New Databases: Delaware, LaGrange, and LaPorte Counties - and More!

The newest set of databases on the IGS website includes college graduates, common school students, and Civil War soldiers. Check out these new additions to the IGS website.

Note: All of these are members-only databases. IGS members can log in to use them. Not a member? Join today and get access to these and more than 2,000 other databases, plus other member benefits.

College Records:

- Graduates of Franklin College, Franklin (1942)
A list of graduates, as published in the school's August 1943 bulletin. This database includes the student's name, hometown, and the degree they received.
- Graduates of University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame (1939)
A list of graduates, as published in the school's June 4, 1939 commencement program. This database includes the student's name, hometown, and the degree they received.
- Graduates of Tri-State College, Angola (1939)
A list of graduates, as published in a June 1939 newspaper article. This database contains the student's name, hometown, and the degree they received. NOTE: Tri-State College later changed its name to Trine University.

Delaware County:

- Students of Beech Grove School, Delaware County, Indiana (1899)
A list of students in grades 1 through 8, as published in a school souvenir for the 1898-1899 school year. NOTE: Beech Grove School was District No. 4 in Harrison Township.

LaGrange County:

The following are handwritten lists of men who joined various Indiana Legion companies in LaGrange County. The Indiana Legion was the state militia that was created during the Civil War to protect Indiana's borders. Membership was open to every able-bodied male in the state who was not already serving in the military.
- Roster of LaGrange County Sharpshooters, Indiana Legion, LaGrange County, Indiana (1861)
- Roster of Volunteers, Indiana Legion, LaGrange County, Indiana (1861-1863)
- Roster of Wolcottville Guards, Indiana Legion, LaGrange County, Indiana (1863)

LaPorte County:

The following are handwritten lists of men who joined various Indiana Legion companies in LaPorte County. The Indiana Legion was the state militia that was created during the Civil War to protect Indiana's borders. Membership was open to every able-bodied male in the state who was not already serving in the military.
- Roster of LaPorte Cavalry Company, Indiana Legion, LaPorte County, Indiana (1861-1863)
- Roster of Union Guards, Indiana Legion, LaPorte County, Indiana (1863)
- Roster of Westville Volunteers, Indiana Legion, LaPorte County, Indiana (1861-1863) 

IGS Names 3 New County Genealogists and Legislative Chair

The Indiana Genealogical Society is pleased to announce the appointment of three new Indiana County Genealogists and a new chair for the Legislative Committee. Indiana County Genealogists (ICGs) act as a liaison between the IGS District Director representing that area and the local societies and individuals in that county. The Legislative Chair works to monitor legislation in Indiana that can impact the genealogical community.

Steve Smith, Hendricks County ICG
Steve Smith is currently working at the Danville Public Library in the Genealogy Department helping patrons with their family history in Hendricks County. He has worked with the Hendricks County Heritage Project contained on the Indiana Memory website. Steve is not only a member of several genealogical and historical societies, he also belongs to the  Association of Professional Genealogists.

Margaret "Peggy" Biltz, Kosciusko County ICG
Peggy Biltz is a volunteer with the Kosciusko Historical Society. She has been doing research for over 30 years, and helping others for more than four years.

Teresa K. Price, Boone County ICG
Tersea  is currently the President of the  Boone County Genealogical Society, she has a enormous amount of knowledge of the records in the Boone County recorder's office. Teresa has been doing research for over 40 years. 

Michael Maben, Legislative Chair
Michael Maben is Immediate Past President of the Indiana Genealogical Society. He is an Associate Librarian and Lecturer in Law at the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University.

Contact information for all of the current ICGs and information about the ICG program can be found on the IGS website.

Query: William J. Davis, Hancock County

            I am looking for my great-great grandfather William J. Davis’ family.  I have William J being born in 1820 in Hancock County.  But Hancock was formed from Madison in 1828, and Madison was formed in 1823.  My question to you is-what county should I be looking at in 1820 for census records for the Davis family?  I really need a history lesson!  Thank you for any nudge you can give me.  Susan Larsen

Susan Larsen

1110 Belgrade Court

Plattsmouth, NE  68048

kfok@outlook.com

Query: Frederick Kysar/Kizer, Jennings-Bartholomew Counties

            Searching for records to prove "family connection" (parent/child relationship) between Frederick Keiser/Kiser/Kizer/Kyser/Kysar (b. 1761, Berks, PA; d. aft. Jan. 20, 1841, Jennings, IN; bur. - Kysar Family Cem.) & wife, Meriba/Mariba (Cornwall/Cornell; b. abt. 1766, KY?; d. May, 1841, Jennings, IN) and their 10 children: Solomon, William, John, Thomas Russell, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Samuel (my line), Jacob, Frederick Jr., & Sarah. (family lived in Nelson, Jefferson, Bullitt, Henry, Fayette - KY; & Jennings, Bartholomew - IN)

            Contact - khvc.genealogy@hotmail.com 

- probate/will/intestate records for Frederick Kysar?

- church records - membership, births, deaths?

- death date for Frederick Kysar; & coroner's records, doctor's records, death notice/funeral             notice/obituary- newspaper clippings?

- old family bible records?

- last known records: 1840 US Census (Frederick Kyser, Jennings Co, IN); land deed- dated Jan. 20, 1841; NOT listed in 1850 census, so assume he died between Jan. 20, 1841 & before 1850 census.         

--------------------------------------------

Kysar, Kyser, Keiser, Kizer, Kiser, Keyser, Kayser, etc.

Solomon (wife- Sarah/Sally Stucker)

William (wife - Sarah/Sally/Polly Hopkins)

John (unknown if marr.; may have died as young adult)

Thomas Russell (2 wives: Rebecca Hopkins & Hannah Hall)

Elizabeth (was kidnapped abt. age of 3 by Indians, maybe in/near Henry Co, KY; marr. a Native Amer. Indian)

Phoebe/Phebe (husb.- William H. Hopkins)

Samuel (wife- Rebecca Arbuckle)

Jacob (wife- Mary/Polly Hendrix)

Frederick Jr. (wife - Jane Cobb; her 2nd husb. - Stephen Patch)

Sarah (never married)

Eileen Cox

3212 SW Atwood Ave.

Topeka, KS  66614

ehvc.pc@hotmail.com

Query: Peter Blackford Lennen, Hamilton County

            I have been attempting to trace my Lennen Family lineage. I have managed to trace the following Lennen Family Line to Peter Blackford Lennen and his wife Mary Ann (Ford) Lennen.

            Peter was born around 1821. Some indications are that he was born in Maryland, USA. Other sources indicate Indiana as his birthplace. Mary was also born around 1821. Some sources indicate her birthplace as Maryland as well. They were married in Hamilton County, IN, around 29 March 1842.

            Peter died in service (Union Army) during the Civil War, on 10 February 1863, in Grand Junction, Tennessee. Mary died in March 1897, in Hamilton County, IN. Peter was buried in Corinth National Cemetery, Alcorn, MS. Mary was buried in the Woodward-Gwynn Cemetery, Hamilton County, IN. They had seven children: Benjamin (1843), Sarah (1844), Ann (1848), Martha (1851), Mary (1852), Peter B. (1855), James Madison (1859).

            Any information welcome. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Troy Lennen

6590 Dublin Circle

Colorado Springs, CO 80918

tlennen1@gmail.com

Query: Mary Eugenia Graves, Indiana (Modern)

             Mary Eugenia Graves was born 1951/1952, daughter of James Graves. She married ? and had a daughter Joann Tara ? b. Dec 2 1971. Who was Mary Eugenia Graves husband? Indiana county unknown. Thanks.

Jerry Frazier

1161 Debbie Hill Rd

Cotati, CA 94931

j.j.frazier@sonic.net

Focus On: Owen County

If you are in the Owen County area this month, this looks like an interesting session.

[Thanks to Randi Richardson for this item.]

New Databases: 11 Counties, Indiana University, Revolutionary War Vets and More

The latest set of databases on the IGS website includes materials for 11 counties across the states, four colleges, Revolutionary War veterans, and the Rebekah Assembly. Let's take a look:

Free Databases

Union County
- Students of Short High School, Liberty, Union County, Indiana (1938)
- Teachers of Short High School, Liberty, Union County, Indiana (1938)

Members-Only Databases

(IGS members can use these databases after they log in. If you're not a member yet, join today and have access to these and more than 2,000 other databases!)

College Records
- Evansville College, Evansville - Graduates (1939)
- Indiana University, Bloomington - Graduates (1881-1884)
- Valparaiso University, Valparaiso - Graduates (1953)
- Wabash College, Crawfordsville - Directories of Students and Faculty (1948)

County Records
- Allen County - Huntertown High School Teachers (1941)
- Benton County - Marriage Book Index (1841-1858)
- Clinton County - Kirklin Schools Students (1928) and Teachers (1928)
- Decatur County - Phone Directories for Clarksburg and New Point (1945)
- Johnson County - Union township High School Graduates (1888-1940)
- Marshall County - Liggett School Students (1904) (Note: this was in Center Township)
- Montgomery County - Crawfordsville High School Students (1943)
- Porter County - Valparaiso High School Students (1907)
- Switzerland County - Phone Directories for Vevay and Patriot (1955)
- Washington County - Salem High School Students and Teachers  (1932)

Military Records
- Revolutionary War - Indiana Veterans Denied Pensions (1840)

Statewide Records
- Fraternal Organizations - Rebekah Assembly Members in Indiana (1945)

New Free Databases: Jasper, Lawrence, Morgan, and Washington Counties

Thanks to the partners in the Indiana Genealogy Digitization Project, there are six new free databases on the Indiana Genealogical Society website. Here they are:

Jasper County

The following were contributed by the General Van Rensselaer Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution:

• Graduates of Rensselaer High School, Jasper County, Indiana (1961)
• Graduates of Rensselaer High School, Jasper County, Indiana (1964)

Lawrence County

The following was contributed by the Genealogical Society of Marion County:

• Genealogy of the Root Family, Lawrence County, Indiana (1843-1960)

Morgan County

The following were contributed by the Ten O'Clock Line Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution:

• Graduates of Common Schools in Morgan County, Indiana (1913)
• Graduates of Common Schools in Morgan County, Indiana (1914)

Washington County

The following was contributed by the Genealogical Society of Marion County:

• Genealogy of the Hattabaugh Family, Washington County, Indiana (1793-1937)

The Indiana Genealogy Digitization Project is sponsored by IGS and awards a digitization kit for $500 to qualified Indiana non-profit groups. If your organization has genealogical materials that need to be digitized, please visit the IGS website for more details.