Hendricks County residents who graduated from Purdue University, West Lafayette (1953)

source: Coatesville Herald (Coatesville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, June 4, 1953 - page 1, column 4:

BROWNSBURG:
Robert B. WARRICK - Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering
John W. WILSON - Bachelor of Science in Forestry

COATESVILLE:
Merrill Thomas McCAMMACK - Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

DANVILLE:
Robert L. ELSON - Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

PITTSBORO:
Thomas R. McCLUNG - Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Indiana changes marriage law (1958)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, December 19, 1957 - page 1, column 3:

CLERK HUGHES SAYS MARRIAGE LAW IS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1
Claude Hughes, clerk of the Hendricks County Circuit Court, announces that changes made by the 1957 General Assembly in the marriage laws will be effective January 1, 1958.

The most radical changes in the new law are:

1. Three full days must elapse after making application for a license before the marriage license can be issued.
2. Couple must have written proof of their ages.
3. A written medical examination report must be submitted at the time the application is made.
4. The county fee for the license is $5.00 payable with the application.
5. Written consent must be given if the male is under 21 years of age or the female under 18 years of age.
6. One or both must be residents of the county where the license is obtained. If both applicants live out of state, then they must be married in the county where the license is obtained.

NOTE: Before this, the fee for the marriage license was $2, and the marriage license could be issued immediately after the application was filled out.

Adoption of Judith Ann, Janice Rae & Katherine Joan LAYMON (1958)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, February 6, 1958 - page 2, column 4:

According to a public notice, in February 1958, there was a petition in the Hendricks County Circuit Court (Docket Book 184, Page 532) to adopt Judith Ann Laymon, Janice Rae Laymon and Katherine Joan Laymon. Their biological father was identified as Frederick Franklin Laymon, and his residence was unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard on March 29, 1958.

List of Amo High School graduates in 1959 added

An index of the students who graduated from Amo High School in 1959 has been added to the school records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site. This index was compiled from a May 22, 1959 commencement program, which is in the collection of the Plainfield library.

Jack COONS of North Salem dies (1984)

source: Crawfordsville Journal Review (Crawfordsville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, March 1, 1984 - page 2:

[obituary courtesy of Karen Zach]

NORTH SALEM - William C. "Jack" Coons, 70, of North Salem, died at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday in Methodist Hospital at Indianapolis.

He was retired from the State Highway Department and Moreland Elevator at Salem. He also was a 1933 graduate of North Salem High School.

Mr. Coons was born Dec. 3, 1913, in Boone County, a son of Otis and Stella Day Coons. He was married to Eleanor Tanselle on May 13, 1939. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons Dwayne of Brownsburg and Darrell of New Ross; a brother, Gene of North Vernon; a sister Verie Hicks of Indianapolis; and two grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Porter Funeral Home at North Salem with the Rev. Mark Dodd officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Plainfield and Brownsburg get direct dial telephone service (1957)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, June 27, 1957 - page 1, columns 6-7

According to a June newspaper article, on August 4 at 2:01 am, the towns of Plainfield and Brownsburg were to go live with direct dialing of telephone calls, using new phones that had rotary dials. Before that, if a resident wanted to make a call, they had to lift up the receiver and ask the operator to complete the call. As with when Danville got direct dial service in 1954, Plainfield and Brownsburg got phone numbers that started with two letters and then had 5 numbers. The 2-letter prefix was given a name to make it easier to remember - Danville's prefix was SH ("Sherwood"); Plainfield's prefix was TE ("Terrace") and Brownsburg's prefix was UL ("Ulrick").

By having Plainfield and Brownsburg join the Indiana Bell telephone exchange, calls made between Danville, Plainfield and Brownsburg were now local calls - previously they were long-distance calls, subject to additional charges beyond the basic monthly rate.

Hendricks County Circuit Court complete book index (1892-1895) added

An index of Hendricks County Circuit Court Complete Records Book volume 11 (22 April 1892 - 9 March 1895) has been added to the Civil Court Records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site. A complete record book contains an extensive summary of a civil case from its beginning to its end. Making a complete record of a civil case was not a requirement - it required the lawyer to pay an additional fee to the clerk - so most civil cases are not included in these books. The option of having a complete record made of a civil case was abolished in Indiana by 1920.

The complete records books of the Hendricks County Circuit Court for volumes 2 through 16 (1834-1920) have been microfilmed. That microfilm is available for viewing locally at the Plainfield Public Library and the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis, and it can also be ordered through FamilySearch.

St. Augustine Episcopal Church opens in Danville (1957)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana), issue of Thursday, August 1, 1957 - page 1

According to an August 1, 1957 newspaper article, ground was to be broken on Sunday, August 4, 1957 for the St. Augustine Episcopal Church on North Washington Street (aka Old Lebanon Road) in Danville. The land for the church had been donated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Eckler. The church was to cost $50,000. The church was actually completed in December 1957, with dedication ceremonies held on Sunday, December 22, 1957 (source: December 19, 1957 newspaper article).

NOTE: Today St. Augustine's remains at the same site - address 600 North Washington Street.

Calvary Methodist Church to open in Brownsburg (1957)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, May 16, 1957 - page 1, column 3:

CHURCH PLANNED AT BROWNSBURG
Property owned by Mrs. Joseph F. Sheetz, Brownsburg, has been purchased for the site of a new Calvary Methodist Church at Brownsburg, according to Louis Reynolds, pastor.

The site is at the south edge of Brownsburg where two new subdivisions are in the process of completion.

The tract, containing over six acres, is located at 409 South Green Street. The Sheetz home will be used for church activities until construction of the new building.

The construction will begin as soon as adequate funds are raised and architect's plans are approved.

Members of the committee for selection of the site were William Patterson, chairman; Fred Hallett, Earl Neese, Walter Bertzing and Leo Newby.

[NOTE: The Green Street location was near the intersection of Tilden Road. In 2006 the church (which is now known as Calvary United Methodist Church) moved to the west end of Northfield Drive in Brownsburg, across from the Lowe's store and the Kohl's shopping center. The former site on Green Street then became the site of the Brownsburg Meadows retirement home].

Hendricks County residents who graduated from Purdue University (1926)

source: A commencement program for Purdue University, West Lafayette for June 15, 1926:

CLAYTON:
John Lorin Richardson - Master of Science in Agriculture

DANVILLE:
Harold Jasper Thompson - Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Glenn Edwin Vogel - Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

HAZELWOOD:
Roy Sigler Hazelwood - Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

PITTSBORO:
Ulysses Byron Yeager - Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

Hendricks County estate index for 1984 added

An index of the Hendricks County estate cases that had legal notices published in the Danville newspapers Danville Gazette and The Republican for the year 1984 has been added to the probate records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site.

This index of estate cases now covers 1945-1984; more years will be added later.

This may not be a comprehensive list of all the Hendricks County estate cases for this time period; legal notices could be filed in any newspaper in the county.

Ted Evan ANDREWS saved from drowning (1957)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, November 21, 1957 - page 1, column 6:

LITTLE ANDREWS SAVED FROM POND
Little Ted Evan Andrews, "almost-four"-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Andrews of Danville, enjoyed a delayed piece of birthday cake, Sunday, at his home, after he was rushed to the Methodist Hospital for a checkup following an ill-fated exploration of a pond behind the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Faris, 8613 Paddock Road, Indianapolis.

Ted and his parents had gathered at the Faris home with 30 other relatives to celebrate a giant triple birthday dinner honoring three family members, including Ted, who will be four years old on December 15.

Only minutes after the 30 celebrants sat down to dinner, someone noticed that Ted was missing. The boy's panic-stricken mother, Doris, age 27, spotted the child floating face down in the muddy pond.

She and a cousin, Harold David Bales, age 15, waded into the water and dragged him back to land. Ted was not breathing. His body was cold and blue.

But his father, athletic director at Decatur Central High School, moved fast. He placed Ted on the ground and applied artificial respiration. Within two or three minutes Ted started breathing.

"I've had a lot of training in artificial respiration, but never thought I'd have to use it on my own boy," Ted's father said.

Adoption of Charles Keith LAW (1956)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, February 23, 1956 - page 2, column 3:

According to a public notice, in February 1956, Nita L. Leonard was petitioning the Hendricks County Circuit Court (case #146) to adopt a child, Charles Keith Law. His biological father was identified as John Law, and according to the affidavit of Rosemary Hodge, he was not a resident of Indiana. The petition was scheduled to be heard on March 16, 1956.

List of Lizton grade school students in 1967 added

An index of the Lizton students in grades 1 through 6 in 1967 has been added to the school records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site. This index was compiled from the North Salem High School 1967 yearbook, Echo. This yearbook is in the collection of the Danville library.

2 Plainfield newspapers merge (1956)

source The Plainfield Messenger (Plainfield, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, December 20, 1956 - page 1, columns 5-6:

According to a newspaper article, in December 1956, The Friday Caller (owned by Mrs. Grace M. Jackson) announced it had been sold to The Plainfield Messenger (owned by Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Curtis and Don Cochran). The Friday Caller was established in 1934; The Plainfield Messenger was established in 1866. In August 1956, Grace M. Jackson had retired and leased The Friday Caller to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hopper, who had since joined the staff at the Indianapolis Star. The Hoppers' lease of The Friday Caller was then terminated to allow its sale to the Plainfield Messenger. The first combined issue of the Plainfield newspaper was to be published on January 3, 1957, with the masthead of the Messenger to include a line that referenced the Friday Caller.

Adoption of Juinita EDWARDS (1956)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, April 19, 1956 - page 2, column 3:

According to a public notice, in April 1956, Rex E. Edwards and wife Orpha Edwards were petitioning the Hendricks County Circuit Court (case #155) to adopt a child, Juinita Edwards. Her biological mother was identified as Lillieth Edwards, and according to the affidavit of A.M. Watkins, she was not a resident of Indiana. The petition was scheduled to be heard on April 10, 1956.

Adoption of Terry George CHRIST, II (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, November 27, 1980 - page 7, column 1:

According to a legal notice, in November 1980 Kenneth Edward Farley filed a petition in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 80-29) to adopt Terry George Christ, II (age 9). His biological father, Terry George Christ, was alleged to have abandoned and deserted him and his whereabouts were unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard 30 days after publication of the legal notice.

Hendricks County Circuit Court complete book index (1895-1900) added

An index of Hendricks County Circuit Court Complete Records Book volume 12 (7 February 1895 - 24 April 1900) has been added to the Civil Court Records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site. A complete record book contains an extensive summary of a civil case from its beginning to its end. Making a complete record of a civil case was not a requirement - it required the lawyer to pay an additional fee to the clerk - so most civil cases are not included in these books. The option of having a complete record made of a civil case was abolished in Indiana by 1920.

The complete records books of the Hendricks County Circuit Court for volumes 2 through 16 (1834-1920) have been microfilmed. That microfilm is available for viewing locally at the Plainfield Public Library and the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis, and it can also be ordered through FamilySearch.

Adoption of Chad Eiel MAYO (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, November 20, 1980 - page 7, column 1:

According to a legal notice, in November 1980 M. Jack Minton filed a petition in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 80-41) to adopt Chad Eiel Mayo, a minor. His biological father, Charles Eiel Mayo, was alleged to have abandoned and deserted him and his whereabouts were unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard 30 days after publication of the legal notice.

John Edwin & Patricia DOOLEY seek to adopt baby boy (1955)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, October 13, 1955 - page 2, column 3:

According to a public notice, in October 1955, John Edwin Dooley and wife Patricia Dooley were petitioning the Hendricks County Circuit Court (case #156) to adopt a white male baby boy. The biological mother of the baby boy was identified as Julia Ann Hayslett, whose whereabouts were unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard on November 28, 1955.

Adoption of Zachary Scott SCHULTZ (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, October 2, 1980 - page 6, column 8:

According to a legal notice, in September 1980 Gary W. Hinkle filed a petition in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 80-33) to adopt Zachary Scott Schultz, a minor. His biological father, Stephen R. Schultz, was alleged to have abandoned and deserted him and his whereabouts were unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard 30 days after publication of the legal notice.

Hendricks County estate index for 1983 added

An index of the Hendricks County estate cases that had legal notices published in the Danville newspapers Danville Gazette and The Republican for the year 1983 has been added to the probate records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site.

This index of estate cases now covers 1945-1983; more years will be added later.

This may not be a comprehensive list of all the Hendricks County estate cases for this time period; legal notices could be filed in any newspaper in the county.

Adoption of Thomas Dean LYNCH (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, August 14, 1980 - page 7, column 1:

According to a legal notice, in July 1980 Jeffrey M. Calbert and Shirley J. Calbert filed a petition in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 80-28) to adopt Thomas Dean Lynch, a minor. His biological father, Kifflyn Lynch, was alleged to have abandoned and deserted him and his whereabouts were unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard 30 days after publication of the legal notice.

Adoption of Steven Maurice DAYHUFF (1955)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, October 13, 1955 - page 2, column 3:

According to a public notice, in September 1955, Lester G. Weidler, husband of Emma Jean (Dayhuff) Weidler, was petitioning the Hendricks County Circuit Court (case #154) to adopt Dayhuff's minor son, Steven Maurice DAYHUFF. The biological father was identified as Edgar Maurice Dayhuff, and was alleged by disinterested witness Reverend John Frank (address 1620 Beeler St., Speedway, Indiana) to have abandoned the child more than 2 years prior. The petition was scheduled to be heard on November 23, 1955.

Name change of Lillie Sue OGDEN (1955)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, June 16, 1955 - page 5, column 5:

According to a public notice, in June 1955, Lillie Sue Ogden was petitioning the Hendricks County Circuit Court (case #7436) to change her name to Lillie Sue Hadley. The petition was to be heard in the September 1955 term of court.

Adoption of Rachel Ann DEAN (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, June 19, 1980 - page 5, column 7:

According to a legal notice, in June 1980 Michael William Walsh filed a petition in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 80-20) to adopt Rachel Ann Dean, a minor. Her biological father, Richard Lee Dean, was alleged to have abandoned and deserted her and his whereabouts were unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard 30 days after publication of the legal notice.

Adoption of Gina Lynn PERSINGER (1982)

source: Danville Gazette (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, March 11, 1982 - page 7, column 5:

According to a legal notice, in March 1982 there was a petition filed in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 82-2) to adopt Gina Lynn Persinger, a minor. It stated that the paternity had not been determined by law, but was to notify Perk Persinger, whose whereabouts were unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard 30 days after the notice was published.

Adoption of Jeremy James Jeffrey RICHARDSON (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, March 13, 1980 - page 7, column 2:

According to a legal notice, in February 1980 James Lee Masten and Blanche Ann Masten filed a petition in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 80-4) to adopt Jeremy James Jeffrey Richardson, a minor. His biological mother was Mary Richardson; his biological father, James Jonathan Whitaker, was alleged to have abandoned and deserted him and his whereabouts were unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard 30 days after publication of the legal notice.

List of North Salem students in 1966 added

An index of the North Salem students in grades 1 through 12 in 1966 has been added to the school records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site. This index was compiled from the North Salem High School 1966 yearbook, Echo. This yearbook is in the collection of the Danville library.

Adoption of Angela Jean EIERMANN (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, February 28, 1980 - page 7, column 7:

According to a legal notice, in February 1980 David R. Downing filed a petition in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 80-6) to adopt Angela Jean Eiermann, a minor. Her biological father, Steven M. Eiermann, was alleged to have abandoned and deserted her, and his whereabouts were unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard 30 days after publication of the legal notice.

Plainfield genealogy group to discuss brick walls in research

The Family History Hounds genealogy group will meet on Thursday, January 5, 2017 from 1 to 3 pm at the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library. The meeting will be held upstairs in the library's meeting rooms. There will be a group discussion about what to do when you encounter "brick walls" in your genealogy research.

If you are interested in the group, or have questions, please contact Plainfield library's Indiana Room - e-mail askindiana@plainfieldlibrary.net or phone (317) 839-6602 extension 2114.

Hendricks County residents who graduated from Purdue University (1930)

source: A commencement program for Purdue University, West Lafayette for June 10, 1930:

BROWNSBURG:
Paul Brown Sumpter - Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

DANVILLE:
Cecil John Merritt - Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Anna Lucile Simpson - Bachelor of Science in Home Economics

STILESVILLE:
Emily Lorene Hicks - Bachelor of Science in Home Economics

Adoption of Tracy Michelle STIDHAM and Daniel Ray STIDHAM (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, February 7, 1980 - page 6, column 3:

According to a legal notice, in January 1980 William Edson Larison filed a petition in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 80-1) to adopt minor children Tracy Michelle Stidham and Daniel Ray Stidham. Their biological father, Raymond Stidham, was alleged to have abandoned and deserted him and his whereabouts were unknown. The petition was scheduled to be heard 30 days after publication of the legal notice.

Hendricks County Circuit Court complete book index (1899-1907) added

An index of Hendricks County Circuit Court Complete Records Book volume 13 (12 June 1899 - 8 January 1907) has been added to the Civil Court Records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site. A complete record book contains an extensive summary of a civil case from its beginning to its end. Making a complete record of a civil case was not a requirement - it required the lawyer to pay an additional fee to the clerk - so most civil cases are not included in these books. The option of having a complete record made of a civil case was abolished in Indiana by 1920.

The complete records books of the Hendricks County Circuit Court for volumes 2 through 16 (1834-1920) have been microfilmed. That microfilm is available for viewing locally at the Plainfield Public Library and the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis, and it can also be ordered through FamilySearch.

Name change of Jeraldean Fay (McANINCH) SANDERS (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, November 27, 1980 - page 7, column 1:

According to a legal notice, in November 1980 Jeraldean Fay (McAninch) Sanders filed a petition in the Hendricks County Circuit Court (case # C 11 80-536) to change her name to Geraldine Fay (McAninch) Sanders. The petition was scheduled to be heard on February 19, 1981.

Name change of Barbara Ann MILLER (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, November 6, 1980 - page 7, column 1:

According to a legal notice, in October 1980 Barbara Ann Miller filed a petition in the Hendricks County Circuit Court (case # C 10 80-485) to change her name to Barb Miller Hennon. The petition was scheduled to be heard on January 8, 1981.

Name change of Darrell Lynn HURT (1980)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, November 6, 1980 - page 7, column 1:

According to a legal notice, in November 1980 Darrell Lynn Hurt filed a petition in the Hendricks County Circuit Court to change his name to Darrell Lynn Marks. The petition was scheduled to be heard on January 8, 1981.