McCarty, Nicholas

Born:  September 26, 1795
Death:  May 17, 1854
Buried:  Crown Hill Cemetery 

 

    After writing the name above, I have to lay down my pen to think of language befitting to give the reader an idea of the many good qualities and characteristics of this man. 
    He was many years a prominent and popular merchant of this place, and during that time did the largest business of any person in it.  He became a citizen in the fall of 1823, and early manifested a deep interest in the place and all its citizens, especially the young men, many of whom he assisted and started in business. 
    Mr. McCarty was never known to oppose any person he thought was honest and intended to act so with him, and during his whole career (thirty-one years) he enjoyed the confidence of the people as large and the respect of his neighbors as much as any person of the county.
    He was my friendly adviser from my boyhood to the time of his death, and never did I have cause of regret, unless it was when I did not heed it; and often do I think of his friendly salutation when we met, "how do you do, Johnny?"  Although I never had occasion to ask pecuniary aid of him, I had that which was more valuable, his friendship and advice.  He was a plain, unassuming, practical, common-sense man, with as warm and generous a heart as ever beat in the bosom of a human being; no duplicity or deceit was found there.
    In 1852 he was the Whig candidate for Governor of the State, and the last one that party ever ran.  Although beaten by Joseph A. Wright, he made a very energetic and vigorous canvass, and kept his honorable opponent quite busy to answer some of his plain, off-hand and sensible speeches in defense of his party and its measures.  His efforts had been almost uniformly successful, but in this he was doomed to defeat.
    Mr. McCarty died in May, 1854, beloved by his family, respected by his neighbors, and well satisfied with the fortunes he had experienced in life.  He left a son bearing his name, who is still a resident of this city, and two or three daughters, one of whom is the wife of the Rev. Doctor Day, pastor of the First Baptist Church, and another the wife of John C. S. Harrison, a prominent banker.
    Reader, when you pass the grave of Nicholas McCarty, you can truthfully say, there lies "an honest man, the noblest work of God."
            "Like dews of morning, he was given
            To shine on earth, then rise to heaven."

Nowland, John H. B., "Early Reminiscences of Indianapolis, with Short Biographical Sketches of Its Early Citizens, and of a Few of the Prominent Business Men of the Present Day," 1870, pp. 158-159.