Guilford Township Criminal Case Index 1901-1910 Added

An index of a criminal docket book 1901-1910 for a Guilford Township Justice of the Peace has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. Indiana law gave justices of the peace the jurisdiction to settle certain court cases in their respective townships, including misdemeanor criminal cases.

The Hendricks County Government's Archive has a digital file of this criminal docket book.

Memorial for Thad S. ADAMS (1943)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 93 (June 1942 - June 1943), the death of Thad S. Adams on May 30, 1943 led the Hendricks County Bar to issue this memorial about him in the circuit court minutes of June 4, 1943:

"He was born near Lizton, Indiana ninety years ago and was a lifelong resident of Hendricks County. He taught school for a number of years and in 1878 was admitted to the practice of law in Danville, Indiana, where he practiced his profession until 1937 when his failing health permitted him no longer to go to his office. When Hendricks County became the 55th Judicial Circuit in 1889 Governor Alvin P. Hovey appointed Mr. Adams the first prosecuting attorney of this Circuit, and he was elected to succeed himself. From 1896 to 1900 he was Dean of the Law Department of Central Normal College. On his seventy-fifth birthday, November 6, 1928, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the State of Indiana, and in 1930 was re-elected to that position. He was intensely patriot and among the bills he introduced in the State Legislature was a bill requiring all teachers in the public schools and colleges to take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the State of Indiana, and to teach nothing derogatory thereto.

"Mr. Adams was always helpful to the younger members of the bar. In fact he seemed never to be happier than when he could lend sympathy and aid to anyone in need. He was president of the Hendricks County Bar Association for many years and its members will miss his helpfulness and mourn his loss."

Ralph CUNNINGHAM granted annulment (1948)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 97 (March 1948 - April 1949), in September 1948 Ralph Cunningham was granted an annulment from his wife Margaret Cunningham (case #18047). The court agreed with Ralph's petition, which said that their marriage license had been issued under false testimony, because Margaret had epilepsy. NOTE: Because Ralph was under the age of 21, the petition had been brought by his mother, Zella Cunningham.

Imogene WHITE granted divorce (1948)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 97 (March 1948 - April 1949), in October 1948 Imogene White was granted a divorce from James White (case #18041). Imogene was given custody of their daughter, Willadean White (age 1 year, 5 months) and James, who was serving in the U.S. Army, was ordered to take $42 a month from his military pay for child support.

Janet MARIN of Indianapolis granted divorce (1948)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 97 (March 1948 - April 1949), in April 1948 Janet L. Marin was granted a divorce from Laddie Marin (case #17952). The case was originally filed in Marion County court in Indianapolis but was transferred to the Hendricks County Circuit Court. Janet was given custody of their daughter, Sharon Sue Marin (age 2 1/2) and Laddie was ordered to pay $50 a month in child support.

Marguerite HESS of Indianapolis granted divorce (1948)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 97 (March 1948 - April 1949), in March 1948 Marguerite Hess was granted a divorce from Herman Hess (case #17922). The case was originally filed in Marion County court in Indianapolis but was transferred to the Hendricks County Circuit Court. The divorce decree noted that they were married on 19 March 1927 and had lived together until 1 June 1937, and had children Martha Hess and Doris Hess. Marguerite was given custody of the 2 children and Herman was ordered to pay $85 a month in child support.

44 Digital Files of Hendricks County Probate Records Added Online

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added 44 more digitized files of Hendricks County probate records to their website. The newest files span 1826 through 1896 and cover these surnames:

WHITE, WHITENACK, WILCOX, WILDMAN, WILKERSON, WILLIAMS, WILSON, WISEHEART, WITTY, WOODARD, WOODROW, WOODS, WOODWARD, WOODY, WREN, WRIGHT, YOUNT, ZIMMERMAN

There are now 1,004 digital files of Hendricks County probate records online. These files are free to the public and are part of the society's Records Preservation Project.

Volunteers are more than 95% finished with the unfolding and organizing of the probate records dating from 1824 to 1900, which is the first step to them being digitized.

Hendricks County divorce index 1944-1947 added

An index to divorce cases settled in Hendricks County during 1944-1947 has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. Entries were added from Hendricks County Circuit Court Order Book 94 (25 September 1944 - 8 December 1945) and Book 95 (10 December 1945 - 11 February 1947).

The Hendricks County Government's Archive has digital files of the circuit court order books for the years 1824-1948.

Fern (REED) LAWSON granted divorce (1947)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 96 (February 1947 - March 1948), in September 1947 Fern (Reed) Lawson was granted a divorce from Lindol L. Lawson (case #17790) for cruel and inhuman treatment. The divorce decree noted that they were married on 22 November 1936 and lived together until 13 June 1947, and had children: Lindol L. Lawson, II (age 9) and Sarah Ann Lawson (age 3). Fern was given custody of the 2 children and Lindol was ordered to pay $10 a week child support. They had already filed a property settlement with the court, in which Lindol gave Fern the deed to their home at 292 West Marion Street in Danville.

Alice BENJAMIN of Indianapolis granted divorce (1947)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 96 (February 1947 - March 1948), in September 1947 Alice A. Benjamin was granted a divorce from Frank P. Benjamin (case #17794). The case was originally filed in Marion County court in Indianapolis but was transferred to the Hendricks County Circuit Court. The divorce decree noted that they were married on 12 April 1937 and had lived together until 2 January 1947, and had children Marilyn Rose Benjamin (age 9) and Donna Elaine Benjamin (age 4). Alice was given custody of the 2 children and Frank was ordered to pay $30 a week child support.

Hendricks County divorce index 1942-1944 added

An index to divorce cases settled in Hendricks County during 1942-1944 has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. Entries were added from Hendricks County Circuit Court Order Book 92 (3 June 1942 - 25 June 1943) and Book 93 (26 June 1943 - 23 September 1944).

The Hendricks County Government's Archive has digital files of the circuit court order books for the years 1824-1947.

Maple Hill Cemetery burials index added

An index of the burial records from Maple Hill Cemetery in Plainfield for the years 1977 to 2013 has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. This index was done by the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library's Indiana Room, from photocopies of the cemetery's burial ledgers.

Wilma BATES granted divorce for husband's military desertion (1943)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 93 (June 1943 - June 1944), in October 1943 Wilma Bates was granted a divorce from Rush L. Bates (case #16858). The divorce decree noted that her husband was serving a sentence in federal prison for being a deserter from the military.

Hendricks County divorce index 1940-1942 added

An index to divorce cases settled in Hendricks County during 1940-1942 has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. Entries were added from Hendricks County Circuit Court Order Book 90 (14 June 1940 - 26 May 1941) and Book 91 (26 May 1941 - 2 June 1942).

The Hendricks County Government's Archive has digital files of the circuit court order books for the years 1824-1944.

Carmie Rogan WALLEN corrects his birth record (1943)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 92 (June 1942 - June 1943), in January 1943 Carmie Rogan Wallen petitioned the court to correct the date on his birth record. The court granted the petition and corrected his birth record so that it reflected the fact he was born on March 6, 1917.

Plainfield library to give hands-on demonstration of Ancestry.com databases

The Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library will offer a hands-on demonstration of how to search Ancestry.com on Monday, October 13 from 6 to 8:15 pm in the library's lobby conference room. Using the library's laptops, Indiana Room Manager Reann Poray will show you tips and tricks for the most effective ways to search the millions of genealogy databases on Ancestry.com.

This is a free class but seating is limited and registration is required - register online using the library's events calendar, or contact the library's Indiana Room - phone (317) 839-6602 extension 2114; e-mail askindiana@plainfieldlibrary.net.

Hendricks County divorce index 1937-1940 added

An index to divorce cases settled in Hendricks County during 1937-1940 has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. Entries were added from Hendricks County Circuit Court Order Book 87 (13 July 1937 - 8 July 1938), Book 88 (9 July 1938 - 9 June 1939) and Book 89 (9 June 1939 - 13 June 1940).

The Hendricks County Government's Archive has digital files of the circuit court order books for the years 1824-1942.

Geneva Eleanor WOODWORTH and George Masten HUNTER granted emergency license to marry (1941)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 90 (June 1940 - May 1941), in March 1941 Eleanor Woodworth and George Hunter petitioned the court (case #16291) for an emergency license to marry. The court granted their request, waiving the requirement that they produce blood tests showing they did not have syphilis.

NOTE: According to Hendricks County marriage records, Geneva Eleanor Woodworth (born July 2, 1920) and George Masten Hunter (born January 7, 1916) were married on 10 March 1941.

Barbara Ellen DARNELL delivers illegitimate child (1940)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 91 (May 1941 - June 1942), in May 1941 Barbara Ellen Darnell filed a bastardy suit against Carl Githens (case #16227) for the illegitimate child she had given birth to on April 6, 1940. The court awarded her $200 for the support and maintenance of the child.

List of Washington Township landowners in 1907 added

An index of the landowners in Washington Township in 1907 has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site.

This index is compiled from Hendricks County Assessor's plat books and includes the Congressional Township, Range and Section that the land was located in.

The Hendricks County Government's Archive has digital files of the plat books for scattered years between 1852 and 1940.