The Shook Family & the Wars of the 1800s

The 18th Century proved to be a trying one for the newly formed United States of America. In 1812, the country entered into a war that some historians refer to as the second war for Independence. The 3 year long conflict required the US to once again fight again the British and Native Americans.

John Shook Jr lived in Indiana at the beginning of the war. Although living half way across the state in Versailles, Indiana, there can be little doubt that the Shook knew about the Battle at Tippecanoe. The was thought a success at the time, but careful observers were likely worried about the building tensions that would lead to the wars eventual outbreak. By the end of the war, John was one of 3,380 men from the state of Indiana, and over 400,000 nationwide.