Monday, December 17, 2012

January 2013 LPCGS meeting

Members, friends, and guests will share favorite genealogy finds at the January 8, 2013, meeting of the La Porte County Genealogical Society. It's show and tell: bring anything from a question to a quilt!

Weather permitting, the society meets at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family -- and they are now due for 2013 as well!

For those who believe they have early La Porte County ancestors (and can prove it!), July 31, 2013 is the deadline to apply for one or more residency certificates. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/categories.htm has information . 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Patricia Harris Genealogist of the Year 2012

At the La Porte County Genealogical Society's annual dinner meeting December 11, Patricia Harris was named the society's Genealogist of the Year. Harris is one of two still-active charter members of the society, a past president and current board member, a volunteer at Michigan City Public Library, an authority on Catholic records and Polish research, and the author of a number of historical and genealogical publications including Camp Anderson 1863-1864: Michigan City's Civil War Camp.

The award was presented by Fern Eddy Schultz following a convivial dinner at the Western Inn. Besides Schultz, the awards committee includes Dorothy Palmer and chairman Gloria Arndt. (Photo: Schultz, Harris.)

Weather permitting, the genealogy society meets at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family. The January 8 meeting will be a sharing time with members and guests bringing in favorite artifacts, stories, or research wins to tell about.

For those who believe they have early La Porte County ancestors (and can prove it!), July 31, 2013 is the deadline to apply for one or more residency certificates. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/categories.htm has information . 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Monday, November 19, 2012

December Dinner Meeting!

If you never get quite enough time to catch up with genealogy-minded friends, then the La Porte County Genealogical Society's annual dinner party on Tuesday, December 11, is just for you. The catered turkey dinner will be held at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte (weather permitting). Social time will begin at 6 pm and dinner at 6:30 pm. A brief business meeting will follow, along with presentation of the third annual Genealogist of the Year award.

Deadline for advance paid reservations is Friday, December 7 -- $8.50 for members, $9.50 for non-members. Send check for the number of reservations to the society at 904 Indiana, La Porte IN 46350.
The society meets at the Swanson Center on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm, weather permitting. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues for 2013 are now due as well -- $10 individual, $12 family.

It's not too early to start applying for one or more residency certificates for 2013. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/ 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

War of 1812 sharing program -- November

Two hundred years ago the US was at war with Great Britain. If you have an ancestor, relative, or person of interest who served in the War of 1812, come to the November 13 meeting of the La Porte County Genealogical Society to share that story and hear other members and friend share theirs. Also known as the Second War for Independence, this war that gave us our national anthem and a national hero in General Andrew Jackson. But it does not always get the attention its history deserves.

Weather permitting, the genealogy society meets at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

For those who believe they have early La Porte County ancestors (and can prove it!), July 31, 2013 is the deadline to apply for one or more residency certificates. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/categories.htm has information . 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

October 2012 meeting wrapup

At the La Porte County Genealogical Society's October 9 meeting, Katie Marsh and Jenny Minich gave an inspiring presentation on the 4-H genealogy program in La Porte County for ages 8 through high school, and on some of their own family stories they have documented. The process is very systematic at all ages, starting with a three-generation tree for beginners. 4-Hers are taught to find documentary sources, not just "Grandma told me so." 

Weather permitting, the society meets at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street in La Porte, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family. The November meeting will feature members' sharing accounts of ancestors or others who fought in the War of 1812. Plans are also being laid for the December dinner meeting.

In the business meeting, members OKd plans for the annual bus trip to Allen County Public Library, to be held Wednesday, April 10, 2013. Leave the driving to a professional and enjoy a day of research at one of the country's premier genealogy resources! The Indexing, Abstracting and Publications Committee is planning to index back issues of the society's newsletter.

Following a successful presentation of county residency certificates in September, the residency committee is now welcoming applications for 2013. Applications and documentation must be received no later than July 31, 2013, to be considered for awarding at the September 10, 2013, meeting of the Society. Applications may be requested from the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society, 904 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, IN 46350 or from Committee Chair, Fern Eddy Schultz at netster@csinet.net. More information at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/categories.htm.

You can read or search some 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

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Thursday, September 13, 2012

September 2012 Residency Certificates Awarded!


PHOTO CAPTION, left to right: James A. Pike, Patricia Ann Lyke Townsend, Monica Nowatzke, Karen Louise Peters, Bruce R. Johnson, Colin James Hay and Cynthia Blicher with residency certificates issued at the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society September 11 honoring their descendancy from an early ancestor in the county.




At its September 11, 2012, meeting, the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society awarded thirteen residency certificates. 

Five First Family residency certificates (before 31 December 1840) were issued to:

*Cynthia L. Blicher for documenting her ancestor Gideon Brayton in the county in 1833, and 

* James A. Pike, Taylor Nicole Townsend, Michael Evans Townsend, and Patricia Ann Lyke Townsend for documenting their ancestor, James Gordon, in the county in 1832.

Five Pioneer residency certificates (1841-1860) were issued to:

* Monica Nowatzke for documenting her ancestor William Zeese in the county in 1853, and 

* Colin James Hay, Elizabeth Ann Hay, Edward Andrew Hay, and Eliot Anthony Hay for documenting their ancestor Daniel Nelson Hay in the county in 1855.

Three Settler residency certificates were issued to:

* Karen Louise Peters for documenting her ancestor Henry Haack in the county between 1861 and 1880, and

* Bruce R. Johnson for documenting his ancestors Johannes Olson and Daniel Johnson for the same period -- one certificate for each ancestor.

In addition, certificates for Civil War Families of La Porte County may be awarded if an ancestor served in the Civil War and is documented as a resident during the period between 1861 and 30 April 1865. There were no Civil War applications or awards this year. The society has awarded a total of 259 certificates since the program began in 1987. Documents supporting these and prior certificates are on file at the La Porte County Historical Society.

The Residency Committee -- Fern Eddy Schultz, Chair, Gloria Arndt, and Dottisue Gansemer -- reviewed all materials submitted with the applications and presented the certificates to the recipients.

The committee is now welcoming applications for 2013 certificates. Applications and documentation must be received no later than July 31, 2013, to be considered for awarding at the September 10, 2013, meeting of the Society. Applications may be requested from the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society, 904 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, IN 46350 or from Committee Chair, Fern Eddy Schultz at netster@csinet.net. More information at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/categories.htm.

In business prior to the awards, the society voted to contribute $100 to the ongoing pension digitization project for the War of 1812 being sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and voted to add the immediate past president to its board as an advisory non-voting member. 

Weather permitting, the society meets at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street in La Porte, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family. The October meeting will feature this year's 4-H genealogy project winners.

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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

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Monday, August 27, 2012

September Presentation of Residency Certificates



What does it take to get a La Porte County residency certificate in honor of your local ancestor? Come to the La Porte County Genealogical Society's September 11 meeting and find out! At this meeting, 2012 residency certificates will be presented to successful applicants, and the qualifying applications will be available to read or browse in. If you have thought of applying for a certificate, this is a chance to see and discuss exactly what is needed to prove that your ancestor was in the county prior to a certain date.
Weather permitting, the genealogy society meets at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

July 31, 2013 is the deadline to apply for one or more residency certificates next year. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/categories.htm 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).
Nominations are still open for Genealogist of the Year. Details on our web site, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/Gen%20of%20the%20Year.jpg.

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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Friday, August 17, 2012

August meeting wrapup with the Michigan City Lighthouse Museum

Twenty members and guests of the La Porte County Genealogical Society heard Laura Shields explain the Michigan City Historical Society's Old Lighthouse Museum Tuesday evening August 14. The lighthouse museum is open by appointment, and the annual individual membership fee is $8; those who visit to do research are asked to join. Holdings including Michigan City histories and directories, some family files, scrapbooks and biographies (both indexed), information on local businesses and organizations, and lots of photographs of all kinds (some not yet identified).

Weather permitting, the genealogy society meets at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

At the society's September 11 meeting, 2012 residency certificates will be presented to successful applicants. If you have thought of applying for a certificate, this is a good meeting to attend and see and discuss exactly what it takes to prove that your ancestor was in the county prior to a certain date.

July 31, 2013 is the deadline to apply for one or more residency certificates next year. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/categories.htm 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).

Nominations are still open for Genealogist of the Year. Details on our web site, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/Gen%20of%20the%20Year.jpg.


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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Recent and Upcoming Society Programs

10 July 2012    Records of the Indianapolis Orphan Asylum, 1851 – 1941
                            Presented by Harold Henderson
 
14 Aug. 2012     Genealogical & Historical Records Available for Research
                            in the Old Lighthouse Museum, Michigan City, IN
                            Presented by Laura Shields, Museum Director.
 
11 Sept. 2012   Presentation of 2012 La Porte County Residency Certificates
 
9 Oct. 2012      to be announced
 
13 Nov. 2012     War of 1812 – Little known facts, researching your ancestral American and
                            Canadian War of 1812 Veterans, La Porte County 1812 Veterans, and more.
                            This will be a sharing meeting with all invited to participate.
 
11 Dec. 2012    Annual Christmas Dinner and Party
                         Presentation of 2012 Genealogist of the Year Award

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

A lighthouse for genealogy?

Laura Shields, director of Michigan City's Old Lighthouse Museum, will explain what resources the museum offers genealogists at the La Porte County Genealogical Society's meeting, 7 pm Tuesday, August 14, at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street in La Porte.

Weather permitting, the society meets there on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

July 31 is the deadline to apply for one or more residency certificates for 2012. Our web site at 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). If the time is too short, consider getting started on a submission for 2013!

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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

July meeting wrapup

Members and visitors at the July meeting of the La Porte County Genealogical Society discussed the 1940 census. The FamilySearch index unfortunately has misnamed Coolspring Township as "Cool Spring." Anyone searching for ancestors in that area needs to be aware of this. Using the correct name will yield no results.

Harold Henderson gave a talk on the records and stories of the Indianapolis Orphan Asylum (1851-1941). Its work extended well beyond the capital city, and the problems faced by the orphanage are still familiar today. With some work, these records in the Indiana Historical Society can connect adoptive or foster children to their families of origin. Records less than 75 years old are not available to the public.

The society is looking for a program chairman or education chairman to create and maintain a schedule of programs several months ahead of time.

Weather permitting, the society meets at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

Nominations are still open for Genealogist of the Year. Details on our web site, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/Gen%20of%20the%20Year.jpg.

July 31 is the deadline to apply for one or more residency certificates for 2012. Our web site at 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

More on Maple Grove: Spanish-American War Veteran?

MYSTERY OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR VETERAN BURIED IN MAPLE GROVE CEMETERY as researched by Fern Eddy Schultz.  "Maybe someone, some day, will be able to identify who is buried there."

Just thought I would let you know what I did/did not find as a result of researching about the stone in Maple Grove that is for a Spanish-American War veteran—“Natural Rock, 1893-1902, No inscription.”  
I checked Martin Barlag’s listing of Veterans in La Porte County Cemeteries—He assigned No. 17 to Maple Grove Cemetery.  In his list of Spanish-American War veterans, he lists the following:
            17        Ackerman, Rollin C.                 1895 – July 5, 1944
That, of course, would mean that Ackerman was only 3 years old when he served.
Following the list of Spanish-American War veterans, Martin has a listing of WWI veterans and he lists the same information here for Ackerman serving in WWI and buried inMaple Grove Cemetery. 
 
The Veterans Graves Registration Form for Ackerman gives information about his service in WWI, buried in Maple Grove Cemetery.
Edna Kitchell’s cards for Maple Grove do not include anyone from the SA War.
The newspapers used to list all the veterans in the various cemeteries in the issue published near Memorial Day.  Strange but in all of those lists, they never included any veteran burials in Maple Grove Cemetery.  That cemetery was not even shown over the years of listings.
 
Pat Harris and I did visit the stone the night of the tour.  It appeared to possibly have something etched on it.  I photographed it and put it through PhotoShop but was unable to see any etching.  Pat said she thought she depicted a “P” at the middle top of the photo.  I have attached a copy of the photograph I took.  Maybe you have a program that you can put this through that might divulge something.
 
I have abstracted death information from the newspapers from 1900 through 1919.  I checked the information for 1902 but nothing indicated a burial at Maple Grove or that the individual was a SA veteran.  A search could be made at the health department of deaths in 1902 but that record will not give a burial location (and the individual who is buried there may not have died in La Porte County or his death may not have been recorded). 
 
Anyway, I will put this information in the file at the museum.  Maybe someone, some day, will be able to identify who is buried there.  It would seem that since 1902 (if that is the actual death date) is not all that old in comparison to many earlier burials, the caretaker of the records might have some information to clarify this.   But then again, those records are not always as complete as we would like.

Orphans no more -- stories of the Indianapolis Orphan Asylum

For 90 years, 1851-1941, parents and children in trouble found help at the Indianapolis Orphan Asylum. Most of its records survive at the Indiana Historical Society -- dozens of volumes documenting life events among the people hardest to trace, those at the bottom of the social ladder. Harold Henderson came across the collection by accident while searching for his great-grandfather's cousin, and published an article about it in the Spring-Summer 2011 issue of the magazine The Hoosier Genealogist: Connections. Find out more about the institution, the records, and the children -- who were not always orphans! -- at the La Porte County Genealogical Society's meeting 7 pm Tuesday, July 10, at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street.

Weather permitting, the society meets there on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

It's not too early to apply for one or more residency certificates for 2012. Our web site at 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Stories and pictures from Maple Grove Cemetery

Dorothy Palmer and Gloria Arndt led a tour of Maple Grove Cemetery in Hudson Township on Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Following are their notes and four photographs. It makes for a long post but if you missed the tour this is the next best thing!

Part 1 (Gloria)


The Maple Grove Methodist church was established in 1868. The board of the association consists of seven members to be elected annually. The board set aside a small section of the cemetery for the burial of persons unable to purchase a grave. The land the cemetery is located on was donated by William Thomas. There are two veterans of the War of 1812, seven Civil War veterans and one Spanish American War veteran buried in the cemetery. Veterans from WW I and WW II are also represented. There are five graves to one lot and originally lots sold for $5.00 per lot. The cemetery is still open for burials but the price has gone up.




(1) MAJOR DAN SOLLOWAY was born in England in 1830 to Major and Annie Solloway. He immigrated to this country in May of 1832 with his parents on the ship “Thomas Dickason”. His first name is not a title, it is his first name. In the 1860 census he and his wife, Isabella, both 29 years old with 5 children are listed as living in Hudson Twp. where he farmed 80 acres. Major enlisted in the army in 1862 and was assigned to Co. K. 1st Indiana Cavalry during the war. He went in as a Private and was discharged in May of 1865, still a Private. Isabella died in 1887 and he then married Miss Christina Klinger who was born in Germany. Major died in 1902 and Christina in 1914. They are buried in this cemetery along with some of their children.


(6) AMOS B. RANGER was a veteran of the War of 1812. He was born 16 January 1789 in Massachusetts. Amos and his wife Anna lived in Galien, Berrien County, Michigan according to the 1870 census. He had land valued at $2500 and personal property of $250.00. He enlisted in the army in July of 1813 and mustered out in February of 1814. He died at the age of 82 years in 1871. Anna died in 1876.

(7) LYCURGUS JEFFERIES was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana on 1 January 1838, the son of Thomas and Margaret Jefferies and he had 5 siblings. Lycurgus father died of cholera in 1850. His mother remarried and at the age of 11 years he was indentured to a famer for seven years.
At the end of his indenture he received three months of schooling, a suit of clothes, and $15.00. He taught school for one year and then commenced farming on the home place. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the army for 3 years’ service. He was in the 68th Regiment in the Indiana Infantry. He was in many battles and was taken prisoner in Kentucky and was held for 3 months and then paroled. At the close of the war he located to Berrien County, Michigan and in 1867 he was married to Julia Valentine, the daughter of William and Samantha Valentine. They had one son, Ernest who married Daisy Mayes. Lycurgus was for several years engaged in the grocery and drug business in Three Oaks. He was a member of the G.A.R. in New Carlisle and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. He died 10 November 1903. Several members of the family are buried here.

The Spanish American War veteran’s name is unknown but on his grave is a plain rock with no inscription.







Part 2 (Dorothy)

[History of the cemetery land]
March 20, 1837
Edson Goit of Hancock County, Ohio was issued a Land Patent for 148.38 acres here in Section 7 of Hudson Township. The document was signed by the Secretary for President Martin Van Buren.
15 Years later on April 7, 1852 in Hancock County, Ohio, Edson Goit and his wife, Jane, conveyed to William Thomas this same acreage plus an adjoining piece for $2000. The deed was recorded here in La Porte County a year later in February of 1853. Strangely, the first tombstone in this cemetery is dated July of 1847 for Thomas’ 11-month-old son, Daniel E. Thomas, 5 years before Thomas owned the property.
Was Thomas renting the land before he owned it? In 1855, he and his family were living on the property when their son, Edson, was born. Was this son named after Edson Goit from whom he bought the property?
14 Years later on June 8, 1866 or 1867 (both dates are on the deed)
William Thomas and his wife, Lucretia A Thomas, convey a small section of the original property in trust for the Methodist Episcopal Church and an adjoining cemetery, for $50.


WILLIAM THOMAS

Born February 16, 1819.
Deed information lists William as being “of Hancock County, Ohio”. Census information says he and his wife, Lucretia A. were born in Ohio, she being born in Wayne County in her obit.
He voted in the 1st presidential election ever held in La Porte County in 1832.
William bought and sold land in Michigan City, La Porte, and Springville.
He was listed in the 1860 U.S. Census with his wife, Lucretia, children, Marcus, Edson and Cora, as well as his mother-in-law, Mary Fairchild, who had been born in Massacchuettes.

William Thomas served as a Private-Recruited into the Army, Company K, 11th Regiment, Indiana Infantry. He enlisted on June 14, 1861 and was discharged on December 30 of that year due to a disability. Jasper Packard, in his 1876 book, THE HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY, lists William as being back in the Army, this time in Company H of the 11th Regiment on October 12, 1864. Did he return to service after his disability was corrected?

William died February 4, 1880 on the farm from Erysipelas (Greek —red skin; also known as "Ignis sacer", "holy fire", and "St. Anthony's fire" in some countries) is an acute streptococcus bacterial infection of the upper dermis and superficial lymphatics.

This simple obituary appeared in the Michigan City Dispatch, Thursday, 12 February 1880:
“William Thomas, an old settler of this county, died at his residence in this city last Thursday morning, of erysipelas. He was buried at Maple Grove cemetery, in Hudson township.”

The Probate Order Book A for La Porte County in Feb of 1880 for the estate of William Thomas lists a minor heir, Kittie Thomas, for whom an Attorney ad Litem is appointed. This is the Kittie Belle buried in the family plot-an adopted daughter. She died two years later at the age of 9 yrs. She is not listed in the obit of Lucretia.

Only three children of William & Lucretia lived to adulthood.
Son, Edson G. Thomas was born and died on the farm (1855-1902). Edson attended Valparaiso college and Prof. Phelon’s academy in La Porte before teaching school for 3 years. He studied law under Captain Bliss of La Porte where he practiced law for 5 years before moving to Sac City, Iowa. He married a hometown girl Lillian Buck in 1880 shortly after the death of his father. They moved to Omaha, Nebraska to continue his law practice. In 1897 Edson moved back to the farm largely prompted by the hope of benefitting his health. On October 19, 1902, he died of appendicitis at age 47. He left behind his wife, three daughters and two sons. His funeral services were held in the Maple Grove ME Church and he was buried in the cemetery here.

Son, Marcus B. Thomas, was living in Wasco, California, in 1919. A daughter, Cora Thomas, married Frank Wickersham and was living near Westville in 1902 and in La Porte 1n 1919. Neither Marcus nor Cora are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery.

13 years after the death of William Thomas, his widow married Jonas Lycurgus Hicks.

If William Thomas could speak to you, he might tell you this interesting story about his neighbor in life and death, Cyrus York.
He might say:

My neighbor here, in life and death, Cyrus York, had a daughter, Jane. Jane married one of the Thomas boys from my home county, Hancock County, Ohio. His name was Cyrus Thomas. Cyrus went off to the Rebellion with the 49th Ohio. He fought at Shiloh, Tenn. and Salt River Bridge, Kentucky. He even became a Sergeant. Sadly, like so many others, he took sick and spent 4 months in a military hospital and died in 1863. Never did see his daughter, Olivia, who was born here in Indiana in 1862. But he did leave behind a diary to remember him by. It’s in the Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collections. You can even view it online.





JONAS LYCURGUS HICKS

Jonas was born in Vigo County, Indiana on the 2nd of March 1828 to Benjamin Hicks and Lydia Seely. He came to Hudson Twp, La Porte County with his family at the age of 7 in 1835. His father was a farmer, a male nurse, and a self-made dentist. His father was born in Chemung, NY. His mother was born in Canada. Jonas’ grandfather, George, came from England to Canada and to La Porte County by way of NY.

In the 1850 census, at the age of 22 yrs, Jonas is a school teacher. According to the Berrien County marriage records, on the 27th of October 1853, he married Araminta Dormor York in Berrien County, MI.

In July of 1862, Jonas enlisted in the 73rd Indiana Volunteers as a Sergeant. He signed up for 3 years service listing his occupation as a physician. At the time of his enlistment, Jonas was 34 yrs old, 5’ 6” tall with light complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. He had a wife and three children named Lydia, John and Ben and a 4th child born in his absence, Jonas B. After 1 year and 2 months in the service he received a Certificate of Disability discharge at Indianapolis which stated that he was sick with disease of he bowels for more than 60 days and was not fit to re-enlist.

After Jonas recuperated from the effects of camp life, he and Araminta took up their lives again in Hudson Twp, he as a physician. 3 more children were born to the union, Minnie, Myra, and Georgiene. Of all there 7 children, only Jonas B. Hicks is buried is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery. Araminta died in Benton Harbor in 1892. In 1893 at the age of 64, Jonas married the widow of William Thomas, Lucretia Fairchild Thomas.

Jonas was one of the oldest masons in the Three Oaks, Michigan lodge and also a member of the G. A. R. in New Carlisle. He entered the National Military home at Marion, Indiana in 1898 where he lived until his death in 1905. His extensive obituary makes no mention of his marriage to Lucretia Fairchild Thomas. Her obituary does. Why did the writer of his extensive obituary chose to leave that out?



JOHN W. CARRIER

John W. Carrier was born in 1844 in Pennsylvania. His wife, Eliza was also born in Pennsylvania. They lived on Section 19 of Hudson Twp. near the Hicks families. In May of 1861 at the age of 17 he enlisted for three months of service in the Civil War. On Sept 5 he joined the 9th Indiana Regiment in Co. F in the first campaign in W. Virginia. After his 3 months were up, the company returned to Indiana to be reorganized, hoping to get into the Lew Wallace (Zoo av) Zouave Regiment, the Indiana 11th. The Zouave unit was too full and the recruits joined the 20th Indiana. Somewhere John Carrier was dropped from the roles and listed as a deserter in some records. He lived here in Hudson Twp. until his death in 1886. Since his wife applied for a widow’s pension in Pennsylvania after his death, she must have moved back to the state of her birth. The fact that she filed for a pension seems to prove that his loss from the rolls was not because of desertion but an error during the reorganization after the completion of his three month enlistment. Only his pension file would tell the story.




CHARLES J. McDUFFEE

Charles was born In Wayne Co., NY to John and Chrisa McDuffee . He and his wife, Ellen lived and died in Galien, Berrien Co., MI., he in Nov of 1872 and she in Feb 1878, both died in their 40’s.

Although Charles’ grave is marked with a Civil War flagholder, the author hasn’t found evidence that he was a Civil War veteran. There are reasons to think that he has been confused with another veteran of that war, Henson T. McDuffee.. Henson was related to a John Wesley McDuffee family who lived in Galena Twp. Henson joined the troops in Michigan City. He is listed in Jasper Packard’s HISTORY OF LAPORTE COUNTY, and his wife’s first name was Louisa, but she was called Eloisa giving her the same first initial as Charles’ wife Ellen. Henson died in Big Rapids, Michigan and is buried in Plymouth, Marshall Co., IN next to his wife.

But in fact, Henson McDuffee was not the C. J. McDuffee buried here and his wife, E. W. is Ellen and not Eloisa. So, it is possible that C. J. McDuffee did not serve in the Civil War, at least not from La Porte County.

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Monday, May 21, 2012

June tour of Maple Grove Cemetery

The La Porte County Genealogical Society will hold its annual cemetery tour at 6 pm (Central time), Tuesday, June 12, at Maple Grove Cemetery on 1000 N, a quarter mile east of 700 E in Hudson Township.

This cemetery has been described as slightly spooky, perhaps because it is surrounded by maple and cedar trees and not much light enters the cemetery, giving it a rather dark appearance.  Dorothy Palmer and Gloria Arndt will discuss the history of the cemetery, as well as the Civil War veterans and War of 1812 veteran -- and the other people buried there.

Weather permitting, the society meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

It's not too late to apply for one or more residency certificates for 2012. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/categories.htm 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

April meeting wrapup

A few seats are still available on the April 18 bus to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center, leaving Michigan City at 7 am and La Porte at 7:30, returning in time for supper. You can't drive there any cheaper or faster. The annual research trip is co-sponsored by the Michigan City Public Library and the La Porte County Genealogical Society. Details on the society web site, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/printable.pdf.

At the April 10 meeting, the members discussed 1940 census indexing, the bus trip, and the program provided by Kathlyn Sonntag of the Lake Station Historical Society on the Bailly families and their homestead. The program was well illustrated with old photographs and out-of-print books. At the May 8 meeting, David Nowicki will speak on Polish and Latin documents.

Weather permitting, the society meets at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

It's not too early to apply for one or more residency certificates for 2012. Our web site at 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

April meeting

Have you visited the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm and wondered about the families who lived there? Come hear Kathlyn Sonntag talk about them at the La Porte County Genealogical Society's meeting 7 pm Tuesday, April 10, at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street.

Weather permitting, the society meets there on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

The society's annual bus trip to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne is Wednesday, April 18. Paid reservations are due by March 30 -- use the form on our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/printable.pdf.

It's not too early to apply for one or more residency certificates for 2012. Our web site at 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

March meeting

Have you found something in your genealogical research that may not be related to your family, but is too good not to pass along? Then bring it to the meeting of the La Porte County Genealogical Society 7 pm Tuesday, March 13, at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street. Members and friends will share their favorite "lucky finds" of all sorts.

Weather permitting, the society meets there on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

The society's annual bus trip to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne is Wednesday, April 18. Paid reservations are due by March 30 -- use the form on our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/printable.pdf.

It's not too early to apply for one or more residency certificates for 2012. Our web site at 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

February meeting recap

The La Porte County Genealogical Society met on February 14. Alan Zeller and Harold Henderson presented a two-part program on the 1940 census -- Harold on what information will be in it, and Alan on how he has been finding enumeration districts and addresses for where his relatives lived that year. This is crucial information since the census will not have a name index when it is first unveiled on April 2.

The society's annual all-day bus trip to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center will be April 21, and paid-up reservations are due by the end of March. Details are on the society web site and a form for signup is available at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/printable.pdf. It's amazing how much more you can get done when you don't have to drive the four-hour round trip! The bus will hold 42 people, and eleven have signed up so far. All books there are in open stacks and advice is available on the bus if it will be your first time visiting. This is one of the best genealogy libraries in the country.

The society will meet next on March 13, when the program will be members' discoveries of serendipity or trivia, not necessarily related to their own families, especially in local newspapers.

The society meets at 7:15 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte, weather permitting. The public is welcome at all meetings.

It's not too late to apply for La Porte County residency certificates; the deadline for submitting a documented application is July 31. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/ 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Photo added to Genealogist of the Year post














We have at last added a photograph to the December 14 post on Fern Eddy Schultz's being selected as the society's second Genealogist of the Year. And here it is as well!
Left: Fern Eddy Schultz. Right: Dorothy Palmer.

Monday, January 23, 2012

1940 census meeting February 14

Seventy-two years and one day after the 1940 US census was taken, its handwritten house-by-house returns will be made public on line April 2, 2012.

What questions were asked -- and answered -- by the 132 million Americans then living?

How can today's researchers find their families when there is no name index yet?

The La Porte County Genealogical Society will meet at 7 pm Tuesday, February 14, weather permitting, at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street. Following a short business meeting, Alan Zeller and Harold Henderson will answer these questions and more.

The society meets there on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The public is welcome at all meetings. Membership dues are $10 individual, $12 family.

It's not too early to apply for one or more residency certificates for 2012. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/ 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Friday, January 13, 2012

January meeting recap

A bus trip to Fort Wayne, possible cemetery tours, and a new publications committee were on the agenda when the La Porte County, Indiana, Genealogical Society held its monthly meeting January 10th. Forms will be available in February to sign up for April's all-day bus trip to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Bus travel will be $21 per person, and the Michigan City Public Library will co-sponsor the trip.

The recommendation to establish an Indexing, Abstracting, and Publications Committee, plus a set of policies for the committee, will be voted on at the next meeting in February. See the previous post on this blog for the details.

Following the business meeting, members shared relics and discoveries including an old grave rubbing from Winchester Cathedral in England, a long-lost family photograph, a collection of vacation pictures of a trip to Sacajawea's grave site in Wyoming, an ancestor's records from an old US veterans' home, some "peacekeepers" for a south county tavern, and a striking photo of a former Michigan City police chief.

Next month, on February 14, Alan Zeller and Harold Henderson will try to make sense of the 1940 census, which will be released to the public on 2 April. It will not be indexed by name. How can you find your ancestors -- or yourself! -- in the census without an index? Come and find out!

The society meets at 7:15 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the Swanson Center for Older Adults, 910 State Street, La Porte, weather permitting. The public is welcome at all meetings.

Four applications have already been requested for residency certificates. The deadline for submitting application is July 31, so it's not too early to get started. Our web site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/ 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 at http://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

Proposed new society committee on publications

Here are the proposals the society will vote on at the 14 February meeting.

First a new committee added to the constitution and bylaws:

Section 4. The Indexing, Abstracting and Publications Committee consisting of five members with the following duties (1) To encourage and support the indexing and publishing of public and private genealogical records, (2) To oversee Society initiated abstracting and indexing projects, (3) To solicit and negotiate with authors and compilers for publication and sale of their work by the Society, (4) To oversee printing, binding, and distribution of publications, (5) To oversee on-line publication via the website, including possible on-line publication of older publications, and (6) To report to the membership and the board.

Second, a set of policies for the committee:

POLICIES OF

INDEXING, ABSTRACTING & PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

(A) Society-initiated projects. Anyone volunteering to work on indexing/abstracting projects under the direction of the Society would sign an agreement relinquishing their rights to the completed project. All necessary materials to do the work on the project would be furnished by the society. All proceeds from sales would go to the treasury of the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society. Compilers would each receive one free copy of the published book.

(B) Independent compiler projects. Anyone who wishes to do abstracting or indexing on his/her own may offer the work to the society for publication. The Society could also approach such a person and offer to publish and sell. If an agreement was reached, the individual compiler(s) would sign a Donation of Work form relinquishing all or part of their rights to the work and allowing the Society to publish and sell. All proceeds from sales would go to the treasury of the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society. Compilers would each get one free copy of the published book.

(C) Independent publisher projects. Anyone who privately publishes and markets their work may offer the Society a quantity of copies at a lesser price, to be sold by the Society at the same market price offered by the individual, so a small profit would be added to the Society's coffers. Specific arrangements would be subject to negotiation between the committee and the author. These products could be offered for sale by the Society on its web site, in its quarterly newsletter, or in any other manner, but they would not be Society publications. The compiler(s) would retain all rights.

(D) The committee will establish necessary procedures, including forms for the above situations.