"Avanelle Hebbeler"

Avanelle & Elmer F. Hebbeler

The above photo is on their tombstone at Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana. Avanelle was a member of TSGS from its earliest days. She was one of the first people I met at TSGS when I joined. I knew Elmer a little from the Evansville Fire Department and talked with him when he came to a TSGS meeting with Avanelle.

This is the front of their beautiful black marker showing that they were married 19 Mar 1946. As a genealogist she had her maiden name inscribed as "Nee Postlethweight."


Here is a photo of the back side of their marker with a lot on it! The following photos take a closer look at what is on the back side.


Here is a list of their children. Barbara Sue Hebbeler is our longtime TSGS Corresponding Secretary Sue.

Elmer was A Ranger in World War II and his military banner is engraved on his side of the marker. Below the banner is an Evansville Fire Fighters "25 Year Honorably Retired" shield.

This is on Avanelle's side of the marker. A very nice Rose engraved with the TSGS Logo and the name "Tri-State Genealogical Society" engraved below. As far as I know this is the only engraving of our logo and name anywhere. She loved genealogy and our society. She is at peace now and with her ancestors.

Here is a closer look at the engraving.


Photos taken and submitted by JGWest

NAVIGATING ALONG the RIVER - Research Tips

Find Your Parents in
the 1940 Census Substitute

From Ancestry.com Monthly Update - March 2009

We’ve recently released the 1940 Census Substitute with more than 2,000 city directories ranging from 1935 to 1945. This collection will help you research your parents, grandparents, and other relatives from the 1940-era, until the 1940 U.S. census is released in 2012.

Although city directories do not have quite as much detail about individuals as censuses—you’ll likely find heads of households listed, along with their address and occupations—they offer something more: a vivid portrayal of your family member’s neighborhood and community.

You’ll find physical descriptions of the town; what the primary occupations and industries were; the types of organizations, institutions, clubs, and churches that were popular; and more. At the very least, that ad for phonographs will take you back to a different time and place.

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PLEASE NOTE: Ancestry.com is a subscription site that charges an annual fee!

I have included this as it is a good research tip to substitute other sources for census or other unavailable sources of information. Many libraries will have some of the communities city directories which often includes the surrounding area. Willard Library has an excellent collection of the Evansville City Directories that go back far into the 1800's (Willard also has surrounding community directories!). I have used the Evansville directories and it is a great source of similar data to a census and is an annual report of the changing status of the family.

-Submitted by JGWest

Tombstone Thursday - Faulkner

Oak Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

James & Bertha Faulkner have a nice grave marker that I have not seen any others like it.

- Photo taken & submitted by JGWest

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

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

Back on Aprill 11, 2009, I posted a photo of Henry Maurer's watermelon with other fruit & vegetables to form an Hawaiian scene.
Square Watermelons

The next day or so, Don Counts sent me two items about watermelons. A round watermelon can take up a lot of room in a refrigerator, and the usually round fruit often sits awkwardly on refrigerator shelves. Smart Japanese farmers have forced their watermelons to grow into a square shape by inserting the melons into square, tempered glass cases while the fruit is still growing on the vine.

The other one is just for fun! From "Funny Town" - incredible watermelon sculptures! You have to see these!!! Click here to see some of the most beautiful art you may ever see all from a watermelon.

Thanks, Don, these are great!

"TSGS Members Elected to State SAR Posts"

Indiana Society

Sons of the American Revolution

Elects State Officers

Four members of the Evansville based Ohio Valley Chapter of INSSAR were elected to state offices on 18 April 2009. Two are TSGS members (*). Second from the left is John G. West * - Historian, fifth is J.D. Strouth - District One Director, sixth T. Rex Legler, II - Recording Secretary, seventh dressed in Revolutionary War red, white & blue uniform is Don Counts* - Chaplain.

Memorial Service being conducted for the past year's deceased members across the state. L-R: U.S. Flag Carrier Robert Cunningham, Flower Vase Holder State Genealogist Mark Kreps, with back to camera John G. West, conducting ceremony is State Chaplain Don Counts, Rose Holder State Registrar Robert Howell, SAR Flag Carrier James Arnold. John West is placing a rose in the vase in honor of Earl Sinnett who died this year as a member of the Ohio Valley Chapter. Compatriot Sinnett is the father of TSGS member Cheri Baumberger.


Photo of Memorial Service with the four Musket Carriers to the left (Rex Legler is at the far left). Once all of the deceased members were honored one by one with a rose being placed in the vase, these four Compatriots fired their flint lock musket as a salute to the deceased members.

The State Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates was held in the Indianapolis Propylaeum Club Building (not shown) with the Memorial Service held on the lawn of the Propyleum. During the state meeting, John West, Don Counts and J.D. Strouth each were presented the INSSAR Bronze Service Medals for their contributions to their local chapter. John West was also awarded the INSSAR Silver Service Medal for his work as a District Director.


Photos taken by Janet Kreps and submitted by JGWest

Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday

Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana

Section 64, Row Y, Grave 22

GEORGE W. EDMONDS 1890-1962

George W. Edmonds was born in Vanderburgh County, Knight Township, Indiana on August 13, 1890. He attended Carver Elementary and Clark High School in Evansville, Indiana. He graduated high school in the spring of 1910 and entered Indiana University that fall. There he joined the nine other founders in organizing Kappa Alpha Psi. After he returned home for the summer of 1911, his father became ill with pneumonia and died. George, being the eldest son, became head of the family, thus preventing his return to school. With the new responsibility of supporting a family, George took a job with the area coal mines and worked with the coal mines and railroads until he died of pneumonia in June of 1962. George married the former Willa Mae Forte and settled in Stevenson, Indiana. They became the parents of one son, Noel. His family and grave were discovered in Evansville, Indiana in 1978.

Photo of grave marker taken by JGWest

"For Our Civil War Buffs!"

Bill Cook sent me the following link for some great Civil War photos:

http://www.mikelynaugh.com/VirtualCivilWar/New/Originals2/index.html

Bill says that these are "awesome photos" and those interested in the Civil War could kill an hour or so viewing them. Click on the photos for an enlargement and more information about each photo.