Funeral Home Records

Sometimes we find key information about ancestors, not in cemeteries or obituaries or death certificates, but in the records of funeral homes. On May 10 Lynn Haverstock of Ott/Haverstock Funeral Home in Michigan City will speak at the monthly meeting of the La Porte County Genealogical Society, 7 pm at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte. We'll learn about the history of this business and the records and search engines available to family researchers. There will be time for questions. The program will take place prior to our regular business meeting, so don't be late!

The society meets at 7 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the Swanson Center, weather permitting. The public is welcome at all meetings.

It's not too early to apply for one or more residency certificates for 2011. Our web site has information for those who believe they have La Porte County ancestors (and can prove it!). There's information on how to apply for First Families of La Porte (before December 1840), Pioneer Families (1841-1860), Settler Families (1861-1880), and Civil War Families (1861-1865). You can also read or search back issues of the society's newsletter, December 2005 through December 2009, including genealogical and historical information from members' research and abstracting work in local records, on our blog.

Living History in La Porte

Seven people who have documented their early La Porte County ancestors were awarded eleven certificates at the April 12 meeting of the La Porte County Genealogical Society. To receive the certificates they had to provide good evidence of two things: that these people were their ancestors, and that they lived here at least 131 years ago.

[PHOTO CAPTION:

Recipients of Residency Certificates awarded at the recent La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society meeting are shown above. Left to right: Cheryl Good, accepting First Family and Settler certificates for Alan Dean Good, her husband and Jerry Lynn Good her brother-in-law; James M. A. McCoy, First Family and Settler; William R. Hunsley, Pioneer certificate; Timothy L. Harris, First Family certificate; and Joan Lee Good McCoy, First Family and Settler certificates. Not in attendance but a recipient of a Pioneer certificate was Sandra Lee Rauschenbach Mafera.]

Fern Eddy Schultz, Gloria Arndt, and Dottisue Gansemer of the society's Residency Certification Committee reviewed the proofs and made the presentations. The society has now made a total of 219 awards in four categories (First Family, Pioneer Family, Settler, and Civil War Ancestor) since the program began in 1987. All information provided is placed in the archives at the La Porte County Historical Society Museum and is available to anyone who may be researching the same surnames.

This year's successful applicants documented the following:

Timothy L. Harris is descended from David Stoner, who was living in La Porte County before December 31, 1840 (First Family Certificate).

Joan Lee Good McCoy, James M. A. McCoy, Alan Dean Good, and Jerry Lynn Good are descended from John Stoner, who was living in the county before December 31, 1840 (First Family Certificates).

Sandra Lee Rauschenbach Mafera is descended from Daniel L. Cain, who was living in the county between 1840 and 1860 (Pioneer Certificate).

William R. Hunsley is descended from Thomas Hunsley, who was living in the county between 1840 and 1860 (Pioneer Certificate).

Joan Lee Good McCoy, James M. A. McCoy, Alan Dean Good, and Jerry Lynn Good are descended from John Elmer Good, who was living in the county between 1861 and 1880 (Settler Certificates).

For more information about the program, contact the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society, Residency Certification Committee, 904 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, IN 46350, or visit the Society’s website at www.rootsweb.com/~inlcgs. The next presentation of awards will be at the September 20, 2011 meeting of the Society. Deadline for receipt of applications is July 30.

#