Soil Party, Fletcher was a member of the party's state committee and served as its convention chairman in 1849. In the 1850s Fletcher was a member of the Fusion party and then became active in promoting the Republican Party ticket in the 1856 state and national elections. In 1860 Fletcher supported the Republicans in state elections and Abraham Lincoln's presidential campaign. Banking and railroad interests In 1844 Fletcher helped organize the State Bank of Indiana, in which he acted as the Indianapolis branch's director from 1841 to 1844 and as branch president from 1843 to 1858. He remained active in banking for the rest of his life. In 1857 Fletcher was an organizer of the Indianapolis Branch Banking Company. In 1863 he joined his son Stoughton, his brother Stoughton, and fellow bankers Thomas H. Sharpe and Francis M. Churchman in organizing the Indianapolis National Bank, which was the second national bank in Indianapolis. Fletcher was a stockholder in the Indianapolis and Bellefontaine Railroad as well as a board member, and served briefly as its board president in 1855. Shortly before his death, Fletcher made a public appearance in support of a proposed Indianapolis-Vincennes railroad. Farming From 1839 to 1855 Calvin Fletcher owned a farm called Wood Lawn, which would later be developed as Fletcher Place. His son Stoughton divided it into lots and developed it into a residential area. The settlement had several residents who made "many contributions were made to the early development of architecture, religion, commerce, education, and social life in the city of early Indianapolis". By 1852, Fletcher's farms adjacent to Indianapolis's northeast side had increased to approximately . He also owned other farms in Marion County and in Morgan County. He shipped cattle to his brother Elijah Fletcher in Lynchburg, Virginia, which (with real estate investments as well) made both wealthy men. Community service Education Fletcher actively supported and led a variety of activities to assist his community. Although his own education was limited, he strongly supported the free public school system. In 1851 Fletcher was appointed to the Southeast District as one of three superintendents for the new Indianapolis free public schools. In 1853 the Indianapolis City Council appointed Fletcher as one of the first members of the Indianapolis Board of School Trustees. Fletcher was also appointed a trustee during the organization of Asbury College which became DePauw University, serving on the college's board from