Canterbury College graduates list 1946-1950 added

A list of graduates from Canterbury College in Danville for the years 1946 through 1950 has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. The list includes the graduate's name, the year they graduated, their hometown, and the degree they received.

Canterbury College existed in Danville from the fall of 1946 until 1951, when it closed. It was a reorganization of Central Normal College, which existed in Danville from 1878 until the spring of 1946.

Hendricks County elected officials (1878)

This is a list of various elected officials in Hendricks County, who were in office as of spring 1878.

Source: Annual report of the Secretary of State of the State of Indiana for the year ending October 31, 1878 (Indianapolis: Indianapolis Journal Co., 1878)

Hendricks County Auditor - William H. Nichols (term expires November 1, 1883)
Hendricks County Clerk - William T. Haynes (term expires July 26, 1884)
Hendricks County Coroner - Benjamin Hayden (term expires November 2, 1880)
Hendricks County Recorder - John A. Osborn (term expires November 7, 1882)
Hendricks County Sheriff - James M. Emmons (term expires November 7, 1880)
Hendricks County Surveyor - Joseph A. Clark (term expires October 29, 1880)
Hendricks County Treasurer - Wyatt Osborn (term expires November 7, 1881)

Justices of the Peace in Hendricks County (1878)

This is a list of those that were elected as a Justice of the Peace for the various townships in Hendricks County and who were in office as of the spring of 1878.

Source: Annual report of the Secretary of State of the State of Indiana for the year ending October 31, 1878 (Indianapolis: Indianapolis Journal Co., 1878)

Brown Township
--Thomas C. Dollarhide
--James Smoot

Center Township
--Simon Rammel

Clay Township
--Thomas Mendenhall
--Joseph Williams

Eel River Township
--William J.K.P. Jones

Franklin Township
--Elisha McAninch
--John Campbell

Guilford Township
--Thomas Archer

Liberty Township
--D.H. Walts
--Amos I. Wills

Lincoln Township
--Isaac W. Gray

Marion Township
--Anthony W. Kelley
--Joseph Allison

Middle Township
--James M. Duzan

Union Township
--Thomas B. Hall

Washington Township
--William R. Barker

David MATLOCK, Jr. sues for false imprisonment (1853)

As shown in Hendricks County Circuit Court Order Book 7 (September 1853 - October 1857), in September 1853 David Matlock, Jr. sued John Wilson, James McLain, William Brittain and Seth Hurin for false imprisonment. Because Matlock was under 21, the case was filed on his behalf by his next friend, Thomas Nichols. Matlock alleged that John Wilson was an unlicensed constable who, with the help of his fellow church members McLain and Brittain, had arrested Matlock at a church camp meeting for having disturbed the meeting of a religious society (men and women were segregated at the camp meeting; Matlock had seated himself with the women and allegedly refused to move). Matlock had then been brought before Seth Hurin (a justice of the peace), found guilty and fined $5. A Hendricks County jury had found for Matlock and awarded him $100 in damages.

Wilson et al. appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court and in June 1856, they overturned the decision, noting that religious societies had the power to impose their own rules for their meetings. They ordered a new trial. At the new trial, the jury found that John Wilson owed Matlock $5 in damages, and that Matlock should pay the defendants for their costs for the Supreme Court case.

Memorial for Solon A. ENLOE (1932)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 81 (November 1931 - October 1932), the death of Solon A. Enloe on October 15, 1932 led the Hendricks County Bar to issue this memorial about him in the circuit court minutes of October 18, 1932:

"Judge Solon A. Enloe became a member of the bar of the Hendricks Circuit Court June 4, 1897, and continued as a honored member until his death, October 15th, 1932.

"He was elected as a member of the Appellate Court of Indiana in 1918, 1922 and 1926 and served as a member of that Court with distinction for twelve years.

"He was graduate of the Central Normal College, and for a time was Dean of the Law Department of that institution.

"He was a Spanish War veteran, a member of the Christian Church and of the Masonic Order. He was devoted to his family, his country and his friends, and all were his friends who knew him. He was seventy-two years of age at the time of his death, and left a good record for loyalty and devotion to the higher ideals of lie.

"Be it resolved by the bench and bar of Hendricks County, that in the passing of our brother, we have sustained a real loss. That we hereby express our appreciation of his patriotism, his sturdy character, his professional attainments and the honor which he has brought to bench and bar of Indiana."

Flora ARCHER gives birth to illegitimate child (1933)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 82 (October 1932 - October 1933), in April 1933 Flora Archer filed a bastardy suit against Judson Renn (case #13600) for the illegitimate child she had given birth to. The court ordered Renn to pay Archer $10 a month for 3 years for the support and maintenance of the child.

Hendricks County guardianship docket index 1853-1866 added

An index to a Hendricks County guardianship docket book which covers 1853 through 1866 has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. The index includes the name of the ward, as well as the name of their guardian and the date that the case began.

Guardianship records are part of probate records, and additional information can be found in probate order books as well as probate "loose papers".

9-year-old Norman Ernest McCLOUD guilty of Petit Larceny (1921)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 70 (November 1920 - October 1921), in January 1921 9-year-old Norman Ernest McCLOUD was found guilty of petit larceny (case #5257). His sentence was suspended but because of "not good" behavior, he was put in the custody of the Board of Children's Guardians of Hendricks County. The Board told the court they were unable to place him in an institution "where he can be properly educated and disciplined," so the court had him committed to White's Manual Labor Institute in Wabash, Indiana until he turned 21.

Hendricks County divorce index 1947-1949 added

An index to divorce cases settled in Hendricks County during 1947-1949 has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. Entries were added from Hendricks County Circuit Court Order Book 96 (12 February 1947 - 11 March 1948) and Book 97 (12 March 1948 - 1 April 1949).

The Hendricks County Government's Archive has digital files of the circuit court order books for the years 1824-1949.

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.