29, 2016
1. Shipshewana Marker
| Abraham Summey 1827 - 1900 Summey Town |
Hezekiah Davis 1825 - 1891 Davis Town |
As the population grew, he decided that a town was needed. Knowing that transportation was critical to progress, he paid $10,000 to bring a railroad to "Davistown". He then built two large brick buildings on opposite corners of Main and Morton streets, facing the depot. Businesses were drawn to the area and Davistown became the center supplying the needs of the pioneering families.
Abraham Summey came to the area in 1851. In 1866 he owned over 500 acres on the West of what is now St. Rd. #5 in Shipshewana. As "Davistown" was developing, he developed "Summeytown" on his property. The rival developments generated animosity and suspected vandalism on both sides. This continued for several years.
In spite of the bitter rivalry between these two prominent families, Eugene Davis and Alice Summey fell in love and were married. With time, the tensions between the two factions eased. In Jan., 1889 "Davistown" was platted as Shipshewana (named by Hezekiah's wife, Sarah Reynolds Davis, honoring a Potawatomi Indian Chief who had befriended the early settlers). In the fall of that same year "Summeytown" became the "First Summey Addition to Shipshewana". Gradually several "Davis Additions", "Summey Additions" and others were made, growing into Shipshewana as it is today.
Doris Davis
this page online
Erected 2000 by Town of Shipshewana/Davis and Summey Descendents.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1889.
Location. 41° 40.683′ N, 85° 34.691′ W. Marker is in Shipshewana, Indiana, in Lagrange County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Morton Street, on the left when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shipshewana IN 46565, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Chief Shipshewana Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Middlebury World War II Roll of Honor (approx. 6.6 miles away); Dan West (approx. 6.7 miles away); Krider Nurseries World's Fair Garden (approx. 6.8 miles away); Vernon H. Krider (approx. 6.8 miles away); Krider Nurseries (approx. 6.8 miles away); Samuel Porter Williams (approx. 8.6 miles away); LaGrange County Spanish American War Memorial (approx. 8.6 miles away).
Photographed By Joel S., June 29, 2016
2. Shipshewana Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 502 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 1, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
