African-American Group To Discuss Jim Crow Laws

The Indiana African American Genealogy Group will meet on Saturday, February 20 from noon to 3 pm at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis. From noon to 1 pm there will be a program, "Introduction to Ancestry.com, Familysearch.org, etc." At 1 pm IUPUI Professor Dr. Modupe Labode will present the Leon Jett Memorial Lecture, "Jim Crow in the Mile-High City." In the lecture, Dr. Labode will discuss the ways in which African Americans living in Denver, Colorado confronted segregation in the city’s schools, parks, restaurants, and other public places from the late 1880's through 1940. After the lecture, there will be another program, "U.S. Federal Censuses."

The public is welcome - IAAGG members receive free admission; non-members must pay for general admission to the museum.

Noblesville Library To Demonstrate Genealogy Websites

The Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville will hold a workshop, "Researching Your Family History Online," on Saturday, February 27 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm in the library's computer training room. Participants will learn how to search several free websites and will have time at the end to research their own ancestors.

Registration is required--to register, visit the library's website, or contact their Outreach Department--phone (317) 776-6939. For more information about the workshop, contact the library's Indiana Room--phone (317) 770-3206.

State Library to Discuss PERSI

The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis will present a program, "PERSI For Genealogists," on Thursday, February 25 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the library's Room 428. Leigh Anne Johnson, Genealogy Collection Librarian, will discuss PERSI (which stands for The Periodical Source Index) and how this index to periodical articles can help you boost your genealogy research.

Allen County Society To Meet in Fort Wayne

The Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana will meet on Wednesday, February 10 at 7 pm in Meeting Room A of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne. Cynthia Theusch will speak about the Civilian Conservation Corps, a program during the Great Depression. The public is welcome.

La Porte County Society Adds Blog

The La Porte County, Indiana Genealogical Society has started a blog at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com. Stop by for information on the group's upcoming events and other news items.

State Library to Discuss Madam C.J. Walker

The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis will present a program, "Madam C.J. Walker: The Wonderful Hair Grower," on Wednesday, February 24 from noon to 1 pm in the library's History Reference Room. In honor of Black History Month Rachael Heger, Indiana Collection Supervisor, will discuss Madam C.J. Walker's achievements in Indianapolis and how she became a millionaire.

Noblesville Library To Demonstrate Heritage Quest

The Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville will hold a class, "Using Heritage Quest Online," on Wednesday, February 24 from 9:30 am to noon in the library's computer training room. Participants will see a demonstration of how to search Heritage Quest's databases, and there will be time at the end of the class to work on their own research.

Registration is required--to register, visit the library's website, or contact their Outreach Department--phone (317) 776-6939. For more information about the workshop, contact the library's Indiana Room--phone (317) 770-3206.

Allen County Library To Host Scots-Irish Research Course

The Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne will offer a 2-day mini-course, "Irish & Scots-Irish Genealogy: Part 2," on Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20 from 9 am to 4 pm in the library's Meeting Rooms B and C. This workshop is an excellent way for researchers with some experience in using basic Irish records to learn about additional sources and techniques that lead to success. Topics that will be covered include Irish local history publications and manuscript collections. There is a fee to attend. For more information, call (260) 421-1225 or e-mail genealogy@acpl.info.

Northwest Indiana Society To Meet in Valparaiso

The Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society, which represents Lake County and Porter County, will meet on Saturday, February 20 at 10 am at the Porter County Public Library in Valparaiso. Larry Clark, who is head of the library's Genealogy Department, as well as the Porter County Historian and Indiana County Genealogist for Porter County, will speak about the 1940 census and military lineage societies. The public is invited to attend.

Marriage Indexing: Progress Report

The latest progress report for the Indiana Marriage Indexing Project shows that thanks to the concerted efforts of the volunteers, the available records for Allen County, Benton County, Boone County and Brown County have been finished. Volunteers have now started indexing the records that are available for Clark County:

--Clark County (1811-1959)--63.49% complete
--Dubois County (1811-1959)--52.89% complete
--Harrison County (1811-1959)--76.20% complete
--Marshall County (1811-1959)--55.14% complete

More volunteers are always welcome. Sign up at the FamilySearch Indexing website.

Boone County Society To Meet In Lebanon

The Boone County Genealogical Society will hold their monthly meeting this Tuesday, January 26 at 6:30 pm at the Lebanon Public Library. The public is invited to attend.

Hendricks County Probate Records Work Session

The Indiana Genealogical Society will hold a work session from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, March 20 at the Danville Public Library in Hendricks County. The work session is part of its Records Preservation Project, which is helping to preserve Hendricks County probate records.

At the work session, volunteers will unfold the probate records and put them into folders. You can stop by at any time during the day and stay for as little or as long as you want--lunch is on your own. Seating is limited—please register online through the library’s Events Calendar or by contacting the library’s Indiana Room--e-mail dplind@dpl.lib.in.us.

State Library To Discuss 2010 Census

The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis will present a program, "The 2010 Census," on Thursday, February 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the library's History Reference Room. Katharine Springer, Indiana State Data Center Coordinator, will discuss the upcoming 2010 census, including why the U.S. takes a census and what questions will be asked this year.

Mishawaka To Host Michiana Genealogy Fair

The South Bend Area Genealogical Society will hold their annual Michiana Genealogy Fair on Saturday, March 13 at the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library beginning at 9 am.

Curt Witcher of the Allen County Public Library will present a talk in the morning and a talk in the afternoon. His topics will be "Marching On - Major Military Sites on the Internet" and "Non-Population Schedules". The admission fee is $5, which will get you in for the day for both talks and the vendor area.

Vendors will include: Fun Stuff for Genealogists, Michiana History Publications, and many other local and regional societies.

Stay an hour or stay all day. Lunch is on your own or at the library from the Lion's Club ladies.

IGS Records Preservation Project Update

The Indiana Genealogical Society's Records Preservation Project continues to make progress. The project, which is preserving and digitizing Hendricks County probate records, has unfolded and organized about 20% of the records for 1824 through 1900.

IGS recently moved its work area from the Hendricks County Government Center to the Danville Town Hall. IGS thanks Danville Clerk-Treasurer Amy Roberts for the generous loan of the work area and storage space, which will allow the project to continue. Volunteers help unfold and organize the records on weekdays--if you would like to help, please contact volunteer coordinator Meredith Thompson--e-mail webmaster@indgensoc.org

Work is also continuing on the digitizing of the records. Volunteers are needed to edit the digital files using software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements--if you would like to help, please contact project coordinator Shirley Richison Fields—e-mail richison@me.com

And a big THANK YOU to our newest donors:
John Cashman—Coal City, IN
Ron Darrah—Indianapolis, IN
Barbara Krehbiel—Charleston, IL
Phyllis Parsons—Clayton, IN

Query: MITCHELL/GIBBS/BREWER of Whitley and Miami Counties

I have been trying years to find any info on two different lines of my family that I seemed to have hit a block wall. I can't find any records at all. I hope some one coud help.

Oda Ervin Mitchell is my 2 great-grandfather and his wife was Ida Mae "May" Gibbs. They were married in Whitley County, Indiana on October 2, 1914. I am trying to figure out who their parents are?

The other person I am researching is my great-grandmother on my mother's side. Her name was Viola Leone Brewer and she was born on 11 July 1913 in Peru, Miami County, Indiana. I know there was a lot of Brewers from Indiana and again I have found nothing.

Thank you very much...

John Wilkeson
10365 Lake District Lane
Orlando, FL
jswilkeson@yahoo.com

Query: SMITH/ESCUE of Lawrence County

I am looking for dates of death and obituaries for Verdis Smith and Flora Escue Smith. Both lived in Mitchell, Lawrence County, Indiana, and died in 1960.

Colleen McDowell Hannas

hannashs@verizon.net

Query: GROVES/GROVE/HODSON of Howard and Ripley Counties

Wendel Daniel Groves, Wendell D. Groves or Wendel Grove was born in Indiana we believe. He married Sarah Jane Hodson in 1847 in Ripley County, Indiana. I can't find anything about Wendel's (Wendle) parents or Sarah Jane's parents. I know Wendel and Sarah Jane were living in Russiaville, Honey Creek Township, Howard County, Indiana in 1860. Wendel is listed in multiple places in the book RUSSIAVILLE and the CIVIL WAR. They eventually resettled in Bois d'arc, Butler County, Kansas. Does anyone know how to find who their parents were?

Sue Ellen Grove Trout
paulsue@cox.net

Query: HILL/DELAPP of Wayne County

I am looking for the descendants of Lloyd K. Hill Jr. b. 1884 and his wife Alice (Eliza) Delapp b. 1885 of Centerville, Wayne County, IN. They are:

Virginia Hill b. 12/2/1905
Mildred M. Hill b. 9/25/1908
Alice Marcella Hill b. 3/16/1912
Robert Lloyd Hill b. 5/27/1915

Leslie Munns
66 Dawson Rd.
Worcester, MA 01602
Email - Lezke@aol.com

Hamilton County Society To Discuss Immigration Research

The Hamilton County Genealogical Society will meet on Wednesday, February 3 at 7 pm at the Hensel Government Building (10701 N. College Ave., Carmel IN). There will be a program, "Immigration: Our Golden Door." The meeting is free and open to the public.

The Hamilton County Genealogical Society (formerly known as the North Indianapolis Area Genealogists) meets from October through May on the first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm at the Hensel Government Building in Carmel. Meetings include programs and roundtable discussions. The meetings are free and everyone is welcome.

State Library To Discuss Indiana Court Records

The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis will present a program, "Hear Ye! Hear Ye!," on Tuesday, February 16 from 10 to 11 am in the library's History Reference Room. Daina Bohr, Genealogy Collection Librarian, will give an overview of the Indiana court records available at the library and the kinds of information they contain.

Noblesville To Host Genealogy Roundtable On Brick Walls in Research

The Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville will hold a genealogy roundtable on Tuesday, February 9 from 2:15 to 3:15 pm in the library's genealogy classroom. The roundtable will discuss the challenges of research where you've hit a brick wall, and also share the successes of when you've made a breakthrough.

This is an informal discussion group and no registration is required. For more information, contact the library's Indiana Room--phone (317) 770-3206.

Allen County Library To Discuss Scanning

The Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne will offer a program, "Basics of Scanning Photographs," on Wednesday, February 10 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm. The program will discuss some of the terminology for scanning photographs, such as what is a pixel, what is DPI, and what is the difference between TIFF and JPG. You'll learn the basics of how to organize, scan, and store family photographs digitally. You'll also get some suggestions on the equipment needed for scanning projects. To register, call (260) 421-1225, or e-mail genealogy@acpl.info.

State Library To Discuss Influenza Pandemics

The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis will present a program, "The Mother of All Pandemics: Influenza," on Thursday, February 11 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the library's History Reference Room. Kimberly Brown-Harden, Indiana Collection Librarian, will discuss State Board of Health reports and other documents that provide evidence about major flu pandemics in Indiana history, including the influenza outbreak of 1918.

IGS Adds Noble County Cemetery Databases To Members-Only

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added more cemetery databases to the County Records section of Members Only:

Noble County:
--Index of Kerr Island Burial Plot, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Quinn Burial Plot, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Salem Cemetery (Washington Township), Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Thorn (Ormas) Cemetery, Noble County, Indiana

These indexes were donated by Jim Cox and Penny L. North. They are free to the public--no membership is required in order to view them.

The Indiana Genealogical Society now has close to 225 databases in the Members Only area of its website. More databases will be added over time.

Noblesville Library To Discuss Organizing Records

The Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville will hold a class, "Organizing Your Genealogy Research and Records," on Saturday, February 6 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm in the library's north meeting room. Learn how to store original documents and photographs and how to maintain organized records.

Registration is required--to register, visit the library's website, or contact their Outreach Department--phone (317) 776-6939. For more information about the workshop, contact the library's Indiana Room--phone (317) 770-3206.

Query: BUTLER/TAYLOR of Switzerland County

I am looking for information on John Butler, I believe his middle name was 'Strange'. He was born around 1825 and probably died between 1874 and 1880 (his wife was listed as 'widowed' on the 1880 census and their son, my great-grandfather, was born in 1875 so I would think John was around at least 9 months prior to that). Below is all of the information I have that I have found about him on Ancestry. He may have belonged to a Mason's lodge, because my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were. If you can help me find any more information about his, especially his parents, I would GREATLY appreciate it!

--born 11 April 1825 in Ohio (4 source citations)
--married to Lydia Taylor 24 June 1848 Switzerland County, Indiana (age 23)
--naturalized June 1851 Switzerland County, Indiana (age 26)
--1860 census in Franklin, Clermont County, Ohio (age 35)
--1870 census in Jefferson, Switzerland County, Indiana (age 45)


Amy Doll
22944 St. Rt. 161
Irwin, OH 43029
amymdoll@gmail.com

Northwest Indiana Society To Meet In Lake County

The Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society, which represents Lake County and Porter County, will meet on Saturday, January 16 at 10 am at the Lake County Public Library in Merrillville. It will be a "Members Sharing" meeting--bring some information about your newly-discovered ancestors to share, or ask other members to help you through that brick wall. The public is welcome to attend.

Query: HILL of Hamilton County

I am researching my uncle Lennis Hill’s ancestry & have traced his family back to James M. & Sarah E. Hill who were residents of White River Township, Hamilton County, Indiana as early as 1833.  I believe they both passed away in that township and are buried there as well as other members of this family. Any information would be greatly appeciated.

Douglas Sinrud
P.O. Box 790
Burlington, WA 98233
oldblue@fidalgo.net

Query: KIRBY

I'm trying to find a newspaper clipping about Richard Kirby in an Indiana newspaper. I'm not sure which paper it appeared in, but he was charged with murder and sentenced to 60 years.  He is due to be released in 2013.

Thanks for any help you can give me.
Joan Bibeau
jbibea4@gmail.com

Query: LEMASTERS of Shelby County

I am looking for any information on the descendants of a Henry Lemasters (1821 - 1894) of Shelbyville, Shelby County, Indiana. Specifically his parents and immediate family. Anything would be a help.

Thanks
Grant Lemaster
lemasters.grant@gmail.com

IGS Adds Noble County Cemetery Databases To Members-Only

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added more cemetery databases to the County Records section of Members Only:

Noble County:
--Index of Fulk Cemetery, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Godfrey Burial Plot, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Hague Cemetery, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Metz Cemetery, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Northport Cemetery, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Rice (Brothwell) Cemetery, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Routsong Burial Plot, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Schlotterback Burial Plot, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Shobe Cemetery, Noble County, Indiana
--Index of Stewart-Greisinger Cemetery, Noble County, Indiana

These indexes were donated by Jim Cox and Penny L. North. They are free to the public--no membership is required in order to view them.

The Indiana Genealogical Society now has over 220 databases in the Members Only area of its website. More databases will be added over time.

State Library To Discuss Military Resources

The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis will present a program, "Do You Have Military Ancestors In Your Family?," on Thursday, February 4 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the library's History Reference Room. Charles Hill, Genealogy Collection Librarian, will give an overview of the military resources that aer available in the library's various collections.

Civil War Program at State Archives

The Marion County Historical Society will meet on Saturday, January 30 at 2 pm at the Indiana State Archives in Indianapolis. Stephen Towne, a co-editor of Indiana’s War: The Civil War in Documents, will give a presentation on Indiana and the Civil War. Afterward, the State Archives staff will give a behind-the-scenes tour of their conservation lab. This program is free and open to the public; however, space is limited. For more information, or to RSVP, please contact vterpening@hotmail.com.

Jay County Societies Merge

The Jay County Genealogy Society in Portland, Indiana has merged with the Jay County Historical Society (903 E. Main St., Portland IN 47371). The merged group will operate under the name of the historical society.

State Library To Discuss Family History Research For Kids

The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis will present a program, "Introducing Family History Research To Children," on Thursday, January 28 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the library's History Reference Room. Autumn Gonzalez, Genealogy Collection Librarian, will give project ideas and discuss the resources available to introduce children in a home, library or classroom setting to family history research.

IGS Adds Databases to Members-Only

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added several databases to the Members Only area of its website:

County Records
--Cass County Veterans at State Soldiers Home, Lafayette, Indiana (1906)--a listing of veterans from Cass County (as well as their wives and widows) who were residents of the Indiana State Soldiers Home in 1906, as found in an annual report about the home.
--Floyd County Veterans at State Soldiers Home, Lafayette, Indiana (1906)--a listing of veterans from Floyd County (as well as their wives and widows) who were residents of the Indiana State Soldiers Home in 1906, as found in an annual report about the home.
--Directory of Businesses in Lawrence County, Indiana (1868)--a listing of business owners in Lawrence County, as found in a railroad and shipping directory for the state.

NOTE: These databases are part of the 2 for 92 Project, where IGS will develop a minimum of two genealogical databases for each of the 92 counties in Indiana and post them to the Members Only area.

Military Records
--Roster of 1st Indiana Cavalry in the Civil War (1861-1865)--a roster of the 1st Indiana Cavalry as compiled from Indiana's Adjutant General's report. NOTE: The 1st Indiana Cavalry was also known as the 28th Indiana Infantry.

These are all premium databases, accessible only to IGS members. The Indiana Genealogical Society has now posted 210 databases to the Members Only area of its website. More databases will be added over time.