Welcome to Loyal, Indiana
Living History Village
1900-1925

William Polke House - 1832 Stagecoach Inn












William Polke House KitchenBuilt in 1832, this is the oldest house in Fulton
County, and the first frame house built north of the Wabash River. It was known as
the White House and served as an inn on the stagecoach line running north and
south on the Michigan Road before the Civil War. William Polke was the first white
settler in Fulton County, coming in 1830 to survey the Michigan Road. He built a
log trading post on the Tippecanoe River and established a village there called
Chippeway. He was the county's first postmaster, placing mail in a row of
alphabetized boxes in his trading post. After he built this house in 1832, he had a
land office there. This land office was probably just a desk where his daughter
Mary kept the records and wrote letters for him. We have copies of letters dated in
1833 at Chippeway, Indiana, and signed by Mary Polke.

Mary Polke was married in the parlor of this house in 1834. This wedding was
attended by William Henry Harrison who became President in 1840. Harrison was a
close friend of Polke and they both fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe.

The house was donated by Airvac and was moved in May 1993.
Fulton County Historical Society Museums
Fulton County Historical Society
Located in North Central Indiana
Loyal, Indiana
Living History Village
1920-1925