Home Sought For Kosciusko County Family Bible

The Kosciusko County Historical Society is searching for descendants of a Kosciusko County family to give a Bible to. The Bible is of Cyrus Williams (born October 30, 1837) and wife Mary Ann Decker (born April 16, 1838). Their children that are listed are Wilbert O. Williams (born October 4, 1860); Francis Idel Williams (born September 8, 1862); Charles Alton Williams (born September 21, 1867); Eva A. Williams (born September 22, 1869). Marriages listed: Francis Williams to James D. Shipley, Wilbert Oscar Williams to Cora Belle Nelson, Eva Alberta Williams to George B. Pontius; Charles Alton Williams to Lydia Alice Shaffer.

If you are related to this family, or have any information about possible descendants, please contact the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

La Porte County Society to Meet

Have you found something old? Something new? Weather permitting, the La Porte County, Indiana Genealogical Society will meet on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 7 pm at the Swanson Center for Older Adults (910 State Street, La Porte IN) to swap favorite genealogy finds, relics, and research stories.
The society meets there on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings.

3 Counties Added to Indiana Marriage Index

FamilySearch has updated the Indiana marriage index 1811-1959 that is in progress. Entries from Hamilton County, Hendricks County and Jay County have been added. The index now includes 35 of Indiana's 92 counties.

Visit our Indiana Marriage Indexing Project page to learn more about this joint project between the Indiana Genealogical Society and FamilySearch and how you can help.

Virtual Tour Offered of Allen County Library Catalog

The Genealogy Center's at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne is offering a WinterTech series so you can learn more about technology that will benefit your family history research. Their WinterTech session on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm in the library's Meeting Room C will provide a virtual tour of The Genealogy Center's catalog. Melissa Shimkus and Aaron Smith will show you how to locate a book, where are the call numbers and how to make a list.

Registration is required - call (260) 421-1225 or e-mail Genealogy@ACPL.Info.

IGS Adds Greene County Database To Members-Only

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added another database to the Members Only area:

County Records:
--Roster of Civilian Conservation Corps, Worthington, Greene County, Indiana (1938)

NOTE: The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a New Deal employment program operating from 1933 to 1942. The United States and Indiana had numerous CCC companies.

This is a premium database, accessible only to IGS members.

The Indiana Genealogical Society now has 713 databases in the Members Only area. They cover all 92 Indiana counties and encompass 500,000+ records.

Cemetery Photos for Eastern Illinois & Western Indiana

If you have ancestors who lived in western Indiana, you might want to bookmark Michael Coan's www.vermilioncounty.info site for its tombstone photos of Vermilion County, Illinois and Champaign County, Illinois cemeteries. He also has plans to post tombstone photos from cemeteries in western Indiana, including Vermillion County and Warren County.

Allen County Society To Discuss Writing Family Book

The Wednesday, January 11, 2012 meeting of the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana will feature a program by Curt Sylvester on "Writing a Book Using Family Tree Maker and Microsoft Word." Sylvester has authored six genealogical books and is president of the society. The meeting is open to visitors as well as members and begins at 7 pm in Meeting Room A of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne. Gathering time is 6:30 pm.

Project to Create Free 1940 Census Index

Online entities Archives.com, FamilySearch.org and findmypast.com have announced a collaboration to create an index of the 1940 census when the census is released to the public in April 2012. This index will be online and free to the public. Archives.com had already announced they would be hosting the digital images of the 1940 census online for free access by the public.

This census indexing project has the support of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the National Genealogical Society, among others. The full press release about this collaboration is available here.

More information on the project - including how you can join the indexing effort - is available at http://the1940census.com.

IGS Adds Lake County and Montgomery County Databases To Members-Only

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added 2 more databases to the Members Only area:

County Records:
--Graduates of Hammond High School, Lake County, Indiana (1926)
--Graduates of Alamo High School, Montgomery County, Indiana (1883-1901)

These are premium databases, accessible only to IGS members.

The Indiana Genealogical Society now has 712 databases in the Members Only area. They cover all 92 Indiana counties and encompass 500,000+ records.

German Genealogy Society To Hold 2012 Conference in Indianapolis

German genealogy society Palatines to America will hold their national conference June 14-16, 2012 in Indianapolis. Michael John Neill and Warren Bittner, CG will be the featured speakers. Topics will include online search techniques, FamilySearch, Ancestry.com and migration chains.

IGS Adds Johnson County School Databases To Members-Only

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added 5 more databases to the Members Only area:

County Records:
--Alumni of Franklin High School, Johnson County, Indiana (1874-1900)
--Students of Alva Neal High School, Johnson County, Indiana (1929)
--Students of Franklin High School, Johnson County, Indiana (1901)
--Teachers of Alva Neal High School, Johnson County, Indiana (1929)
--Teachers of Franklin High School, Johnson County, Indiana (1901)

These are premium databases, accessible only to IGS members.

The Indiana Genealogical Society now has 710 databases in the Members Only area. They cover all 92 Indiana counties and encompass 500,000+ records.

Southern Indiana Society To Discuss Online Resources

Dan Bays, Harrison County historian, will present a program, "Local and Online Genealogy Resources: A Brief Look At What's Available," at the Saturday, January 5, 2012 meeting of the Southern Indiana Genealogical Society. Bays will cover some library and internet resources for genealogists and answer questions from attendees. Meeting time is 7 pm in the Strassweg Auditorium of the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library (180 W. Spring St., New Albany, IN). The public is invited to attend.

Query: BOWKER/BRANSTRATOR of Allen County

I am trying to find any information related to the marriage of Charles Corwin BOWKER (b. 1871; d. Oct 1929) to Lois Wealthy BRANSTRATOR (b. 1892 Fort Wayne, IN; d. 1960 Denver, CO). Their first child, Charles Corwin BOWKER, Jr. was born 26 Aug 1919 in Fort Wayne, IN; died 1970 Chicago, Cook, IL. Their marriage would be ca. 1918, most likely in Allen County. The family appears in the 1920 Federal Census living in Fort Wayne, Ward 6, but the father, Charles Corwin Bowker, is not listed as head of household. He travelled quite a bit and was doing business in South Bend. I believe that their religious affiliation is Episcopal or Lutheran.

Tom McNamara
6029 Indian Woods Lane
Collegeville, PA 19426
Mobile: 610-291-0533
email: tmcnamara00@verizon.net

LaGrange County Cemetery Vandalized

According to this news item, the Pretty Prairie Cemetery on County Road 475 E and County Road 750 N in rural Howe, LaGrange County, Indiana was recently vandalized. Damage is estimated to be several thousand dollars, with at last one tombstone being taken out to the road and smashed.

According to FindAGrave.com, Pretty Prairie Cemetery is also known as United Methodist Church Cemetery and lists over 500 burials, some dating back to the 1850's.

Query: SMITH/FARMER of Cass County

I am looking for information on Joseph W SMITH. He married Nettie FARMER (1865-1964) in 1884 in Cass County, IN and they had two confirmed children and one other possible child. The children are James Alvie Smith (1885-1947) and Harvey William Smith (1887-1937. Born n Cass County, IN SMITH's have to be the toughest names to trace. Joseph seems to have disappeared somewhere around 1890 and I have been unable to find any information about him. So my paternal tree stops at my great great grandfather. Can anybody help me find more information about Joseph W SMITH?

Don Schwarz
5110 Orange Blossom Ct.
League City, TX 77573
huffman.hippy@gmail.com

Query: TAYLOR of Indianapolis

I have been working on my family history for a few years now, and still have a huge Indiana road block. My grandfather was born in Indianapolis in 1889 or 1890. His last name was changed to that of Grandparents " TAYLOR" , in the census records it shows Gertrude TAYLOR as divorced. I cant find a marriage record for her, to see who she married. I believe she is his mother, and her parents raised him.

Does anyone have any idea how I can find who my grandfathers parents were?

Sincerely,
Sharon L Knox

Query: DYE/TAYLOR of Montgomery and Jefferson Counties

I'm trying to locate the grave site of Eleanor (DYE) TAYLOR born May 22, 1774 in Kentucky, died Oct 22, 1841 in Montgomery Co. IN. Her husband Nathaniel Francis TAYLOR died March 26, 1847 in Jefferson County, near Vevay, Indiana. They may be buried close to each other (or more likely they aren't in the same cemetery).

Any help or suggestions where to look will be appreciated.

Keith Taylor
1850 Rusty Lane
Lincoln, Nebraska 68506
keithtaylor1942@gmail.com

Query: HOILE/HOYLE

My great grandfather, Henry HOILE was born in Indiana on November 9, 1857. Both of his parents were from (West) Virginia. They were Rachel C. HOILE and Joseph HOILE. Sometimes the last name is spelled HOYLE. How can I find out which county to search for these records?

Cathy Hile Creek
86 Otis Drive
Severn, MD 21144
terry.creeki@berizon.net

December Issue of Indiana Genealogist Added To Members-Only

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added the December 2011 issue of Indiana Genealogist, the society's quarterly publication, to the IGS Records section of Members Only.

This issue includes:
--resources for researching ancestors who lived in the Indiana Territory
--a case study of a Lake County family
--a transcription of a "negro register" for Posey County from the 1850's, listing African-American residents in the area
--information on Monroe County's collection of divorce records
--another installment of coroner inquest reports for Decatur County

As in every issue, there are also brief items from every region of the state.

The quarterly is a premium database, accessible only to IGS members.

War of 1812 Veterans' Burial Sites Sought

The Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Indiana is compiling information on the burial sites of all War of 1812 veterans who were buried in Indiana. Their listing is constantly being updated and your burial information is welcome.

Graves Discovered Under Clark County Softball Field

According to this article in the Louisville Courier-Press, remains have been discovered under a softball field in Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana. The remains may be from Old Town Cemetery and could date back to the 1800's. The site has been a city park since the 1920's.

IGS Adds 9 Databases To Members-Only

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added 9 more databases to the Members Only area:

College Records:
--Faculty of Butler University, Indianapolis (1891)
--Students of Butler University, Indianapolis (1891)
[NOTE: This database does not include students from the class of 1891]

--Faculty of Huntington College, Huntington (1923)
--Students of Huntington College, Huntington (1923)

--Faculty of Purdue University, West Lafayette (1892)
--Students of Purdue University, West Lafayette (1892)

--Faculty of Wabash College, Crawfordsville (1940)
--Students of Wabash College, Crawfordsville (1940)
[NOTE: This database only includes students from the class of 1940]

Military Records:
--Veterans Who Died At Indiana State Soldiers Home, Lafayette, Indiana (1914-1915)

These are premium databases, accessible only to IGS members.

The Indiana Genealogical Society now has 705 databases in the Members Only area. They cover all 92 Indiana counties and encompass 500,000+ records.

IGS Adds More Hendricks County Probate Files

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added more digitized files of Hendricks County probate records to our website, as part of our Records Preservation Project. There are now over 450 files online. They are free to the public.

IGS Adds December 2011 Newsletter to Members-Only

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added the December 2011 issue of IGS Newsletter, the society's bi-monthly newsletter, to the IGS Records section of Members Only. This issue includes information on our 2012 conference in Fort Wayne, as well as numerous news items from around the state.

The newsletter is available for download in its regular size, as well as in a compressed version which downloads faster on slower Internet connections.

The newsletter is a premium database, accessible only to IGS members.