Person:William Casey (17)

William Casey, Sr.'s birthplace and parentage are unknown. While he married a woman of some wealth, he also was apparently wealthy in his own right. Family tradition and written records tell us that he was educated and musically talented - playing the violin.

Soon after his arrival in Indiana, he began holding public office. When his children were small and he was still living in Kentucky, he insisted upon dancing lessons for his daughters, and at least some of his sons had college educations. Apparently though not all of his daughters were educated as early census records state they couldn't write.

His land transactions in Kentucky indicate wealth - some being for $10,000. Soon after coming to Indiana, he started buying articles from the Rappites, which indicated he was a man of some wealth. His sons were allied with the Owen family in politics.

Family tradition says that he was Methodist, as was his wife, but a check of existing Methodist church records in northern Posey County fail to list him or his children. His wife Elizabeth Frazer died before the family came to Indiana. Her name appears on none of the deeds in Indiana or Kentucky.

1.   Into This Fruitful Valley by Gloria M. Cox
   1981.