Rochester

The county seat of Fulton County, Rochester is a small rural town in north-central Indiana. Its history includes many famous people. Despite the mistaken trivia game answer, Elmo Lincoln, the first Tarzan in 1918, was born in Rochester, Indiana, not New York. And John Chamberlain, famous modern sculptor, was born here too. Clyde Beatty, wild animal trainer extraordinaire, lived here while the Cole Brothers-Clyde Beatty Circus had its winter quarters in Rochester in the 1930s. For a community with such a small population, Rochester has harbored more than its share of famous people.

Shirley Willard is a graduate of Rochester High School (1955), Manchester College, and Ball State University. She taught high school English, history, Spanish, and journalism. She was president of the Fulton County Historical Society from 1971 to 2001. She founded the annual Trail of Courage living history festival in 1976, and she was awarded the Rochester Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award in 1986. Willard was instrumental in building the Fulton County Museum in 1987, the Round Barn Museum in 1990, and the living history village called Loyal between 1993 and 2000. She has authored and edited many books, newsletters, and magazines for the historical society and its four branches.