Deida Young McCarty (1796-1848)
(Mrs. Benjamin McCarty)

A few more names, for this is a grand list, including the names of many who were among the excellent of the earth. Mrs. McCarty, wife of Judge Benjamin McCarty, the mother of six sons and two daughters, was not only an early settler in Lake county, but in Porter and La Porte, having a home in the latter county in 1832, 1833, and 1834. She was not young when coming into Lake county, some of her sons were young men, her daughters were young women, intelligent and cultivated all, and at Creston in a little private cemetery her dust reposes.

Deida McCarty


Written by Ethel A. Vinnedge, Creston, Indiana Deida Walker* McCarty, wife of the Hon. Judge Benjamin McCarty, was born in 1796.

She and her husband were early settlers in LaPorte County, where he was the county's first sheriff in 1832. Later, he was Probate Judge. They moved to Porter County in 1836, where they took a claim in the central part of the county. Here Benjamin located Valparaiso, the county seat of Porter County.

Both Deida and her husband were well educated and leaders in whatever community they lived. They were used to living well and were always well dressed.

They had two daughters, Hannah and Candace, and six sons: Enock Smiley, William Pleasant, Franklin, Fayette Asbury, Morgan, and Jonathan.

When the family moved to Lake County in 1839, the older children were young men and women, more cultivated and better educated than many, quite polished and dignified, the result of the excellent home training by their mother, Deida, and their father, Benjamin, who never spared any expense which meant training to their children.

The older boys brought the finest of saddle horses to Lake County, each outfitted with expensive saddles. The boys had the best of clothes, manners, and culture. The McCarty family was an asset to Lake County.

After buying the Dr. Calvin Lilley Tavern at the north end of Cedar Lake in 1839, the family successfully ran this inn for several years. Deida had plenty of help with her children to make this inn a popular one.

The McCarty family took part in all of the pioneer's social life. Especially, they enjoyed horseback riding, racing, boating, fishing, skating, bob-sled riding, socials and parties. They attended the Cedar Lake Baptist Church. In a few years, the McCartys sold the tavern and bought a farm one half mile south of Creston. Judge Benjamin McCarty was unsuccessful in having the county seat located at West Point, which he named the town he had laid out at the north eastern side of Cedar Lake; so as he was a quick tempered Irishman, he wanted to leave the Lake at once.

Deida continued to make their home life a pleasant one, her quiet even temper helping to balance the Judge's fiery, quick temper.

Two of her sons became school teachers in Lake County. William Pleasant married Sarah, daughter of Rev. G. Taylor of Pleasant Grove. Enock Smiley married a girl from White Post. Fayette traveled all over the west and south after his fiancee was killed by the Indians. Candace married George Belshaw and moved to Oregon. Hannah married Israel Taylor, son of Adonijah Taylor. Franklin married Catherine, daughter of Esther Ann and Hiram Scritchfield. Their descendants still live in Lake County. Franklin was killed in Nashville in 1864, a member of the 12th Cavalry, Co. G in the Civil War.

On March 8*, 1848, Deida McCarty died and was buried in the McCarty cemetery, located on their farm, along the road a few rods west of the house.

Judge Benjamin McCarty and the rest of his family, except Franklin, went to Oregon to live.

References:

The late Alexander Scritchfield of Creston
Miss Ruby McCarty of Crown Point
Obadiah G. Vinnedge of Creston
Lake County Histories by T.H. Ball

NOTES

1. This article indicates that Deida McCarty's maiden name was "Walker," but other sources list it as "Young."
2. This article lists her death date as Mar. 8, 1848, but the McCarty Cemetery section of the Cedar Creek Townships Cemeteries book at the Lowell Public Library lists it as Mar. 28, 1848.