Monday, December 27, 2010

College Students Database Updated

Entries from the 1953 school year have been added to the database Hendricks County Students Attending Indiana Colleges, which is on the Hendricks County GenWeb site. It is a listing of some of the students from Hendricks County who were either attending or graduating from various colleges in Indiana, as compiled from information sent by college officials to area newspapers. The list was comprised of the student's name, hometown and class, and sometimes included their major or the degree they were receiving.

The colleges that submitted information to the newspapers varied from year to year. Ball State University, Butler University, DePauw University, Earlham College, Indiana State University, Indiana University and Purdue University are among those who submitted information at one time or another.

The database is an ongoing project. It currently covers the period of 1944-1948 and 1953-1961.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Marriage Index Updated

Entries from Hendricks County Marriage Book Volume 32 (3 February 1970 - 14 May 1971) have been added to the database Index to Hendricks County Marriage Books, which is on the Hendricks County GenWeb site. It includes the names of the bride and groom, their date of marriage and the corresponding book and page number.

This index is in progress - so far it covers the period of 1904-1971, as well as 1824-1848.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Surname Index to Probate Order Books Updated

Entries from the surname index included at the front of Hendricks County Probate Order Book Volume 12 (12 June 1884 - 3 July 1886) have been added to the database Surname Index to Hendricks County Probate Order Books, which is on the Hendricks County GenWeb site. The surname index was compiled by the clerk at the time they were writing the entries. It includes the subject of the probate case, the type of case (estate, guardianship, etc.), and the corresponding book and page number.

It is an ongoing project - currently the surname index covers the years 1880-1886.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

NEWSPAPER TIDBIT: North Salem Boy Named For An Indian Chief (1935)

An item found in The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, June 13, 1935 - page 1, column 3:

WAS NAMED FOR INDIAN CHIEFTAIN
Centennial Committee Brings Out Zimmerman Family History

In making researches for the North Salem Centennial celebration to be held in that town July 25 to 28, many interesting stories are being brought to light. Among them is the story of Te-go-re-tan-ico Zimmerman, the nineteen year old lad who lies buried in the wayside cemetery west of North Salem, known as the Zimmerman graveyard. This Indian name was given to him in honor of an Indian chief who saved the life of John Zimmerman, the lad's father.

According to the story handed down, when John Zimmerman was a youth of sixteen, he [along] with another youth was captured by hostile Indians. They were kept for many months by the tribe and were well-treated. The boys were young daredevils who enjoyed all kinds of sports and never lost an opportunity to engage in battle with clubs, fists or any other weapons, so they furnished the Indians with much enjoyment.

Their utter disregard of danger and extreme courage aroused the admiration of the old chief, Te-fo-re-tan-ico [sic], who wished to adopt them. They refused to go into the tribe and the chief gave them their freedom at the risk of arousing the resentment of the tribe. In gratitude, Zimmerman promised to name his first male offspring for the Indian.

Later he married, left North Carolina, migrated to Indiana and secured a vast acreage. The original boundaries of his land extended from the present Frank Waters' farm south to the Mahoney hills. In rearing his family he remembered his promise and gave his son the Indian name. When the youth was nineteen he became ill and died from milk sickness, a disease quite prevalent in Indiana at that time. He was laid to rest on a hillside of his father's farm, and a simple monument bearing his epitaph marks his grave.

John Zimmerman was the great uncle of our local townsman, George Zimmerman, whose father came here to operate a distillery for his uncle. The still was located at the foot of the hill by the Zimmerman graveyard. Whiskey was sold at thirty cents a gallon and kept at the home to accommodate settlers.

The vast acreage secured by John Zimmerman was made possible by land selling as low as $1.25 per acre. One forty acre tract, now owned by Charles Clay, was sold for the consideration of one wagon and team of horses.

[NOTE: According to Plainfield library's Hendricks County cemeteries index, Taco Retanico Zimmerman (1824 - 1844) is buried at Zimmerman Cemetery, which is listed as being near County Road 675N and County Road 775W.]

Monday, December 6, 2010

College Students Database Updated

Entries from the 1948 school year have been added to the database Hendricks County Students Attending Indiana Colleges, which is on the Hendricks County GenWeb site. It is a listing of some of the students from Hendricks County who were either attending or graduating from various colleges in Indiana, as compiled from information sent by college officials to area newspapers. The list was comprised of the student's name, hometown and class, and sometimes included their major or the degree they were receiving.

The colleges that submitted information to the newspapers varied from year to year. Ball State University, Butler University, DePauw University, Earlham College, Indiana State University, Indiana University and Purdue University are among those who submitted information.

The database is an ongoing project--so far it covers the period of 1944-1948 and 1954-1961.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

NEWSPAPER TIDBIT: Couple Separated 19 Years To Divorce (1936)

An item found in The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, July 2, 1936 - page 2, column 5:

SEPARATED 19 YEARS
After being separated for nineteen years, Mrs. Margaret Miles filed suit in the local circuit court, Tuesday, for a divorce from her husband, John Miles. She claims that he struck her and was frequently intoxicated. According to the complaint, the Miles were married in 1915 and have not lived together since 1917. The plaintiff is a resident of Danville.

Friday, December 3, 2010

NEWSPAPER TIDBIT: Burial Plot Mix-Up At North Salem Cemetery (1936)

An item found in The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, January 16, 1936 - page 1, column 2:

TWO GRAVES OPENED WHEN NUMBERS ARE DUPLICATED
Two cemetery lots, both being numbered ninety-eight caused no little confusion at the North Salem cemetery, Sunday, when Scott Plasters and A.E. Alexander dug a grave on the wrong lot.

Dr. Charles Trotter, who is secretary of the [Fairview] cemetery, received word of the death of Mrs. Scott Smith at Wilkinson, Ind. He found their lot number was ninety-eight and Plasters and Alexander dug the grave there.

When the funeral cortege arrived, a relative of the Smith family looked for a marker of a Miss Nora Smith who died in 1909. Not finding it, an investigation was made and they found two lots with the same number. The mistake was rectified to the satisfaction of the family.

The Smith family lived near New Winchester twenty-five years ago and had difficulty in making anyone remember them.

[NOTE: According to Plainfield library's Hendricks County cemeteries index, Mrs. Scott Smith may be Love Smith (1866-1936), and the Miss Nora Smith who died in 1909 may be Nora Bell Smith (1885-1909).]

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

NEWSPAPER TIDBIT: Wedding Ring Found in Clayton 18 Years Later (1936)

An item found in The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, June 4, 1936 - page 1, column 5:

WEDDING RING LOST 18 YEARS FOUND IN GARDEN
Mrs. Henry Rodenbeck of Clayton, reports the finding of her wedding ring which she lost about eighteen years ago. She lost the ring from her finger while attending to her household duties during the fall of 1917. A complete search was made of the house and premises but it could not be found.

The house where she resided at that time has [since] been moved and the ground has been ploughed and planted in potatoes.

Monday, while Mr. Rodenbeck was planting some watermelon seeds in the hills where the potatoes did not come up, he noticed the ring on the ploughed ground. The ring is in 18k gold, and engraved inside were the initials H.R. to G.C. and [it] is in perfect condition.