Surname Index To Probate Order Books Updated

Entries from the surname index included at the front of Hendricks County Probate Order Book Volume 8 (22 June 1876 - 27 June 1878) 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 1876-1886.

Obituary Index Updated

Entries from 2010 have been added to the database Deaths from The Republican's Year in Review, which is on the Hendricks County GenWeb site. The Republican is a weekly newspaper published in Danville, Indiana. Once a year it publishes a special "Year in Review" issue, which includes a listing of the deaths that were mentioned in each issue of that year.

This database includes the person's name and the issue of the newspaper their obituary appeared in. It currently covers 1892-2010 and will be updated annually.

NEWSPAPER TIDBIT: Argument Over Tomatoes Leads To Murder (1934)

An item found in The Republican (Danville, Indiana) – issue of Thursday, May 31, 1934 – page 8, column 5:

THOMAS COFFEY FATALLY WOUNDED
Former Pittsboro Man Shot Near New Augusta

Thomas Coffey, fifty-three years old, New Augusta farmer, who formerly lived at Pittsboro, was shot fatally by a Marion County farmer, Saturday morning, following an argument over some tomato plants. The slayer, Alonzo Van Deman, age 59, of New Augusta, was bound over to the Marion County grand jury, Monday, on charges of murder.

Coffey went to the home of Van Deman early Saturday morning, to purchase field tomato plants and after a heated argument the shooting occurred. It is alleged that Van Deman fired a shotgun twice into the heart of Coffey, killing him almost instantly. The slayer claims he shot in self defense.

A few hours after his arrest, Van Deman attempted to commit suicide by slashing his wrist with a broken piece of his glasses. After being treated at the City hospital, he was taken to the city prison where he is still being held.

The slain man was born in Kentucky and moved to a farm near Pittsboro in 1910, where he had lived until March of this year. He is a member of the Pittsboro Baptist Church.

Besides his wife, Coffey is survived by seven children, Mrs. Ethel Doty of Pittsboro, Mrs. Maude Odom of Danville, Mrs. Stella Kernodle of Lizton, Mrs. Marie Rieber of Lebanon, Mrs. Gladys Wiggam of Anderson, and Edna and Floyd at home. He also has three half-sisters and five brothers and six grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, at the Baptist church with Rev. Williams and Rev. R.R. Blake in charge. Burial was in the Sparks cemetery.

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from The Republican (Danville, Indiana) – issue of Thursday, June 21, 1934 – page 1, column 5:

WIDOW SEEKS DAMAGES FROM ALLEGED MURDERER

A suit to collect $10,000 as damages on account of the alleged murder of her husband, Thomas Coffey, has been filed in Marion County by Mrs. Margaret Coffey, formerly of Pittsboro, but more recently of New Augusta. The suit is filed against Alonzo Van Deman, a farmer living near New Augusta, who is alleged to have shot and killed her husband in May following an argument over some tomato plants.

Van Deman, who is held for murder, and a packing company were named defendants in the suit. It set out that Coffey had a written contract with Van Deman, who was an agent for the company, to raise tomatoes with plants and fertilizers provided by the company.

Some of the plants were defective, the suit said, and when Coffey went to Van Deman’s home to object, an argument followed. Van Deman was said to have obtained a loaded shotgun, killing Coffey.

NEWSPAPER TIDBIT: Body Buried in Danville 7 Years After Death (1934)

An item found in The Republican (Danville, Indiana) – issue of Thursday, March 22, 1934 – page 1, column 5:

McVEY BODY BURIED HERE

The body of Parker McVey arrived last Wednesday evening from Los Angeles, Cal., and was taken to the home of Miss Etta McCoun. His death occurred almost seven years ago at Los Angeles. He was a son of Horace and Edna Parker McVey and was born in Danville 28 years ago. He was president of the Christian Endeavor Society, superintendent of the Sunday school and a deacon in a Los Angeles Christian church. The body was brought by a friend who had been spending the winter in Los Angeles. Burial was in the South cemetery, Thursday afternoon, beside his mother. Rev. Richard Mead offered prayer at the grave. The father and one brother, Horace, survive, and live in South Bend.

NEWSPAPER TIDBIT: Civil War Veteran's Wife Deeks Divorce (1934)

An item found in The Republican (Danville, Indiana) – issue of Thursday, May 10, 1934 – page 1, column 2:

BRIDE OF A YEAR SEEKS DIVORCE FROM UNION SOLDIER

Marriage in old age did not turn out well for an aged Danville couple who lived together just one year. Flora Woods, age 61, filed suit in the local clerk’s office, last Thursday, for a divorce from George Woods, age 89, a Civil War veteran.

The plaintiff alleges cruel and inhuman treatment and that the defendant left her without means of support. They were married in March, 1933, and separated in March of this year. Mrs.Woods asks that her former name, Flora Robbins, be restored.

Marriage Index Updated

Entries from Hendricks County Marriage Book Volume 33 (17 May 1971 - 9 June 1972) 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 1904-1972, as well as 1824-1848.

NEWSPAPER TIDBIT: Sisters Die Hours Apart (1934)

An item found in The Republican (Danville, Indiana) – issue of Thursday, May 3, 1934 – page 1, column 5:

SISTERS DIED ONLY FEW HOURS APART
Last Rites for Mrs. Emily Sears Here Tomorrow Afternoon

Mrs. Emily Sears died last night at 9 o’clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Vesta Riggen, in North Salem. She was a daughter of William and Dicy Hamrick and would have been 86 years of age in July. Her entire life was spent in this county.

Mrs. Charity Campbell, a sister, 92 years of age, died at 5:30 yesterday morning. Mrs. Nettie Hamrick Downard is the only child living of a large family.

Mrs. Sears is survived by seven children, T.M. Sears, Mrs. Myrtle Hays, Charles V., of this place, Fred, of Indianapolis, Mrs. Grace Reed, Cleveland, Ohio, Mrs. Vesta Riggen, North Salem, and Mrs. Lanta Smith of San Antonio, Texas.

The body will be brought to the home of her son, Charles V. Sears, this afternoon and the funeral is at 2:30 tomorrow in the home of her son with burial in the South cemetery.

Surname Index To Probate Order Books Updated

Entries from the surname index included at the front of Hendricks County Probate Order Book Volume 9 (23 September 1878 - 3 July 1880) 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 1878-1886.

Teachers Database Updated

Entries from the 1947 school year have been added to the database Index to Teachers in Hendricks County Schools, which is on the Hendricks County GenWeb site. It is a list of all of the teachers in the county's schools, as published in area newspapers at the beginning of each school year by the county's schools superintendent. The list was comprised of the teacher's name and their location, and sometimes included the subjects they were teaching.

The database is in progress--it currently covers 1947-1963.