Family History Conference in Indianapolis

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold their 4th Annual Central Indiana Family History Conference on Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 9 am to 4 pm at the Indianapolis Stake Center on the south side of Indianapolis (900 E. Stop 11 Rd., Indianapolis IN). The theme of the event is "Linking Lives Long Lost," and Dr. Stephen McDonald will deliver the keynote address, "Putting The Genes Back into Genealogy." There will be multiple lecture tracks offered, including research on African-Americans, Germans, Hispanics and women, as well as land records, church records, and computer genealogy.

The conference is free. A boxed lunch will be available for $6. Registration is available on their website.

Danville's College Subject of Talk

The Plainfield Public Library in Hendricks County, Indiana will host a talk on the history of Central Normal College on July 22, 2008 at 7 pm. The talk will be given by Cindy Rutledge, who is the manager of the Indiana Room of the Danville Public Library, and will include a display of some of the college's memorabilia that the library has in its collection. Central Normal College existed in Danville from 1878 to 1946 and produced over 50,000 alumni from all over the country.

Registration is required--you may register via their website, or by calling (317) 839-6602, ext. 114.

Plainfield To Host Cemetery Research Workshop

The Plainfield Public Library in Hendricks County, Indiana will host "Cemetery Etiquette 101," a workshop by local historian Libbe Hughes, on July 31, 2008 at 7 pm. The workshop will discuss Indiana law as it applies to cemeteries, repair techniques for tombstones, how to read inscriptions on tombstones, and what to consider when exploring Hoosier graveyards.

Registration is required--you may register via their website, or by calling (317) 839-6602, ext. 114.

Lake County Marriage Index 1837-1920 Online

The Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society is working on a marriage index for 1837-1920 for Lake County, Indiana. The marriage index is online at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~innwigs/Archives/MarriageBooks-Lake.htm.

Marriage Indexing: Blurry Images & Other Tidbits

Ever get a blurry image? Here's how you handle them. If an image is blurry, look at the next image before indexing the blurry image. Chances are pretty good that the next image is a duplicate of the blurry one and will be much clearer. When that happens, go back to the blurry image, mark it as a duplicate, go to the clearer image and index it!

If the given name is William Edward, we want the whole thing -- not William E. and the field help says. And usually the name is written several times on a document. Please take the time to find the most COMPLETE name because that is the one we want you to index.

And sometimes a name may be Sarah one place on the document and maybe Sally someplace else. Which one to use? Use both! Index it as Sarah or Sally. Two versions of any name with "or" between them is not only acceptable, it is what we would like to see!

Thanks for your help on this fantastic project! You are creating an index that will last and be helpful to future generations long after all of us are gone. What better legacy to leave!

Shirley Fields

Indianapolis Probate Records Book Reprinted

The Genealogical Society of Marion County has reprinted Marion County, Indiana, Probate Records, January 1830-August 1852 by Jane E. Darlington. The hardbound book is 510 pages and is available for $47 + $3 shipping and handling (Indiana residents must add $3.50 for sales tax). An order form is available on the GSMC website.

Marriage Indexing: Roll of Honor

Our world-wide pool of indexers continue to plug away at the vast number of Indiana marriage records we are indexing in preparation for putting the digital images online for reseachers to access. Congratulations to all who are helping with this project and a special thank you to the following Roll of Honor indexers and arbitrators for their contribution.

Over 20,000 Records Indexed
Harold Martin of Melbourne, Florida
Sheryl Porter of Monmouth, Illinois
Robert E. Van Lue of Rochester, Indiana
Jane Chamberlain of Bloomfield, Indiana

Over 10,000 Records Indexed
Bea Barton of Washington, Utah
Don Sylvester of Sanford, North Carolina
Clara J. Whan of Avilla, Indiana
Teresa Taramasso of Graham, Texas
Michelle Golden of Roy, Washington
Linda Harney of Huntington, Indiana
Darlene Shuart of Monroe, Washington
Justina Cook of Nampa, Idaho
Mary Sallee of Mesa, Arizona
Carolyn Lowe of Knoxville, Tennessee
Barbara Scott of Sunnyvale, California


Over 5,000 Records Indexed
Patricia Hodges of Stacy, Minnesota
Cindy Fuller of West Lafayette, Indiana
Robert McKillip of Rock Mount, Virginia
Evelyn D. City of Clinton, Indiana
William Stevens of West Point, Utah
Walter Caplinger of Kansas City, Missouri
Mary Stewart of Muncie, Indiana
Sandra Wincek of New Berlin, Wisconsin
Ronald R. Hall of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Judy Vanaugh of Poland, Ohio
Karen Creamer of Connersville, Indiana
Martha Roll of Rockford, Illinois

Over 20,000 Records Arbitrated
Dan Elliott of Mount Vernon, Indiana
Clara J. Whan of Avilla, Indiana
Nancy Brower of Oroville, California

Over 10,000 Records Arbitrated
Bernie Cinkoske of Indianapolis, Indiana
Ronald Chard of Ocala, Florida
Justina Cook of Nampa, Idaho
Larry Munden of Houston, Texas

Over 5,000 Records Arbitrated
Lori White of Windsor, Colorado
Michelle Golden of Roy, Washington
Ann C. Richardson of Woods Cross, Utah
Robert McKillip of Rock Mount, Virginia
Jennifer Cruse of Terre Haute, Indiana

Whitesell Cemetery in Indianapolis Rededicated

As reported in July 2007, the Wright-Gentry-Whitesell Cemetery, which was on Castleton Drive on the northeast side of Indianapolis, was relocated due to the planned expansion of Interstate 69. Last fall the 33 sets of remains that were buried there were painstakingly exhumed, along with their headstones, and this spring they were reburied in the identical configuration at the Pioneer Cemetery section of Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. The move cost the state an estimated $400,000.

On June 11, 2008 a rededication ceremony was held at Crown Hill Cemetery, and over 100 people--including several descendants of the pioneers buried in the cemetery--attended. The ceremony included speeches by the commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources' preservation officer.

Query: McAvoy of Cass or La Porte counties

I am interested in these siblings:

--George McAvoy born November 1879
--Harry McAvoy born October 1883; died 1950 in Albuquerque, New Mexico
--Mary (or May) S. McAvoy born October 1885

They may have been from Logansport, Cass County, Indiana or Laporte, La Porte County, Indiana. They are in the 1900 census in Chicago, Illinois--George is the head of household and his birthplace is given as Illinois; Harry and Mary S.'s birthplaces are both given as Indiana. Their father's birthplace was listed as New York and their mother's birthplace as Wisconsin.


Thomas McAvoy
18575 E. Fieldbrook
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
thomasmcavo9985@aol.com

Query: Hamilton of Grant County

I am looking for information on J.T. Hamilton (born about 1838 in Indiana), who was sometimes called Liberty. He was married about 1873 to Almira/Elmira (born about 1846 in Indiana). They had daughter Myrtle (born December 1873 in Indiana). They also raised Liberty's niece Pearl Hamilton (born April 1889 in Indiana).

They were in the 1900, 1910 and 1920 censuses for Jefferson Township, Grant County, Indiana. I cannot locate him after the 1920 census. I would like to find out who his father was.

Jonann Hamilton
317 Gawin Dr.
Warner Robins, GA 31093
dannyhamilton1@yahoo.com

Query: Frazier/Shaw of Indiana

I am trying to locate information on James Amos Frazier, who was born about 1800 (probably in Kentucky). I found that a petition for divorce was filed in Kentucky in 1846 by his wife, Margaret (Shaw) Frazier. The petition says that they moved to Indiana for awhile, but then she moved back to Kentucky to be supported by friends and family. This divorce petition was dismissed without prejudice in 1848.

According to the petition, James and Margaret had 5 children. I know one of their children was Joel P. Frazier, who was born in 1827 in Kentucky. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Darlene Amos
612 Forbes Dr.
Shelbyville, KY 40065
Damos621@aol.com

Query: Pennington of Morgan County

I am trying to locate Kandice or Candy Pennington who lived in Martinsville, Morgan County, Indiana in 1978. She attended Indiana University in Bloomington.

Brenna (Brown) Burnette
2149 3rd St.
Santa Clara, CA 95054
bburnette@scusd.net

Query: Ridgeway of Greene County

According to his death certificate, my great-grandfather, George F. Ridgeway, was born 8 December 1873 in Worthing, Indiana (perhaps Worthington, Greene County, Indiana?). His father's name was George W. Ridgeway and his mother's name was Mary Branch. Oral tradition is that George W. and Mary were on their way home to Waverly, Pike County, Ohio after visiting relatives in Illinois when Mary went into labor in Indiana. Any information on this family would be greatly appreciated.

Karen Henchel
203 Nicklaus Ct.
Evans, GA 30809
dkhenchel@hotmail.com

Query: Dean of Marion County

I am trying to find information on my uncle Sherman Daniel Dean (nicknamed "Friendly"). He was born March 2, 1952 in Virginia and according to the Social Security Death Index, he died in June 1987 (last residence unknown). He lived in Indiana--I'm not sure of the town but I think maybe Indianapolis, Marion County. I know that he was killed in some kind of explosion while cleaning some kind of tank.


Barbara Hicks
4990 State Route 138
Hillsboro, OH 45133
barbhicks@att.net

Query: Romine of Jefferson County

I am looking for information on the Jacob Romine family that was living in Lancaster Township, Jefferson County, Indiana according to the 1830 census, and possibly the 1840 census.


Sarah Winckelman
4069 Howell Rd.
Malvern, PA 19355
nocreek@aol.com

Query: Hoff/Sonnefeld of Harrison County

I am trying to determine the birthplace of Clara Catherine Hoff, who was born 1 January 1866, possibly in Harrison County, Indiana. Her parents were Rev. Frederick Albert Hoff and Catherina Maria Sonnefeld.

Elizabeth Elshoff
8990 S. 450W
Huntingburg, IN 47542
russf@psci.net

Query: Mathews of Cass and Noble counties

I am trying to find the obituary of John William Mathews who was born November 18, 1884 in Michigan. He lived in Noble County, Indiana since at least 1920. Prior to that, he lived in Cass County, Indiana. According to the Social Security Death Index, he died in March 1967 and his last residence was Kendallville, Noble County, Indiana.

Sondra Rothe
3102 Riverlawn Dr.
Kingwood, TX 77339
ssrothe@hotmail.com

Query: Roach/Cain of Jefferson County

I am looking for information on William M. Roach (born about 1817 in Kentucky). He married Susan Cain (daughter of Jacob Cain and Ann Cain) in Jefferson County, Indiana in 1836. They were living in Carroll County in 1840 and moved to Iowa about 1849.

Larry Roach
4425 Wesley Way
El Sobrante, CA 94803
roachgirls@aol.com

Query: Debruler of Clay County

I am researching the family of William Wells Debruler of Clay County, Indiana. William was the eldest son of Jacob and Rachel Debruler of Clermont County, Ohio. William's youngest brother, Joseph Jasper Debruler, enlisted in the Union Army from Clay County in 1864 and was in the 1870 census in Clay County with his wife Mary Wekerley Debruler and three children.

I am the son of Donald Carlos DeBrular and the grandson of Elsworth DeBrular, who was Joseph's youngest son. The name was originally spelled Debruler and is spelled Debrewler in the 1870 census. The name was later spelled DeBrular.


Jerry D. Mills
2524 Glencairn Dr.
Ft. Wayne, IN 46815
jerrydmj@verizon.net

Query: Robertson of Knox County

I am looking for information on Jane Robertson, who was born in 1897 or 1898 in Scotland. She lived in Knox County, Indiana, in the 200 block of West 7th Street in Bicknell. Her husband's name may have been Alexander. I believe Alexander died in 1991, and was a resident of Bicknell Nursing Home at the time. He was buried in Bicknell Memorial Cemetery.

Brad Butrum
2422 Arleth St.
Terre Haute, IN 47802
bradandpatti2422@yahoo.com

Query: Bledsoe/Walker of Martin County

I am trying to prove that William Bledsoe (born about 1824 in Indiana; died about 1856 in Martin County, Indiana), who was married about 1842 to Louisa ?Walker?, was the father of Henry Bledsoe (or Bledsaw), who was born about 1846 and died 2 June 1917. Henry married Eliza A. Hitt on 27 September 1868 and they had a son, Charles Bledsoe (born 1871).

All the records I have found so far have been in Perry or Center townships in Marion County, Indiana. Apparently the family went to Martin County, Indiana, before 1824.

Doris Wooden
2260 Grand Cypress Dr.
Lakeland, FL 33810
doriswooden@yahoo.com

Query: Sahm of Dubois County

Looking for information on Johann Sahm (born 1782/1783 in Jugesheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; died after the 1860 census for Dubois County, Indiana). The 1860 census is the last record I have of him. He was living with his son Heinrich (born 1818 in Jugesheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; died July 1862 in Dubois County) and Heinrich's wife Magdalena (Lutz or Lotz) Sahm. The surname was actually spelled Stahm in the 1860 census.

Heinrich and Magdalena had a son, John Michael Sahm, who was born in December 1851 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He died in late May or early June 1888 in either Huntingburg or Celestine in Dubois County. I believe he is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Celestine. He was married to Klara Oestreich(er), who passed away in October 1915 at St. Anthony and is buried there. Klara's parents were Johann and Elizabeth Regina (Buechlein) Oestreich(er). Johann passed away in August 1851, he is buried at Jasper, Indiana I believe. Elizabeth remarried after the birth of Klara to a man named Hennhoefer. Elizabeth is also buried at St. Anthony Cemetery. Elizabeth's parents were Andrew Buechlein (died 5 February 1852) and Margaret (from Bavaria, died 26 November 1870) Buechlein.

I have a lot of information on the Sahm line, but I'm a bit sketchy on the Oestrichs, Buechlein, and Lutz/Lotz lines.

Michael Sahm
117 Almond Ave.
Modesto, CA 95354
msahm@aim.com

Query: Perry/Stanley of Grant County

I am looking for any information on Richard Perry. He was married to Rebecca Stanley (born around 1816, a Quaker) on September 28, 1839 and they lived just west of Fairmount in Grant County, Indiana. They had one son, Charles P. Perry, who was born in Grant County on July 8, 1842. Rebecca and son Charles moved to Grundy County, Missouri in time for the 1850 census. Nothing else is known about Richard Perry. Any information is appreciated.


Carol Perry
13500 Rangeline Rd.
Ashland, MO 65010
cperry6@hotmail.com

Query: Foley of Marion County

I am trying to find out who the parents of Dennis E. Foley were. He was born in 1857 in Ireland, emigrated to the United States between 1863-1865, and married Eva Smith. He lived in Decatur County, Indiana and Indianapolis, Marion County. Are his naturalization records available?

Dennis had several older siblings (all were born in Ireland):
1) Jeremiah Foley (1848-1900) married Anna Sullivan (born 1857 in Canada; died 1927) in Rushville, Rush County, Indiana in 1877. Jeremiah died September 8, 1900 when he was crushed by train cars from the Indiana, Decatur and Western Railway Company (I.D.W.). He was buried at the Holy Cross/St. Joe Cemetery in Indianapolis.
2) Daniel Foley married Jessie Fish
3) John Foley married Agnes Borton
4) Patrick Foley
5) Bridget Foley married John McConnel
6) Mary Foley married Michael Gorman and Thomas Hayes
7) Margaret Foley married John ?


Donna Marstrander
5527 Woodvalley Ct.
Mason, OH 45040
Donna@marstrander.com

Query: Jackson/Bruce of Greene County

I'm trying to find where my grandmother was buried. Her name was Christine Jackson and her parents were Marion and Beatrice (Bruce) Jackson. They lived in Greene County, Indiana and Marion and Beatrice died there, in Switz City. I can't find death information for either Christine or her parents. I suspect they were all buried in a family graveyard. If anyone has any information to help my search, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

Kevin Brosman
184 Hartford Terrace
Springfield, MA 01118
B12B1@aol.com

Query: Carson/Moore of Marion County

Looking for information on Harvey E. Carson (born about 1890 in Ohio) and wife Lena Moore (born about 1896 in Indiana), who were living on Graham Avenue in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana in the 1930 census. Lena's mother, Mary Weddle Moore (born 1859 in Virginia), lived in Indianapolis in the 1920 census. Where are they buried?

Calvin L. Weddle
4404 Pennsylvania Ave.
N.E. Roanoke, VA 24019
Clweddle@aol.com

Northwest Indiana Publishes Marriage Records

The Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society, which represents the genealogy interests of Lake and Porter counties, has just published a 2-volume set of marriage records that were performed by Justices of the Peace in Crown Point, Indiana during 1935-1946, which includes a period in which the city was known as a "Marriage Mill." The set consists of 1,100 pages and 42,400 names, and is indexed by both bride and groom.

For a time in Indiana law, if you went to a Justice of the Peace to be married, you didn't have to be a resident of that particular county--you just had to present your marriage license, which was issued from the county in which you lived. The significance of this publication is that the majority of the people who are included did not actually have a Lake County marriage license (and thus are not included in marriage indexes for Lake County).

The top states represented in this publication are:

1. Illinois 18,909 individuals


2. Indiana 18,061 individuals


3. Wisconsin 2,724 individuals


4. Michigan 974 individuals


5. Ohio 257 individuals


6. Iowa 157 individuals


7. New York 131 individuals


8. Minnesota 116 individuals


9. California 103 individuals


10. Missouri 99 individuals

The top city represented is Chicago, with 15,140 individuals. Milwaukee has 1,308 individuals, and 311 came from Detroit.

The days of the "Marriage Mill" came to an end when a 3-day waiting period was enacted in March 1940.

This marriage records set is library-bound. The cost is $150.00 plus $16.25 for shipping and handling. Make checks payable to Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society and send to:

NWIGS
P.O. Box 565
Griffith, IN 46319

Switzerland County Hosts Document Preservation Workshop

The Switzerland County Historical Society (210 E. Market St., Vevay IN 47043) and the Switzerland County Public Library will host "Conservator's Holiday," a hands-on demonstration of the preservation of documents, June 9 to 13, 2008. For more information, please call (812) 427-3560.

Update for Ohio County Library

The Ohio County Library in Rising Sun, Indiana has moved. The new address is:

Ohio County Public Library
503 Second St.
Rising Sun, IN 47038

Their phone number remains the same--(812) 438-2257

Elkhart Society Holds Fall Workshop

The Elkhart County Genealogical Society in Elkhart, Indiana will hold its Fall Workshop on Saturday, November 1, 2008 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Rush Memorial Center (304 W. Vistula St./IN 120, Bristol IN). Curt Witcher, manager of the Historical Genealogy Department at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, will be the featured speaker. Lecture topics will be: passenger & immigration records; church records; using periodicals in genealogy research, and effectively using the ACPL's Genealogy Center. There will also be genealogy vendors.

Registration is $25 for ECGS members, $30 for non-members if received by October 22; otherwise $35 at the door. Payment must be received by October 22 in order to ensure you receive a syllabus. Make checks payable to Elkhart County Genealogical Society and send, along with your name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address to: Elkhart County Genealogical Society, Attn: Pat Johnson, P.O. Box 1031, Elkhart IN 46515-1031. If you have any questions, please contact Pat Johnson--e-mail docpat@maplenet.net; phone (574) 266-2036.

Illinois to Host Polish Society Conference

The Polish Genealogical Society of America will hold their 30th annual conference September 19-20, 2008 at the Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The theme will be "Honoring Our Ancestors" and featured speakers will include James Pula, Ph.D. of Purdue University, Matthew Rutherford of the Newberry Library and Beau Sharbrough of Footnote.com.

Computer Training Workshop in Hamilton County

The Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville, Indiana will host a hands-on workshop on searching the HeritageQuest Online and NewEnglandAncestors.org genealogy databases on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The workshop will take place in their computer training room, and participants are asked to bring information about their ancestors to be searched.

Registration for the workshop is required--you may register through their website, or by contacting their Outreach Department at (317) 776-6939.

Ancestry.com Workshop in Noblesville

The Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville, Indiana will host a hands-on workshop on using Ancestry.com's Library Edition on Saturday, June 28, 2008 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The workshop will take place in their computer training room, and participants are asked to bring information about their ancestors to be searched. Registration for the workshop is required--you may register through their website, or by contacting their Outreach Department at (317) 776-6939.

IGS Civil War Society Adds New Members

The Society of Civil War Families of Indiana inducted its newest members at a ceremony during the Indiana Genealogical Society's annual conference in Evansville:

• Annette Harper of Columbus, Ohio--ancestor Lorenzo Judkins of Jefferson County, who served in the 82nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry and the 22nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry; ancestor James E. English of Switzerland County, who served in the 3rd Indiana Volunteer Cavalry and the 146th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
• Allyne K. Pittle of Yorktown Heights, New York--ancestor Jabez Farrington of Howard County, who served in the 118th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, the 137th Indiana Volunteer Infantry and the 40th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
• Sharon K. Ogzewalla of Arvada, Colorado--ancestor Samuel B. Huddleston of Wayne County, who served in the 84th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
• Mark S. Orr of New Castle, Indiana--ancestor Abraham Runyan of Henry County, who served in the 84th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
• James W. Reinhart of Las Vegas, Nevada--ancestor Salmon H. Wright of Washington and Jackson counties, who served in the 25th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
• Keith E. Rott of Fishers, Indiana--ancestor John L. White of Marion County, who served in the 11th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
• Kathy Coppola of Kokomo, Indiana--ancestor Adam T. Record of Howard County, who served in the 43rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry
• Larry M. Jones, M.D., of McMurray, Pennsylvania--ancestor John Jones of Grant County, who served in the 89th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
• Gene D. Sweeney of Kokomo, Indiana--ancestor Francis M. Speece of Carroll County, who served in the 46th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
• Judith M. Tonges of Batesville, Indiana--ancestor Frederick Wachsmann of Franklin County, who served in the 83rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry
• Becky Higgins of Streamwood, Illinois--ancestor Burwell S. Blue of Wayne County, who served in the 52nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

Applications for 2008 are now being accepted. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2008, with the new members to be inducted during a ceremony at the IGS annual conference on April 25, 2009 in Indianapolis. Application forms are available on the IGS website (http://www.indgensoc.org/SCWFI.html)