Special Memorial for Easter

A very special child who loved to swing and sing her favorite song "Jesus Loves Me."

Samantha Ann McDonald

Located in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville KY is the most beautiful monument for a sweet little child who loved Jesus.  Photos come from a great blog "Save A Grave" http://saveagrave.net/sami 

Go to Save A Grave for more and also visit

Find-A-Grave http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16477414

 The stone portion of this monument was designed by Terry Joy of Joy Monuments out of Louisville, KY. Tom White of Bethel, Maine was the sculptor of the bronze parts of the monument.

 "Sami"

 Visit Sam's Rock to learn about Sami and the work of her family to help others... http://www.samsrock.net/

The LORD is my ROCK - 2 Samuel 22:2

 Sami and Jesus

 A beautiful, innocent child swings with joy with Jesus!

 "This is a monument of Jesus holding the rope of a 3 year old Sami McDonald, who is swinging in a swing. They both have a smile and look like they are having a great time. Words to her favorite song “Jesus Loves Me” are etched into the granite rock. Along side her hand print are the hand prints of her Brother Jacob and her sister Becca."

"Jesus loves me, this I know... Let His little child come in... For the Bible tells me so!"

- Indiana Bones and the Tri-State Genealogical Society wishes everyone a very Happy Easter!

Lost Cemeteries and Discovered Unknown Graves

Yesterday's Evansville Courier & Press ran another interesting story on lost & discovered grave sites that seem to be found by accident by contractors doing some sort of construction/excavating work.  Read the online article at this link:

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2013/jan/26/there-are-unknown-grave-sites-among-us/

"According to state law, anyone who finds human remains or artifacts must notify the Department of Natural Resources within two days. So when a historic cemetery is unearthed, Jeannie Regan-Dinius hears about it. She is the cemetery registry coordinator at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources' division of historic preservation and archaeology."

The article mentions the SHAARD cemetery database - this "database is part of the Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Database, also known as SHAARD. The database is available online at http://bit.ly/WrOp8D. From that page, click the 'Enter SHAARD as a guest' link to access the database."  You will be required to accept their terms and conditions and then on the next page you will select the survey type... select "cemetery registry"  I just entered Vanderburgh County & Perry Township in the search box and got all the cemeteries registered in that township.  One is listed as "Forgotten Cemetery" dubbed by Glenda Trapp when we (TSGS) copied the cemetery in 1983 (that was nearly 30 years ago) by Glenda, Bonnie Fehd and her son Andrew with John G. West.  This was published in the Vanderburgh two-volume set of cemetery inscription books that many TSGS members helped transcribe grave markers in the smaller cemeteries of the county.  These books are for sale and still available.  The page of who is buried there was photocopied from our publication.  There is a military marker possibly from the Civil War in this "forgotten cemetery."

This SHAARD cemetery database is a great registry for Indiana's cemeteries and hopefully will help prevent some from being lost, forgotten or destroyed.

- Compiled by JGWest

What is Digital Archiving?

Is "Digital Archiving" becoming the big buzz phrase for genealogical societies, libraries and other organizations?  It is with TSGS and many other organizations everywhere!  Our genealogical society has been talking about this subject for several years now, but have not done much more than say we need to talk about it.

Our society is very fortunate to have an experienced, knowledgeable person in the computer/electronic/media field who works with data storage.  University of Southern Indiana Retired Professor Larry Goss has been trying to get us more into the electronic age.  Larry has been digitally archiving past issues of our members quarterly journal, The Tri-State Packet, for several years now.  He is wanting the society to consider other alternatives to archiving these quarterlies.

It is amazing how many other groups are going to digital newsletters and quarterlies.  But, actually, it should not be all that amazing since going digital will reduce storage space and costs.  With all of the personal media electronic devices like smart phones, Kindles, Ipads, etc.  Digital data is the way everything will be available and at our fingertips in seconds.  A 20-yr-old is working with me.  He has this cool app on his Droid that when placed near the speaker of the truck radio, it will tell him all about a song that is playing: name, artist, album, recording date and more!  He can type in a tree or insect name and in a second have a photo of it and just everything you could ever want to know about an Elm tree or a June Bug!

This very morning, Dick Eastman has on his blog Eastman's Online Genealogical Newsletter (EOGN) a good article on going paperless with digital archiving.  He has a link to another very good article that both are very good for us less knowledgeable and possibly a little to a lot electronically challenged.  I suggest everyone should read both of these short articles to reduce storage of paper and make retrieval so much easier & faster.  Here are the links to the two articles:

http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2012/09/digital-scanning-system-replaces-paper-frees-up-space.html

http://digitalrv.rvtravel.com/2012/09/digital-scanning-system-vamooses-paper.html

Let us know what you think about "Digital Archiving."

- Written by JGWest

Tri-State Genealogical Society - Which One?

I was looking through Cyndi's List for some information on "Digital Archiving" and found myself looking in "Societies & Groups" and thought I would check to see if we were listed, Cyndi only has 7280 links for this category.  Good news, we were listed and with a separate link for this blog.  But the bad news is that there are four "Tri-State Genealogical Societies" listed... which one are we?  Well, that is not difficult to see which one represents Indiana, Illinois & Kentucky as each one lists which tri-state is represented by that organization. 

Besides the 4 tri-state groups, there are 3 tri-county societies and a tri-city.  Bear in mind that these are listed because they each have a web site of one sort or another... there may be more tri-state, tri-county or tri-city groups that do not have a web site or have not ensured that they were listed.  As I said our TSGS represents IN, KY, IL... there is one for 3 counties in WV, OH, PA (they could have called themselves "tri-county" as well!).  The other 2 TSGS's cover South Dakota, Montana & Wyoming with the second one covering Arizona, California and Nevada.

We can boast about being around for a long time being organized in 1977, but Tri-City Genealogical Society was founded in 1961.

Here is a link to our web site: TSGS: IL, IN, KY

You can "LIKE" us on Face Book
Tri-State Genealogical Society

- Compiled by JGWest

Indiana Bones Shares Cemetery Stories

Indiana Bones Presents

"Cemetery Stories"

at the Kuhlenschmidt/Hartig Family Reunion

Indiana Bones had just cautioned everyone that he was not Indiana Jones eventhough he lookes almost exactly like Harrison Ford... the 40+ crowd seemed to think that statement was funny!  Bones read about 5-6 short cemetery tales that were modified versions of some of the TSGS Cruiser Blogs.  Indiana Bones has become quite popular on the speakers circuit lately.  TSGS will have him as the monthly meeting program for September and the Daughters of the American Revolution have requested him to speak in April 2013.  Who would have known that a "cemetery geek" could become so sought after!

- Photo taken by Warren Deutsch.

Cemetery Records Published by TSGS

From Don Counts

This is my wife, Betty Neale Counts family cemetery.

NEALE KING CEMETERY

I found the site while searching for the Mt Sinai cemetery and noticed the occupants were not listed: 

http://www.ingenweb.org/invanderburgh/cemeteries/nealekingcem.htm

Neale - King Cemetery

Old Henderson Road, 3.3 miles S. of Deusner Road

Union Township, Vanderburgh County, IN

If you have any further information on "occupants" in this cemetery, please send it in.

"This cemetery is located in Union Twp., Vanderburgh Co., Indiana. It is on the Old Henderson Rd. 3.3 miles south of Deusner Road. It is next to a red barn and is enclosed in a small concrete wall. Most of the stones were buried and very difficult to locate. The entire cemetery was overgrown by a wide-blade grass that had died and fallen over and covered the stones. Copied Nov. 13, 1983 by Andrew J. Fehd, Bonnie S. Fehd, Scott W. Fehd, Glenda K. Trapp and John G. West." 

Source

1. Lantaff, Carol A. and Trapp, Glenda K. Cemetery Records of Vanderburgh County, Indiana Volume 2. Owensboro, Ky.: Cook-McDowell Publications, 1986.  Published and Copyrighted by the Tri-State Genealogical Society.  The information contained in this publication is prohibited for any use without the explicit written permission of the Tri-State Genealogical Society.

From My Email Box - "Tri-State Packet Artist"

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The Tri-State Packet...
the membership journal of the
Tri-State Genealogical Society (TSGS)

Since the first quarterly issue was published in 1977, the yellow cover has featured a sketched drawing by Barbara Simpson. She recently discovered that her drawing is still being used. Last week, I got this email from her.

Hi,
I am Barbara (maiden name) Barrows. Married name in the 1970’s, Simpson. I now live in Denver, Colorado, soon to retire and return to Evansville. I was looking at the Willard Library website and came across the Tri-State Packet for the Tri-State Genealogy Society !!!! I was excited to see the yellow cover of the Packet. I am the artist who drew the riverboat packet for the cover. When I first submitted the drawing it was just a draft and expected to draw it again following approval from the leadership at that time. But, to my surprise, they used the “draft” version of my drawing.
My mother, Mary Barrows, has continued family history and research in Evansville, and when I return to EVV, I plan to re-establish myself with the Society and historical events.
Thanks for the wonderful surprise of seeing my drawing !!!!!
Barb Barrows barb.barrows@yahoo.com

Eloise Weller (1923-2010)

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Eloise Weller, 87, died Sunday

Eloise was a long time TSGS member serving for many years on the book aquisition committee. She maintained the inventory of all of the books and other research materials that the society obtained and placed on the shelves for the general public to use in their genealogical research. Her involvement & support of the society will be missed. she was a very kind and gentle lady that many of us will miss as a friend.

Her husband, Lowell, and Eloise were married for 66 years. See her obituary in the Evansville Courier & Press here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/courierpress/obituary.aspx?n=eloise-weller&pid=144865803

RACING DOWN the RIVER -Brief Genealogical Notes

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From my nephew, Scott West: Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Applications & Rosters http://southerncampaign.org/pen/ The web site below was passed along by Compatriot Baron Fain [Sons of the American Revolution]. There are almost 9000 applications from Revolutionary War solders involved primarily in the Southern Campaigns presently on this site. Most of these applications were filed in the early 1830s by the soldiers, or their widows, pursuant to a Congressional act of 1832 allowing pensions for the soldiers or widows. It's a great site for historical research on the battles and to perhaps find the applications from your patriot ancestor.

Please make a note to remember that our TSGS meeting times has changed to begin one half hour earlier... the September 14 meeting will start at 7:00PM at Willard Library!

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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2010 SWIRCA Kitchen Band...

TSGS & OVC INSSAR Member Ernest Payne, Jackie Payne Band Conductress & Don Counts Past President TSGS & OVC INSSAR (Don currently serves on the TSGS Board of Directors).
John G. West's Great Aunt, Susan Margaret Wood, played in this band in the 1990's.

- Photo submitted by Don Counts

Tombstone Thursday - Kasper

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Oak Hill Cemetery Mausoleum

Evansville, Indiana

Hal Hon Kasper

19 Feb 1926 - 01 May 2010

RH sct 1B, Crypt 131R

Hal Kasper was a member of the Tri-State Genealogical Society and was a Past President of the Ohio Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. During World War II, Hal was presented the Purple Heart.

- Photo taken & submitted by JGWest

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

ROWING ALONG THE INTERNET

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Don Counts has sent us two great sites...
for us to use in our genealogical research.

This link takes you to the complete text of the Vanderburgh County history book, "History of the City of Evansville and Vanderburg County, Indiana" TSGS has this book available for purchase to have in your personal research library, for details go to our regular TSGS web site: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~intsgs/tsgspubl.html Check out our other research books and CD's for sale.

What happened the year that your great grandparents got married in 1902? Here is a little about 1902: Bureau of the Census is established; it later becomes part of the Department of Commerce. Approximately 150 thousand United Mine Workers strike in Pennsylvania for a wage increase and more suitable hours. A postal stamp cost 2 cents and the President was Theodore Roosevelt. Besides my first child being born in 1971 [Phillip West], postage was 6 cents, but leaped to 8 cents by May 16th. Richard Nixon was President and Jim Morrison of The Doors would die on July 3rd. in Paris. The TV show All in the Family would debut on CBS. You can add these and other information to your history of your family or just learn what happened from 1900-2010, the site is Year by Year 1900-2010 from Infoplease!

- Submitted by Don Counts

Hal Kasper

Hal Hon Kasper

Born: February 19, 1926
Died: May 1, 2010

Hal Hon Kasper, 84, of Evansville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 1, 2010, at 4:04 AM. He was born to William Henry Kasper and Mary Hon Kasper on February 19, 1926, at his grandparent's home. A graduate of Bosse High School, he was inducted into the military upon graduation and sent to "Tankers School" at Ft. Knox, KY and then to France. He was a member of Co. B 23rd Tank Battalion - 12th Armored during WWII. He was a recipient of the Occupation Medal – Germany, American Theater Ribbon, EAME Theater Ribbon, WWII Bronze Stars and the Victory Medal. He served from August 9, 1944, until July 3, 1946. On April 15, 1945, he was sitting on top of his tank and was hit by a missile near Burcheim, Germany and was issued a Purple Heart. He served under General Patch and was part of General Patton's "Mystery Division." Hal and Edna Ruth (Edwards) were married November 4, 1950, and celebrated their 50 years together with a special party. He drove new Plymouths from the factory to the shipyards and helped load them on barges to be sent down the Ohio for southern distribution. His father and he founded "William Kasper and Son Painting and Decorating" which was in business for 35 years; then he retired after 12 years as Maintenance Supervisor at Oak Meadows Country Club. Hal loved traveling, fishing and camping. Many summers were spent boating on the Ohio and lakes around. He also enjoyed farming with his father-in-law, Ernest Edwards, in Illinois and also raised cattle. After retirement, he and his wife Edna Ruth traveled all over the United States and across Canada. He especially liked Florida and North Carolina. He was a member of the American Legion Funkhouser Post #8, life member of VFW Post #1114 and Purple Heart. He was past president of the Ohio Valley Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and a member of the 12th Armored Division Association "Hellcats." He volunteered as a driver for the Disabled American Veterans for about eight years and logged over 200,000 miles from Evansville to VA hospitals for Veterans. Hal was preceded in death by his parents, William Henry and Mary Edna (Hon) Kasper; grandparents, George and Dora (Hon) Hon and William and Frances (Wintz) Kasper; and uncles, Kenneth, Donald and Harold Hon and "Babe" Kasper. He is survived by his wife, Edna Ruth Kasper; aunt, Aletha Hon; cousins, Tom, Bill Hon, Judy Dahlem of Ft. Smith, AR, John Hon and family of Houston, TX, Gwen Crowe and Jackie Harlan of Evansville; and niece, Sarah Rose of Quincy, IL.The family would like to give special thanks to the nursing staff and aides who cared for Hal at Golden Living Center Woodbridge. Services will be 1:30 PM Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Alexander West Chapel, officiated by Rev. Gene Backes with entombment at Oak Hill Mausoleum. Friends may visit Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. James Methodist Church - West, 3101 Hillcrest Terrace, Evansville, IN 47712.

[Note: Edna Kasper was the first President of Tri-State Genealogical Society - JGW]

"Family Dance"

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Family Dance...
...Dance Recital, that is.

TSGS Board Member, Becky West, with her grand daughter in the Cincinnati area (Kings School). Seven year old Halle West was in her school's Dance Recital in one of about 20 acts featuring over 100 kids from kindergarten to the 12th. grade. She got four bouquets of flowers from admirers! This is her second year participating and she loves it!!!

- Photo taken & submitted by JGWest

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

NAVIGATING ALONG the RIVER - Research Tips

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Research Inventory

by Terry Winchester

Have you ever found yourself scouring through records online, such as at http://www.ancestry.com/ or at the Family History Library Catalog at http://www.familysearch.org/, and come across records that sound familiar, but you can’t decide on whether or not you’ve already searched some of those records? Or, perhaps you’ve been in the process of looking through material, and discover only after a good amount of time spent, that you’ve already searched that particular source? We always want to avoid the duplication of research by others, but how often do we duplicate our own research? I know I’ve looked at the same records several times, only to discover that I had already searched them, and only after some serious time spent on the record, something shows up that reminds me that I’ve already been there.

Information on the internet is being updated on a daily basis, and somehow, we’ve got to remember where we’ve been and what we’ve done in order to avoid wasting time. And it’s not confined to the internet, either. Our own TSGS is constantly buying new books and material, and in order to save time and, frustration, it helps to know what you’ve already looked at in the enormous amount of material at Willard Library.

Well, I found a solution that, at least, works for me. I call it my Research Inventory Sheet. For each county that I’m interested in, I create a form, and make an entry for each record relating to that county, that I’ve searched, be it in book or microfilm form. Here’s how I do it. In Microsoft Excel, I create my own form, with column headers, as follows: Title, Author, Publisher/Location, Result. I think the headers are pretty well self explanatory, but I’ll explain a bit. TITLE is obvious. Under PUBLISHER/LOCATION, I’ll list everything about who published the material, and where and when I found it. If it’s a book that I found at the Library, I’ll include the Call#. Under RESULT, I simply list, in summary, what was found, and any notes that I may need to find the entire contents of the record which I have filed in my own filing system. Of course, at the top of the page, I allow for an entry as to County of Research and Surname(s).

- Written & submitted by Terry Winchester.

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

From TSGS to All...

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From the Officers of the Tri-State Genealogical Society...

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

West family Thanksgiving yard decorations.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

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

RACING DOWN the RIVER -Brief Genealogical Notes

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This coming Tuesday, the Tri-State Genealogical Society will hold its regular monthly meeting (7:30 PM) at Willard Library. From 6:30 until the meeting, Mary Lou Bevers and other volunteers will provide some one on one help in your genealogical research, bring what information you have with you.

[Disclaimer: The following came to me by email. Ancestry.com is a paid (subscription site). TSGS nor I endorse Ancestry.com. This information is being provided as a service for our readers.]


Learn the Best Strategies for Searching Ancestry.com:Free Online Presentation
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 Time: 8:00-9:00 PM Eastern Time
[You will need to register]
With 4 billion records available on Ancestry.com, discovering your family’s story is easier than ever. Join our Ancestry.com experts as they teach you the best ways to search for—and find—your ancestors. You’ll learn:
Types of information to include in your searches
How to use names and locations effectively in your searches
How to use Hot Keys and Search Forms to refine your searches
What to do when you find a record
How to add alternate information and updates to your ancestors’ records
And more . . .

- Info compiled by JGWest