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

Old Unknown Cemetery Found

An old cemetery has been discovered on the grounds of the State Hospital... this is not the first discovery of unmarked, forgotten graves on these grounds.  The Evansville Courier is reporting the discovery: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2013/jan/14/no-headline---pedestrian_bridge/

Read the article and let us know what you think about the story and what you remember of past stories similar to this one.

Local DAR News in the Courier

 

 

News about

The Captain

Henry Vanderburgh

 NSDAR Chapter

(Evansville, Indiana)

 

[Click on photo for larger image to read caption]

 

[from The Evansville Courier & Press 09/02/2012, Page D07]

- Submitted by Don Counts

TSGS Meeting Report

Report on the TSGS Meeting held on Tuesday 12 Jun 2012

We had a small attendance of about 16 for this meeting, with 10 attendance prizes providing most with something to take home!  The weather has been so nice that we should have held the meeting outside!  Click on photos to see a larger image.

 Photo of some of the members just before the meeting was called to order by President Don Counts.  Several people were still researching on the microfilm machines in the back.  Willard Library is a great genealogical research library and is so beautiful inside & out.

 Above is pictured those officers elected for 2012-13 that were in attendance - from L-R: Sue Hebbeler, Corresponding Secretary; Larry Goss, Director; Rena Goss, Director; Becky West, Director; Kim Nightingale, Recording Secretary; John G. West, Vice-President; Don Counts, President.

 Becky West, the out-going Program Chair, after thanking the society for having a non-genealogist for 2 years as the Program Chair, read a brief humorous account of the Vincent Van Gogh Family Tree.  Then she introduced Indiana Bones (pictured below) to present his "Field Trip Health & Safety Tips!"  This was Indiana Bones first public appearance.  Since, John West was tagged as a "Cemetery Geek" by the Evansville Courier, Becky came up with the name of Indiana Bones for the TSGS Cruiser Blog and to give programs as this character.  John is shown with some of his gear: hat, walking stick, cemetery bag.  During the short session on tips, Indiana Bones pointed out some ideas of what to carry on field trips to a cemetery ("cemetery hopping"). A hand-out with suggested items for a first aid kit & a cemetery bag was passed out to all present.

Photos taken by Carol Lantaff, Larry Goss and JGWest.

"Tex Justus"

Tex Justus

Evansville & Boonville, local Television & Radio celebrity, is featured (with his band) in the Evansville Courier in Pat Sides' photo History Lesson below.

Please click on image to get a larger view to read the article.  

Olus "Tex" Justus married Rebecca Long in Owensboro, KY in 1939.

Rebecca Long and my mother, Bernadine Long, were first cousins - JGWest

- Image sent to me by Don Counts

One of the Best Has Joined Her Ancestors

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I am sad that a really great lady has passed on, but I know that she is with her loved ones that passed before her.

Eleanor "Glenn" Tenbarge

From this morning's obituary section of The Evansville Courier & Press:

"Evansville, Ind. - Eleanor Glenn (Bryant) Tenbarge 95, of Evansville, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at her home. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. A retired bookkeeper, she was an active genealogist and contributed many articles that were published in "The Packet", the quarterly publication of the Tri State Genealogical Society, of which she was a Charter Member. She was a member of several other genealogical societies, and a member of the Vanderburgh Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She published one book, "Early Death Records of Vanderburgh Co.", and received a "Certificate of Appreciation" from the D A R. She was credited with "saving" a cemetery of 200 graves adjoining Mater Dei High School. She has been a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church (city) since 1937."

Glenn was a great friend of mine... she supported, advised, and encouraged me as President of TSGS when I needed it the most! She was positive & up-beat. She contributed so much information for our TSGS quarterly, "The Tri-State Packet" especially Vanderburgh County naturalization records. She did a monumental published work for TSGS: 1880 U.S. Federal Census of Vanderburgh County, Indiana. The book was huge and included more details than most census books. The book was donated to TSGS for sale to raise money to buy more books for use to everyone at Willard Library. She worked very hard in preserving the cemetery that was "lost" near a high school on Evansville's west side.

Glenn served many years as a TSGS Director of the Board making suggestions that was always very useful to making some good, sound decisions for our society's success. At one point, the Board voted to make her a Director Emeritus of TSGS (the first & only person to be recognized with this honor!). She recieved several TSGS Certificates of Appreciation.

I have missed her presence at TSGS meetings & events these last few years. I will miss her smile and soft voice, but will hold her in my memories. The genealogical community has lost one of the BEST!

See the rest of her obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/courierpress/obituary.aspx?n=eleanor-tenbarge&pid=155050225

- Compiled by JGWest

"Help Me Wish Donna, Happy Birthday!"

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Happy 60th. Birthday!!!

John Stuteville feeds Donna the Hippopotamus a watermelon treat on Friday afternoon at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. Donna, who turns 60 on Aug. 7, is the oldest living Nile Hippopotamus in captivity and will be celebrating her birthday July 8 with a party & cake for her visitors with a special frozen treat for herself.

Photo taken by ERIN McCRACKEN / Courier & Press

Below outside photo of Donna when she was 58 years old!

[Photo Courtesy of Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden]

According to the Courier & Press article [July 9, 2011 in the Local Section, Page 4A "Mesker Zoo to celebrate hippo's happy birthday" by Samm Quinn] ~ Donna is the oldest Nile hippo in captivity, followed by her sister Julie (who will be 50 this year) at the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee. The article mentions that the the oldest known recorded Nile hippo died at the age of 61. Donna came to Evansville's zoo in 1956. go to Mesker Zoo and wish Donna a very Happy Birthday!!!

- Compiled by JGWest

Sandy Bitz ~ 1941-2011 TSGS Member

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Sandra D. "Sandy" Bitz, age 69, of Evansville, passed away Monday, May 9, 2011 at Deaconess Hospital. Sandy was a member of Westwood Church and also played piano at Fares Ave. Baptist Church. She worked as a clerk at Stop-n-Go for many years. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and The[Tri-State] Genealogy Society. Surviving are her husband, Daniel Bitz; her daughter, Sandy Wright of New Albany, IN; a stepson, Mark Anthony Walker of California; four sisters, Ruth Mae Neuman of Westville, IL, Shirley Bailey of Boonville, Faye Stephens of Dale, IN and Buehlah Marie Kunard of Tell City, IN; four grandchildren, Danny, Bryan and Martin Walker and Nathan Wright and one great grandson, Xavior.Sandy was preceded in death by her mother and father, Beulah and Hovey Rhoades, brother, Hovey Franklin Rhoades and four sisters, Edith Emogene Widmer, Reba Irene Rhineburger, Kathleen Bockting and Lelia Elizabeth Anderson.Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at Pierre Funeral Home, Rev. John Sloan officiating. Burial will take place in Garden of Memory Cemetery in Gentryville, IN on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 11:00 A.M.Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 A.M. until service time on Thursday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street.Condolences may be made online at http://www.pierrefuneralhome.com/.
Published in Courier Press on May 11, 2011

"Cemetery vandal deserves God's mercy!"

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[In yesterday's Evansville Courier & Press, the following "Letter to the Editor" is worth posting here. - JGWest]

To the editor:

I tend to a small cemetery on Evansville's West Side where Benoni Stinson, the founder of the General Baptist faith, is laid to rest. The cemetery is encompassed by CSX railroad property but remains a private lot.

This week I was mowing grass. I was shocked to discover that a half piece of a concrete cross tie was missing and a complete cross tie had been dragged across the cemetery. These had been placed so that vehicles would not accidentally run over graves.

Apparently the thief could not haul away the heavier complete cross tie.

It is my hope that a person who is willing to degrade himself to the point of stealing from a cemetery will find the love of Christ, which Benoni Stinson preached to all in the early days of our community. May the perpetrator of such a vile act never suffer the wrath of God who loves him anyway.

Philip Peckinpaugh
Evansville

"Willard Library Among Midwest's Most Haunted"

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Evansville Courier & Press 17 Oct 2009 Page A1

Grey Lady appears in Chicago Tribune By Rich Davis

Evansville's favorite ghost, the Grey Lady of Willard Library, was featured over the weekend in a Chicago Tribune roundup of the best Midwest haunts.

Read the story here:
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/oct/16/willard-library-among-midwests-most-haunted/
Photo taken from the above article online at courierpress.com