1807 Indiana Census Map

Illinois, Indiana and Ohio

"The Upper Territories of the United States"

[Click on map to make it larger and easier to read.]

This comes from the 1807 Indiana census.

-Map submitted by Mark Kreps.

Interesting Revolutionary War Timeline!

Cool Timeline!

http://www.americanrevolutioncenter.org/collection

- From Mark Kreps.

"Picking Up Stakes, Moving West"

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Most of our ancestors that were in America in Colonial days and in the early 1800's, especially prior to the War of 1812 Knowing war was more than likely going to happen again after the Revolutionary War gave a lot of thought to moving west to the interior country.  During the Revolution many homes and families were destroyed by soldiers making raids on the property to get what they needed (or wanted).  Soldiers were given land grants for their service to their country.  So, they would gather the family and some friends and head to Ohio, Tennesse, Georgia, Kentucky and Indiana.

In Chillicothe, OH this list of things to bring was on exhibit for their Bicentennial Celebration:

Even though many walked most of the way, their supplies and other items would be carried in a wagon, possibly like the one pictured below.

- Photos taken and supplied by Mark & Janet Krebs

Early Indiana Territory Map

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Early Indiana Territory Map

About the time of the War of 1812

[Click on photo for larger image]

- Submitted by Mark Kreps

"Digging Up Info About Premature Burials"

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Recently,

my friend Mark Kreps

posted a photo of a neat little child's coffin from the Ft. Vallonia, Indiana Museum with a small wooden top that slid to one side and you could view the child thru a glass cover. I pointed out that besides the viewing that it might also provide evidence if the child had not actually died because the inside of the glass would fog over if the little one was still alive, even with the faintest of breathing. This would be similar to using a mirror to see if it would fog-up from someone that was believed to have died.

Before embalming became the norm, there existed enormous fear by some people of premature burials or being buried alive... this fear is known as taphephobia. The fear was increased by the tales of people being found in coffins that were clawed on the inside and splinters from the wooden coffin under the “victims” finger nails! Those with this fear went to great expense to have a safety coffin made that would help against a premature burial. Many of these coffins would involve a string tied to their hand and would be attached to a bell or to a spring loaded flag that could be activated by the “deceased” if they should awaken after burial. Some would be designed to signal others before burial.

I had said in my comments to Mark's photo that this was where the phrase “grave shift” came from. With my recent “digging up” of some facts about all of this, I learned that my statement might not be true, even-though it clearly stands to reason that if you had a safety coffin, that you would have secured people to watch and listen for your signal. The “graveyard shift” originated, as some believe, to refer to the work shift between the hours of Midnight and 8AM when there was more chance of accidents, etc. I had heard many years ago that the shift was so named because it was harder on people to work those hours or that they would not get as much rest as the more “normal” hours would provide and thus could send you to an early grave. Since, I have pointed out the possible incorrect origin for “graveyard shift,” I feel like I have the obligation to point out 2 other myths. “Dead Ringer” is believed to not have anything to do with a safety coffin or a premature burial. Instead it has to do with horse racers where a substitute or “ringer” was put in that looked very similar to another horse to fool the horse betting bookies... “dead” was added like in “dead on” and people would say things like “Bob is a dead ringer for his Uncle Ralph!” The second myth is “saved by the bell” which came from boxing, not someone from the grave ringing to be saved! The boxer was about to get knocked completely out but the bell was rung for the end of the round just in time!

Here are a few links to some sites that I got information for this blog or has interesting stories:
10 Horrifying Premature Burials

Just Dying to Get Out - Snopes.com

Premature Burial – Wikipedia

Wake Ceremony – Wikipedia

Funeral Customs – Contents (chapters)

Funeral Customs – Chapter IV “Wakes, etc.”

- Written and compiled by JGWest.

Circa 1906 Child's Casket in Museum

A Child's Casket about 1906

Fort Vallonia, Indiana Museum

On Loan From Vera Hague,

Hague Funeral Home,

Medora, Indiana

The label below states that these coffins were called "Fiddle Box Caskets."  To view the body, the lid was slid to the side!  First I have ever seen or even heard of this type of casket.

 Below is a view with the lid closed.

Above shows the inner lining with the lid opened.  Still in great shape despite the lid and top of casket showing a lot of wear and scratches from this beautiful wooden coffin that is over 100 years old!

- Photos taken and submitted by Janet and Mark Kreps.

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

Vincennes Rendezvous 2009

Indiana & Kentucky Societies of the

Sons of the American Revolution

Revolutionary War Grave

Dedication Ceremony

Memorial Day Weekend

Above photo: second from right is John G. West. Next is my friend Mark Kreps and 6th. from right is Ken Gilkey. We were serving in a 15-man Color Guard.

In this photo John G. West is second from the left.

- Photos taken & submitted by Cheri Baumberger

"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