street scene in Spring Mill Village

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Spring Mill Founding Families

There are several well-known names associated with Spring Mill State Park in addition to the Bullitts, the Montgomerys, and the Hamers. The people below are some of the most well known people are families from Spring Mill’s History. Each one has a plethora of historical documents about their role in Spring Mill’s history.

Donaldson's Shawnee Cottage

Head Stone of George Donaldson is located in Glasgow Necropolis, Glasgow, Scotland. FindAGrave website.

George Donaldson - July 18, 1811 - Sept, 1898, Cause of death was apoplexy for 7 days. He married Janet Dick on 5 March 1837 in Glasgow, she died Mar 1842. George came to America from Scotland and later in life purchased some 200 acres in the area of what is now Spring Mill State Park and a 6-room home called Shawnee cottage. The cottage was a veritable museum of collections Donaldson had made but when he was gone on a trip- someone robbed and burned his home to the ground. He never recovered from the hurt of that act. There are several letters in the historical documents written by Donaldson. Donaldson protected his land from any hunting or even cutting of firewood. He returned to Scotland for a visit where he died. Though he left a will bequeathing his lands to relatives, the will was invalid since he was not a citizen, so his lands went to the state of Indiana and became part of Spring Mill State Park.

Archaeological Prospectus by Andy Evans 1987 of Shawnee Cottage site

Obituary of George Donaldson in the Glasgow Herald 9/19/1898

IU Committee Notes on making the Donaldson Farm a Park

Comments about Donaldson’s life and ways

Comments about Donaldson’s life and ways II

Letter to K.B. Turley from Donaldson on the burning of the Shawnee Cottage

The Eccentric Mr. Donaldson by EV Guernsey 1931

Spring Mill’s Original Naturalist - by Tony Hazelwood. SMSP Naturalist, Sept 9, 1980

Plaque donated to Spring Mill (for the stone for Alexander Wilson carved by Donaldson)

Donaldson vs State of Indiana - the court case which gave Donaldson’s land to the State of Indiana, April 13, 1913

The early landowner was a Scotsman - article in Times Mail by Wanda Williams, 1989

Shawnee Property for Sale - for a time, Donaldson considered selling the land he owned which is now Spring Mill SP. Sept 1883

George Donaldson, Whose Farm now is… Article from Indianapolis Star reprinted in Mitchell Tribune 6/27/1929

Letter from Donaldson to Jonathan Turley after the death of Mrs Turley Jan 12, 1893

The Sheeks Family were early settlers in Lawrence County. George and Elizabeth Sheeks’ cabin is now at Spring Mill and is one of the oldest existing cabins in the county. They raised 12 children in the cabin.

David Sheeks portrait

Granny White - a.k.a. - Sallie Sutherland Cummins White is known for her house at Spring Mill and the stories that surround her life at Spring Mill.

Granny White: Sallie Sutherland Cummins

Granny White - Sallie Sutherland Cummins White

The Granny White House now located at Spring Mill was constructed by Sally Cummins White in 1824 on the site of the Leesville Massacre. of 1813. It was a home, blockhouse, and tavern. Jennie Gillen Green and her husband donated the house to the Park in memory of William, Frank, and Inman Gillan, brothers of Mrs. Green, all of whom gave their lives in WWI. The Gillens grew up in this house after the home’s long history with Sallie White. The documents highlighted below are just a few of the many documents on the One Note site about the house and about Sallie.

Jonathan Turley (1842-1887) was born in Lawrence County, the only owner of the Mill/Village to be an Indiana native. He was to become a prominent self-made man. He owned 430 acres and a fine home, and after leasing the village distillery for a few years from Hugh Hamer he bought the Village businesses in 1881. Though the village was in decline when he purchased it he made a great effort to revive it with some success.