From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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2010 TSGS Annual Dinner Meeting...

With a good turn out and a great speaker, last night's event at Sirloin Stockade was enjoyed by all. In the first photo below, I had just presented Don Counts with a TSGS Certificate of Appreciation for his numerous contributions to the TSGS Cruiser Blog. From March 2009 to March 2010, Don made 40 significant contributions! In all 41 people sent in contributions during this period for a total of over 160 daily blogs which represented about 52% of the blogs that were published during that year time span! The other 48% came from me as blog master with the bulk of that as TSGS news. I am very pleased with the number of people who helped with the blog. Three others were mentioned as major contributors: Chris Myers, Linda Young-Niemeier & Taneya Koonce.

We recognized Brenda Jerome with a TSGS Certificate of Appreciation for her contributions to the Tri-State Packet and her 12 contributions to the TSGS Cruiser Blog. Three others mentioned who contibutes articles to the Packet were Larry Goss, Carol Bartlett & Gilbert Schmitt.

A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Connie Conrad for her significant contribution to the genealogical world with her organizing & indexing records in Posey County, Indiana. Connie listed several of the people present that has helped her on this monumental project: Don Pierce, Janet Mann, Deb Travers, Vannetta McDowell


Below is pictured our guest speaker, Harold Morgan, and Claudette Pfingston (who sent me these photos). Mr. Morgan a noted local historian, lecturer, and author presented a very interesting slide program, "Evansville During the Depression."

The TSGS 2010-11 Officers Nominating Committee announced a partial list of the slate of officers and that they are seeking nominees for Secretary & Program Chair plus a few more Board Directors. If you are interested in serving or have a suggestion of someone contact any on the committee: John West, Doug Korb, Bettie Cook or Don Counts.

- Photos submitted by Claudette Pfingston

TSGS Officer Resignation

This morning I officially accepted the resignation of Brenda Jerome as TSGS Recording Secretary and her various committee assignments. I regret that she felt this necessary... she had made a lot of contributions to the society and she will be missed. We all wish her luck in all of her future endeavors.

John G. West, TSGS President

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

At yesterday's TSGS Board Meeting, it was decided, at the invitation of Willard Library, to Co-Sponsor the Tree Roots Workshop later this fall.

The 2010-11 Nominating Committee appointments were announced by the President: Brenda Jerome (Chair), Don Counts, Bettie Cook & Doug Korb. They will soon be asking members to serve in offices.

The Board will recommend at the May regular membership meeting that we will change the meeting start time from 7:30 PM to 7:00 PM in order for the library to close up a little earlier. If accepted by the members present this will begin at our September meeting the first meeting for 2010-11.

Come join us at our April 13th. Dinner Meeting at Sirloin Stockade on Bellemeade near Green River Road. Harold Morgan (Historian, Speaker, Author) will present "EVANSVILLE DURING THE DEPRESSION."

John G. West, TSGS President

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TSGS Meeting tonight!

09 Mar 2010
Willard Library

6:30 p.m. IndividualResearch Assistance

Bring your Information

7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting

Discussion Groups (choose one): A) Court Cases, led by Brenda Jerome, B) Posey County Research, led by Connie Conrad, C) Vital Records, led by Mary Lou Bevers.

Everyone is invited, you do not need to be a member to attend! However, membership dues help us to acquire research materials (books, CD's, microfilm, etc.).


John G. West, TSGS President

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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Today is one of those rare days when there is two blogs for one day!

Just like our wide-eyed frog seems to be saying, "Oh my, I almost forgot our March TSGS Meeting is coming up this Tuesday night at 7:30 PM at Willard Library!"

I hope none of you forget. Spring is almost here and it is time to get out and enjoy some better weather with some warm sunshine. Yesterday on Facebook several of my friends were running out to take photos in cemeteries for Find-A-Grave... Vannetta McDowell, Christopher Myers & Cheri Baumberger. My West Y-DNA cousins were fine-tuning a time line of some information that we plan to research in depth to dig out new leads for our common ancestor (yet to be discovered). My earlier post today was about the 2010 National Genealogical Society Conference. Yesterday I posted my preview of the new NBC TV series called "Who Do You Think You Are?" with a link to watch it online if you missed it. Spring always brings out a new flurry of genealogical activity as it does bringing out leaves, flowers and wildlife.

So, why not attend this month's TSGS meeting? After a brief business meeting, we will break-up into 3 groups for general discussions on the following topics: Discussion Groups (choose one) A) Court Cases, led by Brenda Jerome, B) Posey County Research, led by Connie Conrad, C) Vital Records, led by Mary Lou Bevers.

John G. West, TSGS President

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Stephen H.S. Cook...

The following article appeared in the Evansville Courier, Thursday, 3 March 1910.

Stephen H.S. Cook, one of the city’s early and most prominent business men and a church worker of note, died Wednesday afternoon at the family home at 1623 Upper Second street.

Mr. Cook was born at Woonsocket, Rhode Island May 10, 1840 and his early youth was spent in that city. A brother, Rev. Henry A. Cook, of Boston, receiving an appointment as pastor of the First Baptist Church of this city, urged him to come west and in 1859 he came to Evansville.

For over a year after his arrival, he taught school in the little brick school house which at that time stood on the corner of Main and Division streets. While engaged in this work, he met Esther Jarvis, daughter of one of the pioneers of this section, who, in 1861, became his wife.

The war breaking out about this time, Mr. Cook set about to raise a company, Co. H., 91st Indiana volunteers, with whom he served as a second lieutenant. With the advent of peace, Mr. Cook returned to Evansville and became engaged in the grocery business on Main street. He continued at this until 1889 when he entered the insurance field which occupied his attention up to the time of his last illness.

For the past 50 years, the deceased has been an active member of the First Baptist Church and during much of that time has served as one of its officers. Mr. Cook was a member of the G.A.R. and the Knights and Ladies of Honor.

Surviving of the large family of which Mr. Cook was a member, are one brother and five sisters. A wife and four children, S. Wallace Cook, John W. Cook, Mrs. William E. Wilson of this city and Clarence A. Cook of Indianapolis and eight grandchildren also survive.

The funeral will take place Friday afternoon from the First Baptist Church.

[Note: Stephen H.S. Cook is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery:
Section 39, Lot 63, Grave 3 - 69 yrs. 9 mos. 22 days. His Find-A-Grave Memorial is being maintained by Brenda Legate: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14358761.]

- Submitted by Brenda Joyce Jerome

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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Photos taken by Brenda Jerome of our Christmas Social last night. Despite the terrible rainy night most of the TSGS officers and some of our local members made it out to Willard Library to enjoy holiday snacks & treats and fellowship with each other. Larry Goss brought his Keystone steropticon that shows pictures in 3-D... really cool. This gadget was the front runner of the View Master with its round disks.
L-R: TSGS Treasurer Bettie Cook; Board Director Janet Mann; John Scherer.

L-R: TSGS Corresponding Secretary Sue Hebbeler, Vice President Doug Korb; Dan Korb; President John G. West (laughing at something Larry Goss was joking about).

L-R: TSGS Board Director Becky West; Program Chair Mary Lou Bevers; Treasurer Bettie Cook; Board Director Janet Mann; John Scherer.

L-R: TSGS President John G. West (who probably should go on a diet!); Board Director Larry Goss; Board Director Rena Goss; Board Director Becky West. Other officers attending, but not pictured were TSGS Board Director Don Counts & Secretary Brenda Jerome (photographer for the night). And also attending was Lyn Martin (TSGS Ex Official Board Member representing Willard Library). Many of our members and officers take a quick punch & snack break and then back to researching! Some sat around and told jokes & stories.

I told the story that happened at my mother's funeral in 1997. Mom and her brothers were all Catholic, but Dad was not... so all of us were not raised Catholic. When the Priest came to the visitation at the funeral home to perform the Rosary... Mom's three brothers and families (all Catholic) slipped out the back door. I looked around and suddenly noticed there were no Catholic visitors present. I went to the Priest and introduced myself and informed him that the only Catholics present was my mother & him. The Preist said, "You mean the only two Catholics here is me and the deceased?" He laughed and said this will be a first! He gave as good a Rosary as I had every heard, but he did cut it short.

- Photos taken & submitted by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG. Commentary by JGWest

NAVIGATING ALONG the RIVER - Research Tips

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As blogs become more popular, we will all be able to find blogs that interest us... if only we have time to read them!

You can search for genealogy related blogs, here is one site: http://blogfinder.genealogue.com/ You can also Google 'Genealogy Blogs.'

In an article I wrote concerning genetic DNA testing "Why DNA?" was the following statement: And as Beau Sharbrough pointed out in his article in the Ancestry Daily News, “DNA has replaced blood in the determination of ‘blood relationships.’” Sharbrough worked for Ancestry.com then he went on to Footnote.com and since has left them. According to Eastman, this puts Beau in a good "insiders" position to evaluate what is happening with these companies. Dick Eastman has a very good blog to keep up with what is going on in genealogy advances, changes and special interests: http://blog.eogn.com/ To see Beau Sharbrough's blog go here: http://tufblog.com/ Another great blog, perhaps the best, is Dear Myrtle: http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/

At least one TSGS member has a blog... Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG. Check out her Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog at http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/ Here are a few that I like to check out when I have time: Bill West's West in New England http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/ and Randy Seaver's Genea-Musings http://www.geneamusings.com/ Let us know your top genealogy blogs!

- Compiled by JGWest

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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Union Soldiers buried in...
Rose Hill Cemetery
Newburgh, Indiana

(Click on photos to enlarge the image)
- Photos taken & submitted by Brenda Joyce Jerome

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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TSGS salutes all U.S. Veterans today!

Ancestry.com has announced that it is providing free search on its U.S. Military Collection through 13 Nov. in honor of America's veterans.

Last night's TSGS meeting...

We had a nice turn out with about 25 people. [Please click on photos to get a larger image... I apologise for the clarity of these photos.*]


Photo of some of those in attendance: first table Colonel John Wesley Powell & Karin Marie Kirsch - second table TSGS Vice President Doug Korb & her husband Dan Korb.

TSGS Treasurer Bettie Cook presenting the Treasurer's Report. Bettie also presented a brief overview of Probate Records later in the meeting.

Willard Library's Special Collections Director [Genealogy & History] Lyn Martin gave a report on library news and upcoming events. TSGS President West is to the left and TSGS Secretary Brenda Jerome is seated to the right.

Above, John G. West is leading the discussion group for Genealogical DNA Testing. Mary Lou Bevers, TSGS Program Chair, conducted a discussion group in the Bayard Room concerning Geographical Boundary Changes.

[*I asked a friend to take photos for me last night with my camera which is not easy to use without blurring photos - these were the best. There is a trick to avoid the photos from blurring with my camera which is not easy to do, but the best bet will be for me to get a better camera! - JGW]

From the Captain's Treasure Chest - Newspaper Clippings

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Proving you never know what will be found in the newspapers, the following article contains valuable clues to the genealogist. It appeared in the Evansville Press on 21 February 1918, page 3. - BJJ

Civil War Vet Has 100 Descendants

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Zehner, 812 Garvin St., have so many grandchildren and great-grandchildren that they can’t remember all their names. They have an even 100 descendants, some of whom they haven’t seen. The couple have 10 children, 23 grandchildren and 67 great-grandchildren – all living in Indiana.

The Zehners were married in 1866 on a farm four miles from Evansville, where all their children were born. A chance acquaintance led to Zehner’s marriage. Zehner met the father of his wife, Conrad Colrazer, in an Evansville barroom a few months before he married Mary Ann. He spent the day with the Colrazer on their farm near Evansville and there fell in love with the girl who is now his wife. Tho he can’t name all his descendants, Zehner can tell you all about what happened at Shiloh, Chicamauga, Ft. Donaldson, or Murpheesboro. He served with the Union army in both artillery and infantry.

“I was stationed at the White House two weeks before my discharge, and use to salute Lincoln every day when he came out,” he said. “I served four months in Libby prison and lost 48 pounds.”

Zehner claims to be the only living man who helped lay the cornerstone of the First Catholic church in Warrick Co., St. John’s at St. John’s, Ind., built in 1863.

- Submitted by Brenda Joyce Jerome

Tombstone Thursday - Sawyer/Thomas

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Katie Sawyer Thomas & her baby...

Oak Hill Cemetery

Section 18, Lot 47, Graves 1 & 2

Evansville, Indiana

[Back view]
Katie
My Beloved Wife

Katie's Baby

[Front view]
Katie Sawyer
Devoted Wife of
R.A. Thomas
Born Aug. 5, 1862
Died May 8, 1884

Katie
Daughter of
R.A. & Katie Sawyer Thomas
Born April 28, 1884
Died Aug. 13, 1884


-Photos taken & submitted by Brenda Joyce Jerome

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Harrison

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Believed to be the oldest tombstone in Oak Hill Cemetery...
It was probably moved there from the old cemetery in downtown Evansville.

In Memory of

Mrs.

Elizabeth

Harrison

Who Departed this Life

11 day of July 1818

in the 20th year of her

Age

.

- Photo taken & submitted by Brenda Joyce Jerome. Photographed 30 August 2009.

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

"Good Time & Learning for All at Workshop"

Ron Darrah presented his workshop on "Obscure Genealogical Sources" inside Willard Library while several organizations & book vendors were under tents outside in the library's park.



Photo above taken by Lyn Martin right at the end of the four programs conducted by Ron Darrah far left. Going from Ron to the right is Bob Johnson (longtime TSGS member), Vannetta McDowell (Willard Staff Member, past TSGS Board Member), Graham Denby Morey (TSGS Member) and John G. West (TSGS President). I learned from this program that the 1930 US Federal Census includes two questions to help identify veterans... this I was not aware of. We all learned a lot more that may be available through school records. Graham & I attended Evansville College (U of E) together and are both members of the Ohio Valley Chapter of the Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution (INSSAR). Ron is a member of INSSAR, as well.

This photo was taken by Don Pierce, just before I packed up the TSGS books to go back in the library's TSGS closet. This was the first time for me to set-up and man the TSGS table... I can honestly say that I now appreciate the work so many others have done in the past events working the TSGS table! Thanks to all of them! We did sell two books and got two membership renewals. The Posey County Historical Society (PCHS) members can be seen in the background taking down their information booth. Many working it were also active TSGS members. As a fund raiser for their cemetery preservation project, they were selling chocolate suckers (bars on a stick) that were in the shape of tombstones. They used Halloween candy molds to make them... really neat!

Several other vendors were present: Pat Gooldy of Ye Olde Genealogie Shoppe (one of the Evansville area all-time favorites) came all the way from Indianapolis and Brenda Joyce Jerome (TSGS Secretary) had a table of her publications with two or three other vendors there as well. Brenda watched the TSGS table while I was inside learning new things in the workshop.

It was a chilly, breezy, overcast day and we had a few light mists of rain... mixed with some sunny periods, too. Nice day for vendors outdoors (as long as you had a light jacket or sweater)!

Lyn Martin, Peggy Newton, Vannetta McDowell and several other Willard staff members did a great job of organizing and keeping this workshop going for Willard's first free all-day genealogical workshop. Congratulations and a big thank-you for a successful event. After 50 years of researching... I still learned a lot from this one day. Thanks to Ron Darrah for a very well conducted workshop. Many of us know him through the Indiana Society of SAR and others through his involvement in the Indiana Genealogical Society (IGS).

A visit from a blog contributor from Nashville...

Taneya Koonce came to Willard Library to meet me & Brenda Jerome on Sunday 09 Aug 2009. Brenda along with Taneya, Don Counts & Chris Myers are the major contributors to our TSGS Cruiser Blog. Below is a photo of us in Willard's Special Collection floor.

Left to right: Brenda Jerome, Taneya Koonce and John G. West.

We had a very nice visit that we cut short because Taneya is a genealogist (just like us) that wanted to do some research in Willard's fantastic genealogical collection. Taneya is a very nice young lady with five young children: four boys and the cutest little girl that I have a photo on this blog on an earlier date. She has promised me that she will submit for the blog the interesting story behind her name and another lady plus her sons' names.

Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday

Hedges Cemetery

Newburgh, Indiana

Hedges Cemetery is located on the Covington Court cul de sac, off Vann Road, in Newburgh. This is an example of how to maintain the dignity of an old cemetery within a subdivision.

- Photo taken & submitted by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG

Tombstone Thursday - Kroener

Kroener Family Tombstone -

Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana

Photographed 27 June 2009

Philip Frederick Kroener
Born Oct. 17, 1838
Died Feb. 7, 1886

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Augustina His Wife
Born Mar. 24, 1840
Died May 2, 1896

[One one side of stone]

Frederick B. Son of
Rev. P. & A. Kroener
Born Mar. 2, 1864
Died Dec 17, 1887
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Otto C. Kroener
Born May 24, 1868
Died sept. 9, 1907
[on other side of stone]

- Photos taken & submitted by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

1901 "Colored Folks" Evansville News

The local newspaper is one of the often-overlooked resources for African-American research in Evansville during the early years of the 20th century. Columns titled “Colored Folks” provide information on deaths, church events and visits from former residents. These columns do not appear on particular days; they seem to appear whenever there is enough information to warrant them. Most often they appear in the Sunday issues, but also appear throughout the rest of the week. The following items are from the Evansville Courier in February 1901.


Sunday, 17 February 1901

The infant daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Ed Roberson died Saturday morning at their home, 1201 West Virginia Street. The funeral will take place Monday from the family home, 1207 West Virginia Street [sic].


The funeral of the late Edmund D. Gooding took place Saturday about 12 o’clock noon from his late home in Thiele’s Row. Rev. C.N. Majors officiated in the service.


The funeral of the late Mrs. Minerva Love took place Saturday morning from the Independence Baptist church. The service was conducted by Rev. C.N. Majors. The services were largely attended.


Mrs. Mary E. Reed is seriously ill at her home in Newtownville. She has been confined to her home for several week with la grippe.


Professor W.A. Green, who is engaged in teaching school out in the country below Howell, was in the city Saturday on business.


Mrs. Mary Jackson of Louisville, Ky., was in the city Saturday visiting friends in Upper Fourth Street.


Mrs. Bettie Cabel is quite sick at her home, 315 Elliott Street.


Friday, 22 February 1901

After a long and painful illness of nearly ten months duration, all that was mortal of the late Mrs. Mollie Jones yielded up the ghost and her immortal spirit left its tenement of clay forever. Mrs. Jones was a native of North Carolina, where she resided until just two years ago. She was married to Columbus Jones and came to this city, where she lived until Wednesday afternoon at 5:15 o’clock, aged 25 years. She had no relatives in this section of the country except her husband and little son. Although she had resided here but a comparatively short time, yet she had made for herself many true and devoted friends, all of whom feel most keenly her death. Her funeral services took place Thursday afternoon from Alexander chapel. Rev. Charles Hunter officiated. There was a large crowd of sympathizing friends present to pay a last tribute of respect for her remains, which were laid tenderly to rest in Oak Hill cemetery.


Mrs. Rosa Harris was born at Canton, Miss., May 26, 1874, where she resided until she came to this city in 1878, and lived here till within the year when she went to Louisville, Ky., and returned to this city almost 10 days ago and died at the home of her grandmother, 617 Mulberry street, Feb. 20, 1901 after a short but fatal illness. She leaves a son, a sister, two brothers and other relatives to mourn her death. Her funeral takes place from Alexander Methodist church today. Rev. Charles Hunter will officiate in the funeral service assisted by Rev. W.H. Anderson and J.D. Rouse.


Arthur Banks of Morganfield, Ky. is here the guest of friends in Fulton avenue.


The Baptist Sabbath school union will hold its regular monthly meeting with the Mt. Zion Baptist Sunday school Sunday, Feb. 24.

- Submitted by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG

"MARRYIN’ POLLY"

Transcribed from the Evansville Courier, Friday, 16 July 1909



Boonville, Ind., July 15 – Polly Weed Baker Shippert, married ten times, may have a chance to marry the eleventh time. Today acting through her attorney, A.J. Ruttledge of Newburg, she filed a suit for divorce against her husband Simon Shippert, to whom she was married in Evansville on March 29 last by Magistrate Eben C. Poole. They separated on July 3.



Mrs. Shippert is 70 years old and says in her complaint that Simon treated her in a cruel and inhuman manner making her do all the drudgery while he sat around smoking and chewing and making her home unpleasant. She also says she is afraid he will do her some bodily harm and asks for the full possession of her property which was hers before her marriage to Shippert.



Mrs. Shippert has probably been married more times and had more husbands than any other woman in America. A majority of her former husbands were divorced. A few days after her recent marriage, one of her friends asked her if she thought it would be her last marriage and to this question she is said to have replied: “I do not know. If I should lose Mr. Shippert I might try again. I live married life.”



The divorce case will be tried before Judge Roscoe Kiper of the Warrick County circuit court some time next term. If Mrs. Shippert is given her divorce, she will retired to Newburg where she has a home and is comfortably fixed.



The fact that the last matrimonial venture of Mrs. Shippert was a failure was a surprise to many of her friends at Newburg. On Decoration Day in May she and her husband went arm and arm together to the cemetery at Newburg, where she decorated the graves of her former husbands who are buried there. Mr. Shippert carried the large basket that contained the flowers while the aged woman did the work of decorating the graves. She is said to have remarked at the time while she loved all her former husbands at one time, she believed she thought a little more of Mr. Shippert than any of the rest.



Shippert’s former home was in Burlington, Iowa, where he was engaged in the insurance business. It is probable he will return to the Iowa town where he will try to forget his marital troubles



While Mrs. Shippert has been married ten times she has had but nine husbands as she married one husband the second time, having obtained a divorce from him and afterwards consenting to be his wife again.

- Submitted by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

Willard Library's

Midnight Madness Class

Brenda Joyce Jerome, Certified Genealogist presents "Blogging for Beginners"

Brenda (in the center of this photo with the multi-colored sweater) is using her laptop to give a live online presentation on how to create a blog on the Internet. There were several that wanted to set-up a blog for genealogical purposes. Brenda gave a great program with easy to follow steps to create a blog. Brenda had a very good handout for everyone to use to take home and start their own blog. Brenda Jerome is the newly elected Secretary of the Tri-State Genealogical Society.


- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest