IGA supermarket opens on courthouse square in Danville (1950)

source: Danville Gazette (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, July 20, 1950 - page 1, columns 2-3:

The IGA supermarket in Danville may be remembered for its location at 1120 West Main Street, which is at the northeast corner of the intersection of US 36 (West Main Street) and County Road 75 West (aka Mackey Road) on the west side of town. However, back in July 1950, it actually opened on the south side of the courthouse square, at 59 West Marion Street. Back then, Marion Saunders was the owner, and it was known as Saunders' IGA Market. In 1950, it took over half of the remodeled Hoosier Hotel building. The article about its July 1950 grand opening touted the fact that the store would be open 7 days a week and offer "complete self-service", with 2 "high-speed checkout counters capable of servicing 2,000 customers per day".

So at one time in the 1950's, there was a Kroger on the west side of the courthouse square, and an IGA supermarket on the south side of the courthouse square.

Plainfield genealogy group to discuss American frontier history

The Family History Hounds genealogy group will meet on Thursday, February 2 from 1 to 3 pm at the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library. The meeting will be held upstairs in the library's meeting rooms. Knox County Historian Dennis Latta will present a program, "How We changed The Frontier and How The Frontier Changed Us," about American's pioneering history and how it influences us today.

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.

102-year-old Millie F. REED dies (1976)

source: Plainfield Messenger (Plainfield, Indiana) - issue of Monday, October 4, 1976 - page 5, columns 1-2:

MISS REED DIES AT AGE OF 102
Danville - Miss Millie F. Reed, 102-year-old Danville resident, died Tuesday in Golden Rule Nursing Home here.

A native of Avon, Miss Reed received a bachelor's degree from DePauw University in 1898 and her master's in botany from Butler University in 1927.

A member of the Primitive Baptist Church here, she operated an art studio in Detroit for many years and also taught art and music in several Indiana schools.

Surviving are two nieces, Mrs. Beula Muston of Avon and Mrs. Fern Hadley of North Salem; a cousin, Mrs. Dessie Starkey of Brownsburg; four other nieces; a nephew; a cousin, and a sister-in-law.

Services were Thursday in Weaver Funeral Home here, with Dr. Larry Lilly officiating. Burial was in East Cemetery.

Hendricks County Circuit Court complete book index (1887-1890) added

An index of Hendricks County Circuit Court Complete Records Book volume 9 (15 March 1887 - 7 June 1890) 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 James Michael CULL and Stacie CULL (1976)

source: Plainfield Messenger (Plainfield, Indiana) - issue of Wednesday, July 28, 1976 - page 11, column 7:

According to a legal notice, in July 1976 Edward E. Halcomb and Sue C. Halcomb filed a petition in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 76-30) to adopt minor children James Michael Cull and Stacie Cull. Their biological parents were listed as Linda Sue Cull Greathouse and Danny B. Cull, who could not be found. The petition was scheduled to be heard in court 30 days after the legal notice had been published.

Hendricks County residents who graduated from Purdue University, West Lafayette (1955)

source: Coatesville Herald (Coatesville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, June 16, 1955 - page 3, columns 6-7:

DANVILLE:
--James Gordon Graham - Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
--Charles S. Porter - Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

PLAINFIELD:
--Louis Edward Gaston - Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Richard J. GROOVER appointed Hendricks County Circuit Court Judge (1959)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, April 16, 1959 - page 1, columns 6-7:

In April 1959, Richard Justin Groover was appointed by Governor Harold W. Handley to fill the unexpired term of Hendricks County Circuit Court Judge George W. Hadley, who had died suddenly at his home in North Salem. Groover was born March 26, 1923 to Mr. and Mrs. Glen G. Groover. He graduated from Pittsboro High School and was a World War II veteran, having served 15 months in the Army. He was town marshal for Brownsburg in 1947 and in 1952 opened a law office at 127 South Washington Street in Danville. In 1952 he was elected Hendricks County Prosecutor. On April 24, 1954, he married Joy Nash.

Adoption of Pamela Jo RIDDELL (1976)

source: Plainfield Messenger (Plainfield, Indiana) - issue of Monday, August 30, 1976 - page 7, column 7:

According to a legal notice, in August 1976 Richard Cox, Jr. and Anita Cox filed a petition in the Hendricks County Superior Court (case # A 76-34) to adopt minor child Pamela Jo Riddell. Her biological father was listed as Robert E. Riddell, who could not be found. The petition was scheduled to be heard in court 30 days after the legal notice had been published.

Hendricks County estate index updated for 1950-1951

An index of the Hendricks County estate cases that had legal notices published in Hendricks County newspapers has been updated to include notices from the Coatesville Herald for 1950 and 1951. This index is in the probate records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site.

This index now includes these Hendricks County newspapers:

• Coatesville Herald - 1950 through 1953
• Danville Gazette - 1945 through 1984
• The Republican - 1945 through 1984

This index currently covers 1945-1984; more newspapers and 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.

Civil War widow Mary M. HOPWOOD dies (1953)

source: Coatesville Herald (Coatesville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, July 23, 1953 - page 1, column 5:

WIDOW OF CIVIL WAR VET DIED MONDAY
Mrs. Mary M. HOPWOOD, age 94 years, widow of Mote R. Hopwood, Civil War veteran, passed away at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Freeman Cooper, southeast of Amo Monday morning.

Funeral services were held at the Clayton Baptist Church Wednesday afternoon.

Mrs. Hopwood is survived by two grandchildren, Mrs. Freeman Cooper, and Robert R. Hubbard of Memphis, Tennessee; four great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Hendricks County residents who graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington (1953)

source: Coatesville Herald (Coatesville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, June 4, 1953 - page 1, column 2:

BROWNSBURG:
Lois Joanne LINGEMAN - Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
Marjorie A. MOORE - Bachelor of Science in Education

COATESVILLE:
Roy O'NEAL - Bachelor of Arts in Botany
Betty J. SUTHERLIN - Bachelor of Science in Education

DANVILLE:
Mrs. Barbara HUFFMAN CLAYPOOL - Graduate Nurse
Harold W. HALL - Master of Science in Education
Lloyd L. HILL - Doctor of Medicine
Rilus J. HILL - Master of Science in Education
Edward D. MILLER - Doctor of Medicine
Harold W. UNDERWOOD - Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

NORTH SALEM:
Harry H. O'BEAR - Doctor of Education

PITTSBORO:
Kenneth L. IDLE - Master of Science in Education
Robert E. LONG - Bachelor of Arts in Economics

PLAINFIELD:
Ronald TRENT - Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics

List of Lizton grade school students in 1968 added

An index of the Lizton students in grades 1 through 6 in 1968 has been added to the school records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site. This index was compiled from the North Salem High School 1968 yearbook, Echo. This yearbook is in the collection of the Danville library.

Adoption of Olivia Ann BAKER and siblings (1959)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, October 1, 1959 - page 8, columns 6-7:

According to a public notice, in October 1959 there was a petition in the Hendricks County Circuit Court (case #243) to adopt Olivia Ann Baker, Richard Purdy Baker, Jr. and Franklin Blackstone Baker. The children's biological father, Richard Purdy Baker, was listed as not being a resident of Indiana. The case was scheduled to be heard in court on November 20, 1959.

Faith Baptist Church breaks ground in Avon (1959)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, August 13, 1959 - page 12, columns 3-4

According to a newspaper article, a Baptist church was to hold its groundbreaking on Sunday, August 16, 1959 northeast of the intersection of U.S. 36 and State Road 267, in the Avon Heights addition. The church had moved from Brownsburg on March 1, and since that time had been holding its services in the Avon Bank Community Building. Owen Bowling was the pastor.

NOTE: Today the church is known as Faith Baptist Church of Avon. Its address is 7090 E. US 36.

Danville builds a swimming pool (1959)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, July 30, 1959 - page 1, columns 6-7

According to a newspaper article, the Danville Swimming Pool was to hold its grand opening in Danville Park on Saturday, August 1, 1959 at 10 am. Henry Cox was the pool manager, and membership cards were 25 cents each.

In May 1983, the Danville Town Board voted to rename the swimming pool in Ellis Park to "Gill Pool", in honor of William T. "Billy" Gill, who was the general contractor when it was built and was credited for generally leading the project.

NOTE: Today the pool is known as the Gill Family Aquatic Center.

Mary GOSSETT's suicide ruled a murder (1871)

contributed by Karen Zach:

source: Daily Wabash Express (Terre Haute, Indiana) - issue of 19 August 1871:

An Indianapolis correspondent states that, in May, 1869, Mary J. Gossett the wife of a prominent and wealthy citizen of Plainfield, Hendricks County in this state was supposed to have committed suicide by shooting herself through the head. Her life was insured in the Northwestern Mutual Life of Milwaukee, in favor of her husband for $10,000. At first the insurance company refused to pay, but finally did so, but have since kept a detective working up the case and on Thursday afternoon A.W. Gossett, Phoebe Gossett his second wife and John Bach, who keeps a restaurant near the Union Depot in Indianapolis were arrested and placed in jail. It is alleged that Mrs. Gossett was murdered by Bach, in accordance with an arrangement between Bach and Gossett, for the purpose of securing the insurance on her life, and to enable Gossett to marry his present wife with whom, it is alleged, he was too intimate.

Hendricks County Circuit Court complete book index (1890-1892) added

An index of Hendricks County Circuit Court Complete Records Book volume 10 (21 August 1890 - 17 September 1892) 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 James MICHAEL (1959)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, June 18, 1959 - page 8, column 4:

According to a public notice, in June 1959, James Michael was petitioning the Hendricks County Circuit Court (case #7622) to change his name to James Michael Wallace. The petition was to be heard in court on July 25, 1959.

Site for new high school in Clayton purchased (1958)

source: The Republican (Danville, Indiana) - issue of Thursday, March 20, 1958 - page 1, column 5:

According to a newspaper article, in March 1958 Liberty Township trustee Harry Ward paid $15,000 to purchase a 27 acre piece of land on the northeast corner of US 40 and Hazelwood Road (aka County Road 0) south of Clayton. This site, which was formerly the Dorothy Walker Wilson property, was to be used to build a new Liberty Township High School.

NOTE: Cascade High School opened in the fall of 1964 on a site north of the intersection of US 40 and County Road 200 West.

Hendricks County estate index updated for 1952-1953

An index of the Hendricks County estate cases that had legal notices published in Hendricks County newspapers has been updated to include notices from the Coatesville Herald for 1952 and 1953. This index is in the probate records section of the Hendricks County GenWeb site.

This index now includes these Hendricks County newspapers:

• Coatesville Herald - 1952 through 1953
• Danville Gazette - 1945 through 1984
• The Republican - 1945 through 1984

This index currently covers 1945-1984; more newspapers and 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.