.... [in 1823] I
looked down from the second story of Mr. Conner's dwelling, on a
field of three hundred acres of waving corn, some two feet high,
with fifteen or twenty merry plowmen scattered over it at work.
Nathaniel Bolton, 1853
| William Conner and his brother John came to Indiana in the winter of 1801-1802 as agents for a Canadian fur trader. Though primarily seeking the bounty of the land, their background also made them appreciate the possibilities of the land itself. Showing a keen eye, William settled upon the horseshoe "prairie" that now bears his name. In doing so he took possession of one of the most ideal spots for agriculture in central Indiana. In an era when farmers might be lucky to clear 2-6 acres of land a year for planting, William Conner eagerly grasped the over 200 acres of treeless land. |
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 Recreated Still House |
By 1823, Conner's "farm" was well established. He had more than 200 acres of land under fence and was growing corn, rye and oats with the aid of hired hands. The crops supplied his own needs and left much surplus for sale or trade. As corn was easiest to sell and transport in its liquid state, Conner, like many other early Hoosiers, distilled it into its potable form. To facilitate the process he had a horse-powered grindstone and a still. |
| Conner moved to Noblesville, a town he had co-founded, in 1837. The "farm" remained in family hands until 1871. After the Conners' departure subsequent owners and tenants continued to plant and harvest the rich fields. However, by the time Eli Lilly purchased the house and land in 1934, they had fallen into decline. |  |
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