Plainfield library adds 1860 & 1870 Hendricks County mortality schedules

The Plainfield Public Library's Indiana Room has added microfilm of Hendricks County's 1860 and 1870 mortality schedules to their collection. The mortality schedule was a supplement to the federal census, taken during 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. It recorded information on people who had died within the previous year - so the 1860 mortality schedule is for those who died between 1 June 1859 and 31 May 1860; the 1870 mortality schedule is for those who died between 1 June 1869 and 31 May 1870. The mortality schedules included the person's occupation and the cause of death, which are even more important information because Indiana did not start keeping death records until 1882.

Plainfield library now has the 1850-1880 Hendricks County mortality schedules and is in the process of acquiring the mortality schedules for the other counties in Indiana. This microfilm was previously available only at the Indiana State Library and a few other repositories.

Guynn Cemetery Association Formed in Liberty Township (1858)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 8 (March 1858 - August 1861), in October 1858 articles of association for the Guynn Cemeterial Association were filed with the county. J.O. Riley donated the land for the burial grounds, and the following people all paid $50 or $100 for their membership in the association:

John Biddle
Joseph Bolen
Dureela Brady
Merill Brady
Mrs. Brady
William Douglass
Moses Guynn
Simon Hornaday
John Little
W.J. Maddox
Amos McCormick
Samuel McCormick
Isaac Petty
Nathan Petty
A.F. Shirts
B. Snodgrass
Jacob Tharpe
Cornelius Veatch
John S. Wood
Moses Wood
Harvey Woods

The election of their trustees was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Cartersburg.

NOTE: According to the Plainfield library's Hendricks County cemeteries index, Spring Hill Cemetery in Liberty Township (north of Cartersburg) is also known as Guynn Cemetery or Moon Cemetery.

George ARMSTRONG Adopted by Rev. DICKERSON (1866)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 9 (August 1861 - September 1866), in March 1866 Reverend Henry L. Dickerson of Danville filed a petition to adopt George Armstrong, who was born on 5 March 1864. Armstrong's father, George Armstrong of Leesburg, Kosciusko County, Indiana, was a soldier in the 30th Indiana Infantry who had lost his wife and was not able to care for the child, and thus he had signed an indenture with Dickerson back in 1864 relinquishing the care of the infant. Dickerson had cared for the infant for 22 months and the father's whereabouts were now unknown. The court approved the petition and changed the child's name to George Dickerson.

Hendricks County marriage applications index 1930-1932 added

An index to Hendricks County Marriage Applications Book 15 (which covers 2 September 1930 to 24 November 1932) has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. The index is in progress - so far it covers 1905 through 1932.

ABOUT THESE RECORDS: Beginning in May 1905, Indiana law required the recording of marriage applications, which included biographical details about the bride and the groom, as well as their parents. In Hendricks County, the information from these applications was kept in a separate set of books from the marriage record from May 1905 until June 1950.

The Hendricks County Government's Archive has digital files of all of the marriage application books.

Civil War Photo of Josiah MARVEL

The Indiana Historical Society's Facebook page posted this photo of Josiah Marvel of Hendricks County, with the following information:

"Meet Union soldier and Hendricks County boy Josiah Marvel. Although only 15 years old, Marvel enlisted in the Seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers in 1861. At the time, enlarging photographs was tedious work, and specialists reproduced and enhanced them with a crayon to increase contrast and hide blemishes. This portrait is a beautiful example of this early, but complicated, photographic process."

Caroline SPERLING Adopted (1870)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 11 (November 1869 - May 1871), in April 1870 Jesse M. Stevens of Danville filed a petition to adopt Caroline Sperling (age 10 years as of 26 April 1870). Neither of her parents were living and she was already residing with Stevens. The petition was granted, and the child's name was changed to Caroline Sperling Stevens.

Joseph MILLER and Jane FLETCHER Married (1861)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Court of Common Pleas Order Book Volume 4 (January 1860 - May 1861), on 24 May 1861 the judge of the Court of Common Pleas, John Coburn, shut down the court for the day so that he could go to Cartersburg to officiate the marriage of Lt. Joseph S. Miller ("formerly a worthy & highly esteemed member of the Danville Bar but now of the USA") and Miss Jane Fletcher. Among the witnesses present: Senator Blair and Ben Harrison of the Indianapolis Bar; Daggy of the Greencastle Bar; Harper of Cincinnati; Root of Indianapolis; Honest Ed Clark ("formerly of this place but now of Indianapolis") and Bill Astley.

Judge Coburn reportedly remarked that "it looked like War & Peace mixing together"; his escort C.F. Rooker said "it looked like preparing for Peace in time of War."

Peter RITTER Naturalized (1860)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Court of Common Pleas Order Book Volume 4 (January 1860 - May 1861), in July 1860 Peter Ritter, who had filed his declaration of intent in the Decatur County Circuit Court on 12 October 1851 [or 1854?], was naturalized. Ritter was a native of Hesse Darmstadt in Prussia.

John STOEGER Naturalized (1860)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Court of Common Pleas Order Book Volume 4 (January 1860 - May 1861), in July 1860 John Stoeger, who had filed his declaration of intent in the Marion County Circuit Court on 16 July 1855, was naturalized. Stoeger was a native of Bavaria.

John M. ROBERTS Adopted (1873)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 13 (May 1873 - February 1874), in November 1873 William and Nancy Galbreath filed a petition to adopt John M. Roberts, born 1 January 1866. William Roberts, the child's father, consented to the adoption and the petition was granted, with the child's name changed to John M. Galbreath.

NOTE: In the order book, the last name is sometimes spelled GALBRAITH.

Raymond Eugene THOMPSON Adopted (1878)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Circuit Court Civil Order Book Volume 20 (June 1878 - February 1879), in October 1878 Levi E. Ballard and wife Maria W. Ballard filed a petition to adopt Raymond Eugene Thompson, who had been living with their family for a year and who was 5 years old as of 11 October 1878, with no father or mother living. Their petition was granted and his name was changed to Raymond Thompson Ballard.

Marion Township 1891 Landowners Index Added

An index to landowners in Marion Township in 1891 has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. The index is of the Hendricks County Assessor's plat book, which was used to determine how much property tax the landowner owed each year.

Lulu PECK Sues For Damage To Reputation (1896)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Civil Order Book Volume 40 (May 1896 - March 1897), in November 1896 Lulu O. Peck brought a suit against Mary E. Henson (case #6284) for damaging her reputation with her remarks. Lulu was the wife of Wesley Peck and the mother of a girl about age 9, and they resided in Clayton. Her suit alleged that Mary E. Henson had told Mrs. Binda Lookabill and Mrs. Millie Berlin that Lulu had been caught "doing something indecent", which they took to mean adultery. Henson then told them what she had heard from Daisy Elmore - that Daisy, Florence Wooden, Maggie & Mollie Crawley and Maud Johnson had looked underneath the blinds at the Peck's house on Halloween 1894 and witnessed Dr. Thrasher with "his hands in Lulu's bosom feeling her tities [sic]". Dr. Thrasher was said to have told Lulu he admired her Halloween costume - the girls reported it was a deep V-neck dress with short sleeves. Daisy Elmore was upset when she witnessed this, because Lulu had been talking about Daisy & Dr. Dryden and Daisy told Henson that Lulu "ain't nothing but a nasty dirty bitch". Henson was later heard, in the presence of J.O. Winstead, to say that Lulu Peck "is not a virtuous woman."

The jury agreed with Lulu Peck and awarded her $75 in damages.

NOTE: Thomas Wesley Peck (1858-1930) and Lulu O. Peck (1867-1937) are both buried in Clayton West Cemetery.

Benson EGGERS Still Legally Married At Time of Divorce (1898)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Civil Order Book Volume 41 (March 1897 - February 1898), in January 1898 Benson Eggers petition for divorce against Myrtle Eggers (case #6521) was heard. The judge noted that at the time Eggers had married the defendant, he had a legal wife still living, Rhoda Morgan Eggers, but that he had believed she was dead, thus that previous marriage was void.

Alonzo EARL Adopted (1896)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Civil Order Book Volume 40 (May 1896 - March 1897), in November 1896 William M. and Susan Dillon filed a petition to adopt Alonzo Earl, a child born 12 April 1875, who had been living with them since 23 June 1886. The child's parents were dead and he had no known living relatives. The petition was granted and the child's name was changed to Alonzo Dillon.

William Everett PRITCHETT Adopted (1878)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Civil Order Book Volume 19 (October 1877 - March 1878), in February 1878 John McMillan filed a petition to adopt William Everett Pritchett, age about 2. The child's father was unknown; the child's mother, Martha J. Pritchett, consented to the adoption. The petition was granted and the child's name was changed to William Everett McMillan.

Spencer FOUSE Sent To Boys Reform School (1895)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Civil Order Book Volume 39 (May 1895 - April 1896), in November 1895, R.N. Harvey petitioned the circuit court to have Spencer Fouse committed to the Indiana Reform School for Boys in Plainfield. The petition was granted and he was ordered committed until he turned 21.

Memorial for Guilford A. McQUOWN (1890)

Hendricks County Civil Order Book Volume 34 (May 1890 - March 1891) includes an entry commemorating the death of lawyer Guilford A. McQuown:

"Guilford A. McQuown was admitted to the bar of Hendricks Circuit Court on the 17th day of March 1887, and died at his home in Shelby County, Indiana, on the 18th day of November 1890, and for a year and a half before his death he had been unable to practice his chosen profession on account of the sickness which terminated his life.

As a member of the bar he conducted himself so as to win the admiration and praise of all. He was industrious, honest and capable in the highest degree and had a most laudable ambition.

As a friend he was lovable and loyal. As a citizen he was on the right side of every moral question, and had an exalted admiration for the majesty of the law.

Therefore be it resolved, that in his death we have sustained a great loss, and that we extend our sympathies to his family and friends in their bereavement."

James L. Clark
L.A. Barnett
George C. Harvey

Luella KENDALL Adopted (1875)

As mentioned in Hendricks County Civil Order Book Volume 15 (January 1875 - October 1875), in October 1875 Hira and Rachel E. Kendall filed a petition to adopt Luella Kendall, age about 2 years. The petition stated that the child was illegitimate and the child's mother, Mary E. Kendall, was living with the petitioners and consented to the adoption. The petition was granted and the child's name was not changed.

Hendricks County marriage applications index 1928-1930 added

An index to Hendricks County Marriage Applications Book 14 (which covers 3 November 1928 to 2 September 1930) has been added to the Hendricks County GenWeb site. The index is in progress - so far it covers 1905 through 1930.

ABOUT THESE RECORDS: Beginning in May 1905, Indiana law required the recording of marriage applications, which included biographical details about the bride and the groom, as well as their parents. In Hendricks County, the information from these applications was kept in a separate set of books from the marriage record from May 1905 until June 1950.

The Hendricks County Government's Archive has digital files of all of the marriage application books.