Navigating Along the River - Research Tips

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Obituaries...

As time goes on, more databases are posted on the Internet. Many of these are not known to us genealogists & family historians. Of course the online obituary sites are great for getting additional information about our families. Remember, however, that the information is only as good as the informant or compiler of that info. The newspaper will make mistakes, too. Most is correct, but it needs to be verified (documented) as we do everything else in our research.

I just learned about the Owensboro, KY Obituary Index from Bettie Cook [click on link to go to that site]. I have some Owensboro area family that have died... I searched for them and find all that I checked for, but I have many, many more to search for later. The index is full of information for the period of 1842-1919 and 1990-present with these two periods listing: Name, Obituary Date, Age, Birth Date, Birth Place, Death Date, Death Place, Cemetery, Cause of Death, Survivors, Comments! A third section from 1920-1989 only has a brief abstracts of the obituaries: Name, Obituary Date, Age, Death Place, Birth Place.

Most reading this blog already knows about the Browning Genealogical Database with obituaries posted from the early 1900's to date. This database also includes a "People Studies" section that has newspaper articles about people in the Evansville & tri-state area as reported by the Evansville newspapers.

These are only two of the obituary indices online. Perhaps our TSGS Webmaster might begin to compile a list of obituary websites in the tri-state area to help our researchers. I will discuss this with Terry Winchester to see what he thinks. In the meantime, seen me any links you have found concerning obits in the area... I will review them and then they can be put together on the website.

- Owensboro Obituary link provided by Bettie Cook.
- Article written by JGWest

Tombstone Thursday - Preher

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Locust Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

Henry Preher

b. 1836 in Germany d. 1909

Linna Preher

b. 1850 in Germany d. 1934

Section 24

This is one of my favorite markers.

Below is photo of the cross at top of this unusual spiral marker. Note the star on the cross & the letters RIP.

Below shows the detail of the top piece.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

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

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!)

TSGS Meeting Tonight!

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Mary Lou Bevers will have someone available for individual research assistance at 6:30 p.m. until meeting time. Be sure to bring your information on your area that you need some help.

Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m. tonight...

We will conduct a brief installation of newly elected Officers & Directors.

Discussion Groups (choose one): (A) LAND WARRANTS, GRANTS, & SURVEYS led by Bettie Cook, CG; (B) VALUABLE DATABASES ONLINE led by Mary Lou Bevers; or (C) WILLARD LIBRARY COLLECTION & SERVICES led by Lyn Martin. Well rounded subjects for researching through courthouses, internet or the library!

Come join us for our last meeting for 2009-10. We will not meet in July & August, but will begin our monthly meetings again in September.

John G. West, TSGS President

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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Meeting Reminder...

Individual Research Assistance, 6:30 p.m. Bring your information.

Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Installation of newly elected Officers & Directors.

Discussion Groups (choose one): (A) LAND WARRANTS, GRANTS, & SURVEYS led by Bettie Cook, CG; (B) VALUABLE DATABASES ONLINE led by Mary Lou Bevers; or (C) WILLARD LIBRARY COLLECTION & SERVICES led by Lyn Martin.

Other News...

This will be our last meeting until September after all of the summer vacations are over. The society membership has voted to start our meetings at 7:oo PM starting with the September meeting.

It is time for membership renewals (please submit dues of only $12 by 01 Jul 2010). You can print out a renewal form from our regular web site: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~intsgs/join.html
We are still holding the cost of membership down as best as we can, while most genealogical societies are charging $20 or more.

By the way, we have a new Webmaster... Terry Winchester. He has been working hard updating some pages and improving navigation from page to page by providing a navigational bar on every page! Look for other improvements and additions. Be sure to let him know how he is doing and offer suggestions. It is very important to report to Terry any links that fail to work, so he can change the link - his email address is on most pages near the bottom.

Please consider sending in contributions for our members' quarterly journal, The Tri-State Packet. The next deadline for contributions is July 15th. for the September issue!

John G. West, TSGS President

Historic Cemetery

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Oak Hill Cemetery of Evansville, Indiana...

was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior in 2004. This small plaque is posted in front of the Cemetery Administration Building. When I took this photo and until I started making this blog, I had thought it was the building being recognized; however, it is the entire cemetery! Which is even better.
Since I had thought it was the building, I searched for quite some time this morning to find some decent photos in my digital library. Then I actually read the plaque! Therefore, I will show some of the pics that I found of this beautiful building.

Above is a close-up of the bell tower that is still used today as a funeral procession comes into the cemetery. Note: in 1986-87 when I was the Cemetery Manager, the bell was not in operation and the cemetery played bells tolling on a PA system broadcast nearly as the bell rings today. I am very pleased it is in operation again.

Here are a few links for more info & photos of the Cemetery:

Navigational Links for the City's Cemeteries (Oak Hill & Locust Hill)

Web site & Database

Historic Post Cards

A Cemetery History

Another Cemetery History

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest (March 2005)