John Templeton McCarty

John Templeton McCarty (August 28, 1828 – February 4, 1860) was one of the "Immortal Six" (founders of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta), a Mason and an unsuccessful candidate for the early California State Legislature, losing to future U.S. Supreme Court justice Stephen Field. ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", pages 85-87. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004]

Early life

John T. McCarty was born in Brookville, Indiana to a father who was a successful merchant and a mother who was a cousin of statesman John C. Calhoun. ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", pages 85-87. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004] Known as 'Mac' or 'Johnty' to his friends, ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", pages 107-109. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.] he went to public schools as a youth and entered Miami University in Oxford, Ohio at the age of seventeen. ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", pages 85-87. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004] He remained there for two years then transferred to Jefferson College where he was a sociable and very popular student. ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", pages 85-87. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004] He was elected president of the Franklin Literary Society, ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", pages 85-87. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004] a campus organization where students would write compositions and debate selected topics. Most of the founders and first members of Phi Gamma Delta were members of 'Franklin', as it was known then. ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", pages 85-87. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004]

Phi Gamma Delta

McCarty, along with the rest of the 'Immortal Six' (Samuel Beatty Wilson, James Elliott, Jr., Ellis Bailey Gregg, Daniel Webster Crofts and Naaman Fletcher), gathered in McCarty's room ('Delta Hall Number One', located within the dormitory called 'Fort Armstrong') on the night of April 22, 1848. ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", page 105. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.] Their purpose was to form a society 'founded on the principle of secrecy'. ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", page 105. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.] This they did, establishing Phi Gamma Delta by writing its constitution and preparing the groudwork for future fraternity-related activities. ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", pages 104-106. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.]

West to California

After graduation in 1848, McCarty returned to Brookville in order to study and practice law. ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", page 86. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004] But in early 1849, news of the discovery of gold in California had reached him. That spring, he organized a company of 'Forty Niners' with himself as captain and set out by wagon for the gold fields of California. ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", page 86. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004] Along the way, at the Sweetwater River in what is now the state of Wyoming, he met by chance Bolivar G. Krepps, one of only 25 initiated members of Phi Gamma Delta at the time. ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", page 86. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004] The two, who had not met each other at Jefferson College, celebrated many hours of fellowship and gave a solemn toast 'to the Delta Association and to all brothers who should live after them'. ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", pages 86. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004] Each then shook hands and they parted ways.

In California

Upon arrival in California, McCarty's band of hopeful gold seekers soon disbanded and John went to San Jose, then the seat of the first California government. ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", pages 108. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.] He became the clerk of the first legislature and in February, 1850 he moved to Marysville to practice law. ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", pages 108. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.] He was twice elected county recorder and criminal court judge. ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", pages 108. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.] In 1853, he met Mary E. Pierson and together they headed back East ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", pages 108. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.] . Travelling through the Isthmus of Panama, McCarty contracted the 'Panama Fever', which undermined his health. John and Mary married in 1854 and returned via Brookville and New Orleans to Marysville. ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", pages 108. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.] Together they had one daughter. ["The Phi Gamma Delta Story: The 'Immortal Six'", pages 86. The Purple Pilgrim: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Guide to Brotherhood. 2004] John had accumulated considerable wealth, but unfortunately he had promised to financially back another man's business dealings. The dealings fell through and, true to his word, McCarty paid the debt. ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", pages 108. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.] He resovled to recoup his losses in the Nevada mines and sold all his property to finance the trip. ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", pages 108. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.] Just before his scheduled departure, John T. McCarty was stricken ill. He later died on February 4, 1860 and was buried in the Marysville pioneer cemetery [ [http://www.phigam.org/history/Sites/founders_graves.htm#McCarty John Templeton McCarty gravesite] ] The headstone reads, in part: '... erected to his memory by the College Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta of which he was a founder and the influence which, magnified beyone his fondest hopes, lives to ennoble his memory.' ["Abridged History of the Fraternity", pages 109. The Purple Pilgrim: A Manual for the Education of the Pledges of Phi Gamma Delta. 1984.]

References

Notes

A Wiki article describing a literary society.

External links

* [http://www.phigam.org/history/ The Founders of Phi Gamma Delta]
*findagrave|19749214