TSGS News

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TSGS May 2012 Meeting Highlights

President Don Counts opened the meeting with some brief business. John West, Nominating Committee Chair, announced the slate of candidates for the 2012-13 year: President – Don Counts; Vice-President – John G. West; Treasurer – Diana Davis; Recording Secretary – Kim Nightingale; Corresponding Secretary – Sue Hebbeler; Packet Editor – Brenda Legate; Program Chair – Bettie Cummings Cook, CG with the following Directors: Rena Goss, Larry Goss, Becky West, Karin Maria Kirsch, Mary Lou Bevers.

In the absence of the current Program Chair Becky West, John West introduced the guest speaker... Jeannie Browning Hester, CEO & Owner of Browning Funeral Home. Jeannie presented a slide presentation that was followed by a live online demonstration of the Browning Genealogy Online Database. Several new features were shown with examples of information on some of our TSGS members that can be found on this database. Perhaps the most used is the obituary collection from the Evansville newspapers from 1900 to the present that were compiled by Charles H. Browning over most of his life. There was lots of interaction throughout the program of the near 20 persons present.

After the program, the Browning family gave everyone a delicious cookie for attending, plus they donated a restaurant gift certificate for a drawing... with Carol Lantaff winning it. Another drawing for a genealogy T-shirt donated by Gloria Strott was won by Betty Counts! [Corrected donation of T-shirt from Gloria Strott... thanks, Gloria!]

- Compiled by JGWest

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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The TSGS Editor
of our quarterly journal The Tri-State Packet

sent out an email yesterday to remind officers & regular contributors of the July 15th. deadline to submit material for the September issue. Send anything you think might be of general use by some of our members. Recently the amount of material being sent in has been a little less than in the past... so now is a good time to submit something with a better chance that it will get into this or the next issue. Send what you have addressed to Tri-State Packet Editor: "Brenda Legate" blegate@att.net. Little short tid-bits are needed for page fillers, as well.

John G. West, TSGS President

RACING DOWN the RIVER -Brief Genealogical Notes

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From Brenda Legate, Packet Editor:
Just a brief note to remind you that the deadline for submissions to the upcoming issue of the Packet is April 15th. I know that may be a time when folks are more worried about finishing their taxes than anything else, so please feel free to send your submissions in early!!! lol I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
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The Indiana Genealogical Society's 2010 annual conference will be Saturday, April 10 at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne. Dick Eastman, author and creator of Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, will be the featured speaker. Registration at the door will be $40 each. The Indiana Genealogical Society will hold a Seminar on Friday, April 9 at the Allen County Public Library, in conjunction with the 2010 annual conference. The theme of the seminar is "Preservation From The Bottom Up." Topics will cover preservation on the personal level, as well as the society, county and archive levels. The Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center will be open from 6 pm to midnight on Friday, April 9 for conference attendees.
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From Dick Eastman's Blog:
No Small Change by David Ferriero, U.S. Archivist, he is the head of the National Archives and Records Administration. It is an interesting article and I find it especially interesting that the Archivist is using a blog in an attempt to directly reach the audience that his agency serves. He refers to himself as "Collector in Chief." David Ferriero's blog may be found at http://blogs.archives.gov/aotus/

The Pew Research Center recently published a report, “The Impact of the Internet on Institutions in the Future,” in which it found that 72 percent of experts agreed with the statement: By 2020, innovative forms of online cooperation will result in significantly more efficient and responsive governments, business, non-profits, and other mainstream institutions. That optimism agreed to by the experts indicates their belief that the internet will prompt institutional change...
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From Don Counts:
There will be a special marker dedication in honor of "Our Real Daughter" Mary Forbes Gano Cobb. Date: Sunday 25th April 2010 at 2:00 EST. New London Cemetery, 2104 County Road S 766 W Howard County, Russiaville IN. RSVP Rebecca Anne Shelton, bek@evansville.net by 11 April 2010.
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From TSGS President, John G. West:
Remember to attend our ~
13 Apr 2010 Annual Dinner Meeting 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dinner & Fellowship Sirloin Stockade, 4610 Bellemeade Ave. 6:30 p.m. Welcome Remarks & Awards 7:00 p.m. Program "EVANSVILLE DURING THE DEPRESSION" Presented by Mr. Harold Morgan, Historian.

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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

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

Tonight is the Jan. monthly TSGS meeting...
at Willard Library at 7:30 PM (12 Jan 2010). We meet the second Tuesday of each month except the vacation months of July & August. There will be 3 discussion groups that you may choose to join at the conclusion of our brief business meeting. Discussion Groups (choose one): A) Adoptions, led by Becky West, B) German Research, led by Karin Kirsch, C) Piftalls, led by Mary Lou Bevers (Mary Lou sent an email that she may not be able to make the meeting). Karin & Becky have prepared to lead their discussion groups... be sure to attend to participate. The roads are all good for traveling and we are experiencing a "heat wave!" - so, come to the meeting and learn something new.

The deadline for the March issue of the Tri-State Packet (TSGS Members quarterly journal) is January 15th. Please get your submissions to the Editor Brenda Legate by that time. She is looking forward to hearing from you! [Click on Brenda's name to send her a message.]

Last Friday (08 Jan 2009), the TSGS Cruiser got 140 hits - a record for one day!!!

John G. West, TSGS President

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

The next TSGS meeting is this Tuesday night at Willard Library at 7:30 PM (12 Jan 2010). There will be 3 discussion groups that you may choose to join at the conclusion of our brief business meeting. Discussion Groups (choose one): A) Adoptions, led by Becky West, B) German Research, led by Karin Kirsch, C) Piftalls, led by Mary Lou Bevers. I hope you will come out and join in on the discussions and learn something or share something for others to learn.

The deadline for the March issue of the Tri-State Packet (TSGS Members quarterly journal) is January 15th. Please get your submissions to the Editor Brenda Legate by that time. She is looking forward to hearing from you! [Click on Brenda's name to send her a message.]

John G. West, TSGS President

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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This from Brenda Legate, the Editor of The Tri-State Packet... the deadline for the March issue of the Tri-State Packet is coming up on January 15th. Please get your submissions to me by that time. I look forward to hearing from you! [Click on Brenda's name to send her a message.]

The next TSGS meeting will be at Willard Library at 7:30 PM on 12 Jan 2010. There will be 3 discussion groups that you may choose to join at the conclusion of our brief business meeting. Discussion Groups (choose one) A) Adoptions, led by Becky West, B) German Research, led by Karin Kirsch, C) Piftalls, led by Mary Lou Bevers. I hope you will come out and join in on the discussions and learn something that will be of value to you.

John G. West, TSGS President

"Elder Benoni Stinson"

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My connections to Benoni Stinson...



As a kid growing up in northeastern Warrick County, Indiana, I attended a small General Baptist Church in Heilman, Indiana. The church often spoke of the Oakland City General Baptist College (now University) and one of its founders, Benoni Stinson. He organized the Liberty Church in Evansville in 1823... now known as Howell General Baptist Church. He founded the present day General Baptist denomination.



Later in life, during the summers between attending classes at Evansville College (now University), I worked at George Koch Sons where I met Allan Puckett, who was my age and was an associate pastor at Evansville General Baptist Church. I began attending this church on a regular basis with Reverend Floyd Kirves the head pastor. I learned a lot of what a Christian was all about from Rev. Kirves and Brother Puckett. Just before, I answered the call to service during the Viet Nam conflict, I moved to Sterling, Illinois to help Allan with his first church... I was appointed the Sunday School Superintendent... here I was baptized in the General Baptist denomination. While I was in the U.S. Air Force, I met and fell in love with Becky and was married in a Southern Baptist Church by a General Baptist preacher, Allan Puckett (one of my two best friends). Dennis Avery was my other friend who served as my "best man."



After serving my 4 years in the USAF, Becky & I came home to Evansville and began raising a family and began attending Rev. Kirves' General Baptist church again. I had worked on my family history research since I was 12 years old, but did little letter writing or research while in the service. I got back into working on my family history. I learned and have documented that Benoni Stinson married a family member Ruth Martin. Ruth's father was John Martin, Jr. brother to my direct ancestor Thomas Martin. My ancestor Joseph Martin was the son of Thomas and a first cousin to Ruth Martin who married Benoni Stinson! I had grown up admiring Benoni Stinson not knowing that he had married into my father's family.



The December issue of our society's quarterly journal Tri-State Packet will have an article submitted by a Stinson descendant that includes Benoni & Ruth Stinson. Below are photos connected with Liberty General Baptist Church in the Howell west side neighborhood of Evansville. Click on photos for a larger, better image of each.

There are several grave markers for Benoni located in many sites... this is one erected in honor of his establishment of the Liberty Church

This is the south side of the former Liberty G.B. Church.

Above is a full view of the front side of the church.

Above the front doors of Howell General Baptist Church is the former Liberty name engraved in white stone.

As you could see in the photos of the church building there were several additions. Across the street to the west is the newest addition to Howell G.B. Church - the Family Life Center.

Be sure to read more about the Stinson family in The Tri-State Packet (edited by Brenda Legate).

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest. Article written by JGWest.

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

Brenda had her baby!

Introducing Ryan Legate

(Photo taken by Vannetta McDowell)

Usually this is a photo day from the First Mate's Photo Album, but I did not post that today to save this blog for Brenda Legate's baby. Brenda is the TSGS Editor of our membership Journal the Tri-State Packet. According to Vannetta McDowell, Brenda had her baby... Ryan - he is boy #3. I will edit this blog as I get more info. [Edited spelling of the name "Ryan" on 31 Aug 2009... sorry Brenda & Ryan for the mis-spelling.]

John G. West,
TSGS President

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

TSGS Monthly
Membership Meeting
Highlights - 09 Jun 2009

TSGS President John G. West conducting the last meeting of the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year. To the right (seated behind desk) is TSGS Secretary Lyn Martin. The 2009-2010 Proposed Budget was approved by the members. Also, the TSGS members voted to donate $50 as a "Gift Of Appreciation" to the Willard Library Staff Association for their service and dedication to the public genealogical community and TSGS members.

2009-2010 Officers Installation: Standing in the back row (L-R) - Vice President Douglas Korb; Treasurer Bettie Cummings Cook, CG; Corresponding Secretary Sue Hebbeler; Membership Chair Don Pierce; Program Chair Mary Lou Bevers; Director Becky West. Seated in front row (L-R) - President John G. West; Recording Secretary Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG; Director Donald R. Counts; Director Karin Marie Kirsch; Director Janet Breivogel Mann. Not present for photo: Tri-State Packet Editor Brenda Legate; Directors Larry Goss, Gloria Strott & Rena Goss.

The program for this meeting was presented by Willard Library's
Special Collection Director Lyn Martin.

-Photos taken by Kenneth Gilkey and submitted by JGWest

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

TSGS Meeting Program 12 May 2009

During last night's Tri-State Genealogical Society monthly membership meeting (at Willard Library), Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG, presented her program on her Smithland, Kentucky Project. Researching the people of this small river city which is the county seat of County during the 1830-1850 time span. Brenda had several interesting tales and several murder cases. The program was entitled: "Smithland - Genealogy of a Kentucky River Town."

TSGS Elects Officers & Directors

for 2009-2010

Board of Directors: (Seated L-R) Janet Mann, Gloria Strott, Becky West, Karin Kirsch, Don Counts and (standing to the left) Larry Goss. Also elected a Director, but not present for this photo is Rena Goss. Officers (standing L-R after Larry Goss): [Brenda Legate - Tri-State Packet Editor not present for this photo], Don Pierce - Membership Chair, Mary Lou Bevers - Program Chair, Bettie Cook - Treasurer, Sue Hebbeler - Corresponding Secretary, Brenda Jerome - Recording Secretary, Douglas Korb - Vice President, and John G. West - President.

We had a nice attendance of about 30 people, many attended the HELP Session conducted by Mr. Mark Lammers entitled "Research at the Family History Library."

Top photo taken by JGWest with photo of officers taken by Ken Gilkey.

John G. West, President

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

TSGS members should have gotten your copy of the March issue, by now, of our quarterly - The Tri-State Packet. Brenda Legate is doing an excellent job getting out a nicely done journal and ensuring that we get it on time. Send her a note of encouragement; but, even better, send her something to publish in the next issue and some encouragement. The deadline for material for the June Packet is April 15. As President, I wish to publically congratulate Brenda on getting the Packet out early and for doing a great job of typing and editing these last three issues!

Last Wednesday we posted a 1994 TSGS Seminar Photo from the First Mate's Photo Album and asked everyone how many people could they identify in that photo. I have not got any responses. Brenda Jerome, Mary Lou Bevers and I have tried to identify all of them, but we are still not sure who the man is in the last chair on the left by the wall and the lady seated across from him. Of course, one person is almost completely blocked by another, I sure recognize the hairdo, but can not remember who she is. We know the identity of the rest. This coming Wednesday, we will reveal the names of all the known ones... please let me know the names of the ones not yet identified, let me know if you know the others, too! Here is my email: John G. West (click on my name or copy & paste the following) jgw.mylines@gmail.com .

A follow-up on the ice storm at the West home. Last Friday, I took a vacation day and with a lot of great help from Chris Myers, we cut up and dragged the limbs to the sidewalk for later pick-up by the city trash contractors. The company sent out a special yard waste pick-up service this Friday to get bagged yard waste, plus limbs & sticks in barrels/trash containers. They picked up the 12 – 55 gallon trash bags and four containers of sticky pine limbs. Then in the afternoon the special crew came through and picked up the fifty feet of limbs we had stacked about 3.5 feet high and about 100 four foot long limbs about 2-4 inches in diameter. The 12 to 15 foot logs were cut up into about 4 cords of firewood that I am taking a pick-up load to work every day or so. Where I work, they have a fireplace in the main office and they are taking advantage of all of this firewood to heat up the office and reduce the fuel bills! It is so nice to look at our front & back yards and not see all of those limbs and plastic bags!!!

The regular TSGS Web Site is nearing 1000 unique hits according to our ClustrMaps Counter with visits from 23 countries including the USA. Ireland has 15 hits with the United Kingdom at 9 hits. We have 8 countries besides the USA with 2 or more hits. In the U.S., we still have not had any visitors from Hawaii, North Dakota, West Virginia, Maine & Vermont. If you know someone from one of these states, especially a genealogy friend, ask them to visit our web site! Our TSGS Web Site went over 56,000 hits a couple days ago! The TSGS Cruiser Blog just registered this morning 2,600 hits since 27 Dec 2008!

Karin Kirsch & Brenda Jerome have been working hard on the SIG's Committee (that is the possible formation of TSGS Special Interest Groups). We have had a Computer Interest Group for a long time and a Celtic group was being suggested by some members. The Long Range Planning Committee is hoping that SIG's might be of value to our members. Karin is preparing a simple, brief survey to pass out at this month's meeting (March 10). If you can not make it to the meeting and would like to fill out the survey let me know at the email addy I have listed earlier in this article. By the way, if anyone has any ideas that might improve TSGS' services to you and other members, please suggest it.

John G. West, TSGS President

PS: I am proud to say that today is my 62nd. Birthday & tomorrow Becky & I will celebrate our 40th. Wedding Anniversary!

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

Our poll “Why Do You Do Genealogy?” attracted eleven participants. Many said their reason was to learn more about their ancestors (54%) or 6 of the 11 while 27% (3 voters) said that they wanted to “know who I am.” The poll was modified from the one Brenda Jerome sent me. You can still vote even though the poll has closed by simply clicking on the comments at bottom of this blog and posting your choice: honor ancestors, know who I am, like puzzles, learn about ancestors or other. Check out the latest poll (in the right-hand column) - of the listed who would you pick as your favorite ancestor!

Hey, the Packet (our members' quarterly journal) came in the mail yesterday... everyone will get theirs tomorrow if not in today's mail. Another nice looking Packet put together by our Editor, Brenda Legate. Good job by Brenda and all who submitted articles to publish. The next deadline for submissions for the March issue of the Tri-State Packet is January 15. See what the cover of our quarterly looks like – scroll down the right-hand column to the yellow copy of the Packet. You can also send something to be published in this blog.

A new feature for our regular Web Site is near the top of the index page. It is called ClustrMaps that shows visitors locations on a world map. You need to click on it for a larger version of the map that shows where our visitors accessed our sites (probably where they live or work). This morning we had 50 visitors since 14 December. Out of the 50, there were 17 outside the tri-state area including one from Ireland and one from Canada. I will report the results on the blog from time to time, but you can check it out yourself by going to our site (we have a link to our site under the graphic of our TSGS Cruiser in the right column). - by John G. West