Website Notice

The Society's Webpage is not available now. Along with numerous pages hosted by Rootsweb, a server problem is blamed. For updates, please follow us on FaceBook or check our Blog here at https://lpcgs.blogspot.com.

"Fatal Error" and a fortunate salvage

Several members and guests at the November meeting of the La Porte County, IN Genealogical Society were entertained by a presentation by Betty Morris of Westville. In 1994, Betty rescued an abandoned suitcase which was sitting on the curb  near her Michigan City apartment.

When she opened the suitcase, Betty found the documents and clues which resulted in a tale of courage and tragedy, the story of the crew of a Navy patrol bomber brought down by Japanese gunfire. With these clues, Gary D Cooper, commander USN (Ret.), filled in the tale and published it in a book, "Fatal Error," in 2015.

The society meets every second Tuesday in the month (except June and December) at the La Porte City Park Department Headquarters, 250 Pine Lake Avenue, La Porte. December's meeting will be the annual Christmas Party, held at 6 PM at Round the Clock restaurant. This meeting will feature the presentation of the Genealogist of the Year award, and reservations should be sent to Patricia Gruse Harris, 504 Greenwood Avenue, Michigan City, IN 46360 (pagharris@sbcglobal.net) or 219-872-3273; reservation deadline is Friday, December 1, 2017.

Residency Awards 2017

At our meeting Tuesday, September 12, 2017, The Society was happy to award residency certificates to three individuals. Above is a photograph of Residency Committee member Gloria Arndt and the recipients.

Bob Bernth was awarded a Pioneer Family Certificate for Johanna Maria Fredericke Rossow Krumm and Karl Friedrich Joachim Krumm, in La Porte County by 1855; and a Pioneer Family Certificate for Louisa J. Krumm Zahrt, in the county by 1857.

Carol Lloyd was awarded a First Family Certificate for Benjamin Turman Bryant, in La Porte County by 1832; and a Pioneer Family Certificate for John Lloyd, in the county by 1850.

Ron Hyer was awarded a Pioneer Family Certificate for George Walker, in La Porte County by 1856.

For more details on the awards and their requirements, visit our website at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/ . You can also follow us on Facebook.

RESIDENCY CERTIFICATES for 2017

On Tuesday,  September 12, 2017, the society will meet in its usual meeting  place, the Headquarters building of the La Porte City Parks Department. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.

After our business meeting, the Residency Committee will present the awards for 2017.

First Family certificates are presented to individuals proving descent from someone who settled in the area which is now La Porte County before December 31, 1840.

Pioneer Family certificates go to those whose ancestors settled from 1841 to 1860; Settler certificates for 1861 through 1880; and Civil War certificates to descendants of  Civil War veterans who lived in the county before enlistment or who served in a local unit.

Guest are always welcome at our meetings. Refreshments are provided.

Find a form to apply for 2018 awards at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/certificates.htm

A Pioneer Cemetery

Part of the Crowd at our 2017 Cemetery Tour, June 13,2017.

The tombstone of Abram Judson Webster, one of the early La Porte County settlers in Webster Cemetery.

On Tuesday evening, June 13, 2017, the La Porte County, IN Genealogical Society toured Webster Cemetery, in Noble township. Surrounded by private property just South of Highway 6, this was a valuable opportunity to learn about the brave folk whose remains are interred here.

Laura Shields, Patricia Gruse Harris and Dorothy Germain Palmer told us of these people and their history. They include survivors or their descendants of the Wyoming Valley Massacre in Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War. Included is the Second Great Grandmother of U. S. President Warren G. Harding.

Thanks to the hospitality of the land owners, Mr. & Mrs. Edmon Karstens, about twenty-five people participated. Later, many of the group went to the Satellite Inn in Union Mills for a meal and fellowship.

Irish and Irish-Scots Genealogy

An Upcoming Event!

Contact the MCPL for more details