Evansville's Oak Hill Cemetery Tour May 2013

Panoramic view of the crowd attending this interesting tour of Evansville's largest cemetery.

Dennis Au & Chris Cooke conducts this tour on an annual basis.

Click on the photo above for a larger image.

On the left side you can see Indiana Bones in the yellow shirt and hat.

Next to Indiana to the right in the blue blouse is Becky West.

On the other side of Indy in the red blouse is Deb Travers.

Many TSGS members were present: John & Becky West, Deb Travers, Sue Newcom, Irvin & Connie Conrad, Karin Kirsch, Kathy Wilson, plus at least 3 more.

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

TSGS Meeting Report For Those Not In Attendance

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TSGS First Meeting for 2011-2012
13 Sep 2011

President Don Counts presides over the meeting (Peggy Newton, librarian is standing to his right). Seated in the first row is (L-R): Carol Lantaff, Rena & Larry Goss, Peggy & Ken Gilkey.
At end of the table (standing), Secretary Kim Nightingale reads the minutes of the previous meeting. Seated at that table at the end is Treasurer, Diana Davis, Former President Karin Kirsch, Program Chair Becky West. Carol Lantaff is at the end of the table to Kim's left.

Lyn Martin gives an animated Library Report as President Counts stands by.

Speaking of animation, former President John G. West, presented a lively program "Genealogical Research Skills vs. Just Plain Luck!" John used this John Deere cap to illustrate that all of his ancestors were farmers. Holding a corn-cob pipe was used to show that those farmers were almost exclusively tobacco farmers.

John dramatized that most of his lucky success in finding ancestors was that he had a wee bit o' Irish blood in him... and possibly a wee bit of Leprachauns along the line. Here John asked the audience if they thought he looked like a "little Leprachaun!" John used humor & unusual stories to point out his lucky findings, but then mentioned how using better research skills could have eliminated the need of luck to discover his ancestors. About 18-20 members were in attendance. Peggy Gilkey won the attendance prize... one year's TSGS membership.

- Photos taken by JGWest & Don Counts

Dock at the Library - TSGS Meetings/Events

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ATTENTION: Everyone interested in German Genealogical Reserarch & German American Heritage.

The German Heritage of the Tri-State area is considerable. If you are interested in finding out more about this heritage you are invited to come this Sunday, July 31, 2011, from 1:30 to 3:30 to the Bayard Room at Willard Library. Karin Marie Kirsch will lead a discussion of what we already know about these Germans and what we hope to find out. Bring your questions.

Karin is in charge of establishing a TSGS German Special Interest Group (SIG)... this group should become a great group to be involved with! Everyone is invited!!!

Last Night's TSGS Meeting

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Our 08 June 2010 meeting...

This is the last meeting of the 2009-10 year for TSGS. The sky turned very dark in the afternoon threatening a bad storm was on its way. We ended up with a small crowd of 16 people. We installed the elected Officers & Directors for 2010-11 that begins on 01 July. After our business was completed, everyone split off into discussion groups. No one had a camera, so I attempted to use my cell phone to get some photos. Most did not come out well... the ones posted had to be doctored to make them barely acceptable. The first two looked best in sepia-tone.
Bettie Cook led a group in discussing courthouse records. L-R: Janet Mann, Becky West, Kim Nightingale, Bettie Cook.

A second discussion group was led by Mary Lou Bevers concerning Internet online databases. L-R: Don Counts, Mary Lou Bevers, Dan Korb, Doug Korb.

Above is Doug Korb who was installed for her third term as Vice-President of TSGS.

Above is Don Counts who was installed as a Director of the TSGS Board. Don has served in the past as one of our TSGS Presidents.

Karin M. Kirsch was installed as the TSGS Recording Secretary. Karin has served in the past as a TSGS President.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest (we need a volunteer to take photos for the society!)

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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Nominating Committee Report...

Karin Kirsch has stepped up to be the nominee for Recording Secretary! Karin has served several offices for TSGS including President. I first met her many years ago as a 4-H parent with children in the 4-H Family Tree Project that I served as Vanderburgh County Project Superintendent (TSGS member Carol Lantaff was my Assistant Project Superintendent). She became a member because of TSGS sponsorship of awards for the county project as did several other parents over the years. The committee reports that we are still looking for a Program Chair.

Les Lantaff is recovering from heart surgery...

I mentioned Carol Lantaff above - she has been active in the society longer than I have. Her mother Edna Goebel was a friend of mine and very active in TSGS, as well. Carol's husband just had bypass & heart valve replacement surgeries and is recovering quite well.

John G. West, TSGS President

TSGS Annual Dinner Meeting

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13 Apr 2010

Annual Dinner Meeting

Sirloin Stockade, 4610 Bellemeade Ave.

5:30-6:30 p.m. Dinner & Fellowship

6:30 p.m. Welcome Remarks & Awards

7:00 p.m. Program

"EVANSVILLE DURING THE DEPRESSION"

presented by Mr. Harold Morgan, Historian.

[Click this photo to see the blank Certificate!]

About 25 years ago I suggested that we give Certificates of Appreciation to TSGS members for promoting the society, genealogy or other related activities. Usually the President of TSGS prepares these certificates with signatures, dates and recipient's name. This year Karin Kirsch was the TSGS President and was passing out the certificates to several deserving members. Mary Lou Bevers was being recognized, but the certificate was blank... e veryone got a big laugh out of it and later the signatures, date & Mary Lou's name was inscribed! Click on the photo to get an enlarged view of that blank certificate.

I asked Edna Kasper (a former TSGS President & dear friend) to help me design the original certificate. People in the photo: standing - Karin Kirsch; seated with certificate is Mary Lou Bevers with her husband Jim looking over her shoulder; in the background just above the certificate you can see Marge Kinsey (another former TSGS President, now deceased) with Doris Katterhenry seated next to her; then seated across from Mary Lou is Janet Goebel (recently deceased) with her husband. -Submitted by JGWest

From My Email Box - "The Hart Island Project"

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Karin Marie Kirsch, a former TSGS President...
sent me this link http://www.hartisland.net/ about

The Hart Island Project

[Below is the introduction on the web site]

Welcome to the Hart Island Project, an interdisciplinary artist and community collaboration. Please register to search the database and to access the film, posthumous blog and burial records. You are invited to participate in relocating a diverse, international community of people who died in New York City.

The City Cemetery occupies 101 acres in the Long Island Sound on the eastern edge of New York City. It is the largest tax funded cemetery in the world. Prison labor is used to perform the mass burials that now number over 850,000. Relatives must enter the prison system to visit the grave of a baby. There is no map of the burials and no one is permitted to visit a specific grave. The Department of Correction restricts visitation to those who can document the burial of a family member buried on Hart Island. Records at this location consist of intact mass graves since 1985.

The mission of the Hart Island Project is to make the largest cemetery in the United States visible and accessible so that no one is omitted from history. The process of reclaiming the identities of those buried is a global, community effort. A system has been created for volunteers to enter data from pages acquired through Freedom of Information Law. Older records are available at the Municipal Archives. A FOIL request for records from the 1970s was submitted in January 2010.

Registered visitors to this site may search the expanding database and submit stories, poetry, images and links to this emerging image of a global community.

STAYING AFLOAT in the GENE POOL -Genetic DNA News

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Perspective

At our TSGS monthly meeting last Tuesday night, Larry Goss made a report about having all put the last 2 issues of the Tri-State Packet on a CD. I asked a somewhat dumb question as to how many issues he had on that CD with his reply: “all of them!” After the laughter subsided, I mentioned that the day had been unlucky for me and jokingly stated that Larry was just adding to it. I told everyone about my fall on my back as I stepped on a sheet of ice... I did not injure myself. Former TSGS President Karin Kirsch stated that it was not an unlucky day, because I was actually lucky not to get hurt. I thought she was right! - I had the wrong perspective of the incident.

Perspective comes into play when we consider a glass with a substance at the half-way mark... is it half full or half empty? If you dislike buttermilk, but have to drink a glass of it, the glass being half empty sounds best. However, if you love buttermilk, the glass being still half full is best. Simple perspective!

Perspective of how we view things changes the meaning of the results and is true with our genealogical research. We often get very disappointed when we get a “hot new lead” only ending up proving that that person or family is not ours. However, with the right perspective, it should be good news, since you just eliminated one family to be confused with your correct line... you are narrowing the search. That is an important discovery concerning your ancestry.

This happens all of the time with genealogical DNA testing. You seem to wait forever for the results only to discover that you did not match with anyone. Very disappointing! Sometimes this is a result of not having very many with your surname taking the test, yet. But if there are larger numbers testing in your group with no matches... you can eliminate the (documented) families from further research by you. I put "documented," since some may think they are descended from someone, but has not proven it. That might mean they are not descended from that line.

Other reasons you may not match is that back in time your surname was different than it is today. Anglicized names occurred often in America, especially with German names in Colonial times and both World Wars. Adoptions & illegitimate births ended with name changes from the original father. Sometimes people changed their names to escape the law or their past. This is always a perspective that you must look for when doing your genealogical research. It would be important to find any name changes as it will affect your family history and might just make it an interesting story!

Remember to always keep your genealogy in perspective!

- Written by JGWest

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

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 FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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Photos during last night's
TSGS meeting (13 Oct 2009)...

In attendance was Ron Lyles representing the Lyles Station and its newest edition of the History of Lyles Station. Mr. Lyles gave a brief presentation of the book that has updates of previous editions and a chapter in memory of Ron's father Dr. Lyles.
After the business of the meeting was conducted, Mary Lou Bevers discussed many things that researchers need to know.

Karin Kirsch filled in for Vannetta McDowell who could not be present with a great discussion of "Passenger Lists." No one attended the other discussion group.

Below is a (not so good) photo of Willard Library's Display Case that Vannetta McDowell created on Cemetery Preservation. The three nice displays at Willard will be the subject of tomorrow's "Tombstone Thursday." I will get better pictures for tomorrow!

- Photos taken by JGWest

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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I hope to see a large crowd tonight at our Tri-State Genealogical Society monthly membership meeting:

13 Oct 2009
6:30 p.m. Individual Research Assistance
Bring your information!

7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting
"What Everyone Needs To Understand About Research..." - Mary Lou Bevers

Discussion Groups:

"Organizing Your Information" - Mary Lou Bevers

OR "Passenger Lists" - Karin Marie Kirsch

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When you visit Willard Library, be sure to check out the display cases on the first floor by the front door and, especially the case at the top of the stairs to the genealogy floor. This month Vannetta McDowell has done an excellent display on cemetery preservation. To add to this is a display behind the upstairs counter in the book cases of some very nice examples of some of the incredible grave markers she has photographed. I am very much impressed with this display and photos.

Peggy Newton, Pat Sides & Lyn Martin have made displays including those book cases and a "Treasure Chest!"

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Karin Kirsch is developing a "Special Interest Group" (SIG) concerning German Genealogy. If you are interested contact Karin or come to tonight's meeting to learn more!

John G. West, TSGS President

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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TSGS Monthly Meeting
08 Sep 2009 at Willard Library...

[Please click on thumbnails to enlarge the photos]

Don Counts is getting some individual help from Lyn Martin. We have eliminated the 6:30 PM HELP Sessions due to declining attendance and have emplemented individual research assistance. Program Chair, Mary Lou Bevers, asks that people bring their information on their research with them and volunteers will provide assistance to help you with your research... this will be for beginners through advanced researchers - we can all use some help getting over those "brick walls!" Contact Mary Lou if you would like to be a volunteer to help others.

Program Chair Mary Lou Bevers explaining the new approach for genealogical learning at our meetings. This year's theme is "A little something for everyone." Then she conducted a lecture on "Basics & Beyond."


Connie Conrad lead a discussion group about "Cemetery & Funeral Homes." They had some interesting stories and problems with what is "carved in stones!"

The discussion group for "German Research" was lead by Karin Kirsch, as you might suspect this group really had the questions and participated with a great deal of interest. [Photo above & below.]

Below is another photo of Connie's group showing Karin's group in the background.

The discussion groups seemed to be a very big hit! We had problems getting them to break up so we could get ready to leave for the night. That's the kind of problems we like to have. This was our first attempt at discussion groups after the business meeting and if this is a typical example of the interest, we have a nice new learning tool!

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- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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Reminder of tonight's meeting...
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Monthly Meeting of the
Tri-State Genealogical Society -

Willard Library - Second Floor
08 Sep 2009

6:30 PM Individual Research Assistance (Bring your information)
7:30 PM Regular Monthly Meeting
Program: "Basics & Beyond" - Mary Lou Bevers
Discussion Groups: "German Research" - Karin Kirsch
OR "Cemetery & Funeral Homes" - Connie Conrad

John G. West
TSGS President

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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Just a Reminder...

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Monthly Meeting of the
Tri-State Genealogical Society -

Willard Library - Second Floor

08 Sep 2009

6:30 PM Individual Research Assistance (Bring your information)

7:30 PM Regular Monthly Meeting

Program: "Basics & Beyond" - Mary Lou Bevers

Discussion Groups: "German Research" - Karin Kirsch

OR "Cemetery & Funeral Homes" - Connie Conrad

John G. West

TSGS President

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

For most of us, vacation time is over and it is back to work and school. July & August seem to be very busy months for genealogists to get out and do research in courthouses, walk cemeteries, visit libraries where their ancestors lived, etc. Traditionally, since attendance to these summer meetings were so small, TSGS decided not to meet during those two months. Now, it is September and TSGS is back to having regular scheduled monthly meetings. Our meetings are scheduled for 7:30PM the second Tuesday night of each month (except July & August) - in lieu of a regular meeting in December, we have an informal social night at the library with refreshments and good genealogical fellowship (research secrets are shared & more!).

Our fiscal year begins on July first with our first meeting in September. The second Tuesday this year is on the 8th. - this coming Tuesday night at Willard Library in the Special Collections Department on the second floor. Note that this is the next day after Labor Day.

Members have asked for workshops to be presented more often instead of having just speakers at nearly every meeting. Mary Lou Bevers, our Program Chair, has come up with several workshop/discussion groups for this quarter of meetings to see how they will work out. This month's meeting will feature: "Basics & Beyond" - Mary Lou Bevers with Discussion Groups: "German Research" - Karin Kirsch OR "Cemetery & Funeral Homes" - Connie Conrad. The attendees at the meeting will get to choose one of the two discussion groups of most interest to each person. We will try three meetings and hope it is well received.

Also our HELP sessions have changed a little from being a mini-program or discussion group to being an Individual Research Assistance for members that could use some help getting around "brick walls" or that may be new to research. That session is at 6:30 PM in The Bayard Room that is located on the second floor of Willard Library.

We hope to see you there.

Willard Library - Second Floor
08 Sep 2009
6:30 PM Individual Research Assistance (Bring your information)
7:30 PM Regular Monthly Meeting
Program:
"Basics & Beyond" - Mary Lou Bevers
Discussion Groups: "German Research" - Karin Kirsch
OR "Cemetery & Funeral Homes" - Connie Conrad



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