KHCPL Will Close at 5:30 p.m. on Mon, Dec.31 & Will Be Closed on Tue, Jan. 1

All library locations will close at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31 & will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 1 for New Years.  Visit the library and the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org

KHCPL Will Be Closed, Sunday, Dec. 23 through Tuesday, Dec. 25

All library locations will be closed Sunday, Dec. 23 through Tuesday, Dec. 25 for Christmas.  Visit the library and the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org

Genealogy Short Class - Newspaper Databases

The next Genealogy Short Class will be on Newspaper Databases Thursday, December 13, from 6 to 7 p.m.  With KHCPL, you have access to the Newspaper Archive database, which provides millions of digitized pages of content from more than 6,000 newspapers throughout North America, the UK, and other selected countries.  Learn how to use it in your research.  Registration is required.  Register online at www.KHCPL.org

KHCPL Will Be Closed, Friday, Dec. 14

All library locations will be closed Friday, December 14 for Staff Training Day.  Visit the library and the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org

Genealogy Short Class - Howard County Memory Project

The next Genealogy Short Class will be on the Howard County Memory Project Thursday, Dec. 6, from 6 to 7 p.m.  KHCPL began digitizing local high school yearbooks in 2002 and has since added church, cemetery, Bible info pages, court, and marriage records, and more.  Learn how to use the Howard County Memory Project  in your family research.  Registration is required.  Register online at www.KHCPL.org.

Genealogy Humor

• Aspire to Inspire before you Expire.
• Take nothing but ancestors, leave nothing but records.
• Genealogy: Where you confuse the dead and irritate the living.
• Research: What I am doing, when I don't know what I am doing.
• Cousins marrying cousins: A non-branching family tree.

Genealogy Short Class - Ancestry Library Edition

The next Genealogy Short Class will be on using Ancestry Library Edition, Thursday, November 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. at KHCPL-Main.  If you love Ancestry.com, but not the cost, you can use AncestryLibraryEdition free at any of the branches of the Kokomo Howard County Public Library.  Take the class to learn how.  Registration for the class is required.  Register online at www.KHCPL.org.

KHCPL Will Be Closed, Thursday, Nov. 22 and Friday, Nov. 23

All library locations will be closed Thursday, Nov. 22 and Friday, Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving.  Visit the library and the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org

Genealogy Short Class - Scanners

The next Genealogy Short Class will be on Scanners, Thursday, November 15, from 6 to 7 p.m. Learn how to use a photo scanner to save your photos electronically.  We will teach you.  Registration is required.  Register online at www.KHCPL.org.

100th Anniversary of the End of World War I

Today is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.  This was called "The Great War" and it began in 1914 and ended November 11, 1918.  We honor those who served then and now.  We will always remember. 

Howard County Genealogical Society Meeting

The Howard County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, November 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Meeting Rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  Amy Russell will present a program on our latest project.  The Indiana State Library has awarded the Kokomo- Howard County Public Library and the Howard County Historical Society a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. KHCPL and the Historical Society will be digitizing local Civil War documents.
The public is welcome to attend the meeting and for more information call 765-626-0839.  Visit the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

Genealogy Short Classes

The Genealogy & Local History Department always has new and exciting programs to offer.  The latest is the Genealogy Short Class.  Various topics will be covered in these classes, so be sure to mark your calendar on the following Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. so that you don't miss out.  Registration is required.  Register online.

• Genealogy Short Class: Genealogy Charts - Nov. 8
• Genealogy Short Class: Scanners - Nov. 15
• Genealogy Short Class: Ancestry Library Edition - Nov. 29
• Genealogy Short Class: Howard County Memory Project - Dec. 6
• Genealogy Short Class: Newspaper Databases - Dec. 13

Genealogy Humor

• Searching for lost relatives?  Win the lottery.
• Genealogy: A haystack full of needles.  It's the threads I need.
• My family tree is a few branches short! Help appreciated.
• Genealogical Bonsai - Little Family Trees.
• It takes about five years for a walnut tree to produce nuts, but this is not true of a family tree.

Genealogy Silent Auction - Still Time

There is still time to get your bid in for the "Silent Auction" of duplicate or superseded genealogical and historical materials during the month of October.  See a list of what is available on the website at www.KHCPL.org or view the items in the department.  You can enter a bid by filling out the form on the website or in person at the library.  We may have the treasure that you have been looking for.  The bidding ends October 31 and you will be notified if your bid was the winning bid.  For more information call the department at 765-626-0839.

Research Trip to Ft Wayne

An all day research trip to The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library will be offered on Saturday, November 3, 2018.  Participants will carpool and leave the parking lot behind the Main Library at 7:30 am, arriving back in Kokomo at approximately 7:30 pm.  The group will stop at a restaurant in Fort Wayne before returning to Kokomo.  For required registration, call 765.626.0839.

Genealogy for Night Owls

Jennifer Sparks & Cheryl King 

The 43rd Genealogy for Night Owls was held October 12, 2018 at the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library.  The evening of research, buffet dinner, door prizes, and fun was enjoyed by all.

Kathy Smith & Ron Tetrick

Karen Sosbe

Indiana Genealogy and Local History Fair

From John Wekluk, Communications Director at the Indiana State Library:  On Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Indiana State Library will host the Indiana Genealogy and Local History Fair in downtown Indianapolis.  Admission is free and the event is open to the general public.  The library is located at 315 W. Ohio St.  This year's theme is "Digging Up the Dead."  Attendees will learn how to examine, decipher and interpret death records and death research.  Over 30 organizations and exhibitors will be in attendance.  Participants are encouraged to visit the tables in the exhibition hall to collect information from genealogical and local history organizations.  Commercial vendors will also be available for shopping.  Highly-acclaimed and internationally-known speakers and genealogy consultants, Lisa Alzo and Amie Bowser Tennant, will present.

Genealogy for Night Owls

There is still time to register for Genealogy for Night Owls.  Plan to attend our 43rd lock-in event from 5:30 p.m. until midnight on Friday, October 12.  Included in the evening activities are a buffet dinner, snacks, door prizes and access to all of the genealogy collection and databases.  To register for this event, pay the fee of $15.00 in the Genealogy and Local History department by October 9.  For more information call 765-626-0839.

The Howard County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, October 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Meeting rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  For the program, Karen Sosbe will explain how DNA helped her find her birth family.  The public is welcome and for more information call 765-626-0839.  Visit the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

DAR Prospective Member Workshop

Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) will provide information about the application process for joining these lineage societies.  For more information, contact Amy Russell at 765-626-0838 or arussell@KHCPL.org.

Genealogy Humor

• I researched my family tree . . . apparently I don't exist.
• I used to have a life, then I started doing genealogy.
• I'm always late.  My ancestors arrived on the Juneflower.
• Whoever said "seek and ye shall find" was NOT a genealogist.

Silent Auction

The Genealogy and Local History Department will hold their annual "Silent Auction" of duplicate or superseded genealogical and historical materials from October
1-31.  See a list of what is available on the website at www.KHCPL.org or view the items in the department beginning October 1.  You can enter a bid by filling out the form on the website or in person at the library.  We may have the treasure that you have been looking for.  The bidding ends October 31 and you will be notified if your bid was the winning bid.  For more information call the department at 765-626-0839.

Volunteers Honored

Volunteers in the Genealogy and Local History Department at the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library were honored recently. 

Karen Sosbe, Department Head Amy Russell, Jon Russell, Debby & Ed Beheler, Marcia Ford, Vivian White, and Alarica Eichenfels

Kokomo Living History

Former Kokomo Mayor Robert Sargent, retired Deputy Sheriff Jon Zeck, and David Foster, the great-great-great-grandson of Kokomo founder David Foster were the featured guests for a program and group discussion at the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library sponsored by the Howard County Genealogical Society. The program was hosted by local history writer Gil Porter.  Life stories about these gentlemen and their collective experiences in Kokomo and Howard County reached back to the Great Depression in the 1930's.

Genealogy for Night Owls

Genealogy for Night Owls is a relaxed after-hours research evening for adults of any experience level.  Plan to attend our 43rd lock-in event from 5:30 p.m. until midnight on Friday, October 12.  Included in the evening activities are a buffet dinner,
snacks, door prizes and access to all of the genealogy collection and databases.  To register for this event, pay the fee in GLHD beginning September 12.

'Kokomo Living History' Life Story Discussion

Come listen, learn and ask about the life stories of three hometown citizens whose collective experience in Kokomo and Howard County reaches back to the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Former Kokomo Mayor Robert Sargent, retired Deputy Sheriff Jon Zeck and Jack Foster, the great-, great-grandson of Kokomo founder David Foster, are the featured guests for an hour-long program and group discussion at the Howard County Genealogical Society monthly meeting on Sept. 10. The program will be hosted by local history writer Gil Porter.  The event will held at the lower level of the Kokomo Howard County Public Library at 220 N. Union Street in Kokomo. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m.  Admission is free.

ABOUT THE GUESTS

Robert Sargent

Robert Sargent grew up on the “tough north end of town” and ultimately went on to serve as Kokomo’s 32^nd mayor from 1988 to 1995. A World War II Navy veteran and longtime Kokomo police officer, Sargent was twice elected Howard County Sheriff and elected to City Hall in 1987. One of his proudest achievements as mayor was being part of the successful city-county effort that resulted in the then-Chrysler Corporation transmission plant expansion.

Jon Zeck

Retired Deputy Sheriff Jon Zeck grew up on the west side of Kokomo. His early life revolved around his father’s Shell American Petroleum filing station on the northwest corner of Washington Street and Markland Avenue (today the location is immortalized as “Zeck’s Corner”). Jon served 35 years with the Howard County Sheriff’s Department. After retirement, he has been instrumental in recording and preserving Howard County law enforcement history.

Jack Foster

Jack Foster grew up on the north side with a bow and arrow and 16-gage shotgun. From the Wabash to the Wildcat, Jack knew the land by heart, whether hunting, fishing or trapping. He worked 42 years as a lineman and a superintendent with the electric company. Jack’s firefighter father served as Indiana state fire marshall, he is the great-grandson of a notable Kokomo mayor and surgeon, and his great, great-grandfather founded the town of Kokomo.

Howard County Genealogical Society Meeting

The Howard County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, September 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Meeting rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  For the program, Gil Porter will lead a panel discussion with Jon Zeck, Bob Sargent and Jack Foster.  The public is welcome and for more information call 765-626-0839.  Visit the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

Genealogy Humor

• Genealogy:  Chasing your own tale!
• Climbing my family tree was fun until the nuts appeared.
• Families are like quilts, lives pieced together, stitched with smiles and tears, colored with memories and bound by love.
• Isn't genealogy fun?  The answer to one problem, leads to two more.
• Why do I do Genealogy:  Because Rocket Science wasn't challenging enough.

KHCPL Will Be Closed, Monday, Sept. 3

All library locations will be closed Monday, September 3 for Labor Day.  Visit the library and the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

Howard County Hall of Legends

The Howard County Hall of Legends will induct six new members at its annual recognition banquet on August 24th at 6 p.m. at the Bel Air Event Center.  Those being inducted are Opha May Jacob Johnson, America's first female U.S. Marine; Reba Harris, founder and director of the Gilead House; Don Smith, Sr., banking entrepreneur; Steve Dailey, former mayor of Kokomo; Brian Harlow, Chrysler executive; and the Kokomo Park Band.  Tickets may be purchased online through the historical society's website, www.howardcoutymuseum.org and Eventbrite or at the society's office at 1218 W. Sycamore St., or by calling 765-452-4314.

Howard County Genealogical Society

The Howard County Genealogical Society will not meet on Monday, August 13, for its usual monthly meeting.  Instead, we encourage everyone to attend the Indiana WWI Centennial Committee Opha May Jacob Johnson Commemoration at noon in Foster Park.  Attendees are requested to bring lawn chairs, as seating is limited.  Ms Johnson was born in Kokomo on May 4, 1878 and became the first female Marine in the United States Marine Corp on August 13, 1918.

Scaling Your Brick Walls Class

The Scaling Your Brick Walls class will be offered on four Saturdays beginning September 8 to September 29 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at KHCPL Main.  If you have taken the Climbing Your Family Tree class last spring or have had experience doing genealogy research, then this series is for you.  We will discuss topics such as searching criminal, court, immigration, passenger, probate, and land records.  The class is free, however, registration is required because class size is limited.  Register online or in person beginning August 8.

Genealogy Humor

• Every family tree has some sap in it.
• Genealogists are time unravelers.
• Genealogy is like potato salad - when you share it with others, it's a picnic!
• I trace my family history so I will know who to blame.
• Many family trees were started by grafting.

Vertical Files at the Library

Are you looking for a particular surname in the Howard County area?  Check out the resources available in the Genealogy & Local History Department at the Kokomo & Howard County
Public Library.  We have 10 file cabinets filled with files of information on over 4430 names.  Files are continually being added.  As well as the Surname files, we have additional file cabinets filled with information on local business & industry, organizations, churches, schools, local architecture and more.  Our Vertical File collection is outstanding.  Come in and check it out or go to www.HowardCountyMemory.net to see a list of the surnames.

Howard County Genealogical Society Meeting

The Howard County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, July 9 from 6 to 8 pm in Meeting Rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  Ron Tetrick will present a program on "The Life and Times of Lucy (French) Tetrick, 1768-1852".  The public is welcome and for more information call 765-626-0839.  Visit the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

Genealogy Humor

• Genealogists live in the past lane.
• "Life may change us, but we start and end with family" - Dove Chocolate.
• Families are like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts. 
• Don't take life too seriously, it isn't permanent.
• Fastest way to trace your family tree...run for public office.

KHCPL Will Be Closed, Wed, July 4th

All Kokomo-Howard County Public Library locations will be closed Wednesday, July 4 for Independence Day.  Visit the library and the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org

June Display Case

Red Skelton from Vincennes, Indiana

You still have time to view the June Display Case just outside the Genealogy and Local History Department door.  The display of "Indiana Laughmakers" was put together by Janice Blanchard.  These well known Hoosiers have entertained us for years.  They include George Ade, Kin Hubbard, Bill Holman, Red Skelton, Marjorie Main, Herb Shriner, David Letterman, Jim Davis and many more.  They no doubt have been influenced by other American humorists but they have added their own style, which makes their humor uniquely Hoosier.

Program Reminder: Cemeteries Rock

Just a reminder that the program "Cemeteries Rock" will be presented Wednesday, June 27 in meeting rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  Cemeteries are great places to find genealogical information, discover interesting folk art and explore different styles of markers.  This program is part of the library's Summer Reading Program theme "My Library Rocks".  Be sure to register online at www.KHCPL.org.

Howard County Genealogical Society Meeting

The Howard County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, June 11 from 6 to 8 pm in Meeting Rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  Katie Regan will give a presentation on "Patriotism in Women".  The public is welcome and for more information call 765.626.0839.  Visit the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

Cemeteries Rock: Tombstone Art and Symbolism

Cemeteries are great places to find genealogical information, discover interesting folk art, and explore different styles of markers.  This visual presentation for adults will explore cemeteries as part of the library's Summer Reading Program theme "My Library Rocks".  Plan to attend Wednesday, June 27 from 6 to 8 pm at KHCPL Main.  Register online.

Genealogy Humor

• Genealogists never die, they just lose their Census.
• To a genealogist, EVERYTHING is relative.
• When you know your past, you can better shape your future.
• With my luck, my family tree has root-rot.
• Cemetery:  A museum without walls.

Research Trip to Ft. Wayne

An all day research trip to The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library will be offered on Saturday, May 19, 2018.  Participants will carpool and leave the parking lot behind the Main Library at 7:30 am, arriving back in Kokomo at approximately 7:30 pm.  The group will stop at a restaurant in Fort Wayne before returning to Kokomo.  For required registration, call 765.626.0839.

Howard County Genealogical Society Meeting

The Howard County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, May 14 from 6 to 8 pm in Meeting Rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  The speaker will be Gil Porter and the topic will be "Writing Your History".  The public is welcome and for more information call 765.626.0839.  Visit the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

Lineage Societies Membership Workshop

Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Children of the American Revolution C.A.R. will provide information on joining their groups.  Anyone interested in joining a lineage society can come for help with their application.  The workshop will be held from 10:00 am until noon on Saturday, May 5 at KHCPL Main.  Call 765.626.0839 for more information.

Genealogy Humor

• Did my ancestors inbreed?  My genes seem tight!
• Beginner - A Professional in Training.
• Any family tree produces lemons, nuts and a few bad apples.
• "The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future" - Herbert Spencer
• Genealogy without documentation is mythology.

Reminder: Genealogy for Night Owls

There is still time to sign up for the Genealogy for Night Owls event to be held Friday, April 13, from 5:30 pm until midnight.  Included in the evenings activities are a buffet dinner, snacks, door prizes and access to all of the genealogy collection and databases.  Register now in the department by paying the fee of $15.00.

Civil War Collection on Fold 3

Fold 3 is providing FREE access to their Civil War Collection from April 1-15 "to commemorate the beginning of the Civil War in 1861."  The collection currently has 50 titles with more than 91 million records.  Now is the perfect time to look for your Civil War ancestors.  Go to www.fold3.com and have fun.

Howard County Genealogical Society Meeting

The Howard County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, April 9 from 6 to 8 pm in Meeting Rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  The speaker will be Amy Russell, Head of the Genealogy and Local History Department.  The topic will be information on and a demonstration of the "Flip Pal Scanner".  The public is welcome and for more information call 765.626.0839.  Visit the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

Genealogy Humor

• Doing the history eliminates the mystery
• A new cousin a day keeps the boredom away
• A pack rat is hard to live with, but makes a fine ancestor
• Cemetery: (n) A marble orchard not to be taken for granite
• Crazy is a relative term in MY family

KHCPL Will Be Closed Sunday, April 1

All library locations will be closed Sunday, April 1 for Easter.  Visit the library and the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org. 

Reminder: Researching Your Female Ancestors

Don't forget that Tuesday, March 27 the Genealogy and Local History Department will offer the program "Researching Your Female Ancestors" presented by Marcia Ford, retired Genealogy Librarian.  The program will be from 6 to 8 pm in Meeting Rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  Join us in learning how to find those elusive female ancestors. Call 765.626.0839 for required registration because seating is limited.

Our Circulating Collection

Do you need information on DNA testing?  Maybe you want to look into the history of your house but don't know where to start.  Or, maybe you want to learn more about Ellis Island.  Take advantage of our Circulating Collection of genealogy books to meet your needs.  We have over 100 titles, mainly "How To" books that can be checked out on your KHCPL library card.  Come into the department to browse these books on the shelves located near the reference desk. 

Researching Your Female Ancestors

March is Women's History Month and in celebration, the Genealogy & Local History Department will offer a program on "Researching Your Female Ancestors".  The program will be held Tuesday, March 27, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in meeting rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  Women are often difficult to trace because they were not allowed to own real estate in their name, to sign legal documents or to participate in government.  Also with name changes, they became our invisible ancestors.  Join us in learning how to find these elusive female ancestors.  For required registration, call the Genealogy & Local History Department at 765.626.0839.

Genealogy for Night Owls

Genealogy for Night Owls is a relaxed, after-hours research evening for adults of any experience level.  Friday, April 13 is the date of the next event and will be held from 5:30 p.m. until midnight.  Included in the evening's activities are a buffet dinner, snacks, door prizes and access to all of the genealogy collection and databases.  Register in the Genealogy and Local History Department, the cost is $15.00.

County Bounty

Most of our genealogical records can be found in counties where our ancestors resided.  Here are some interesting statistics about counties.

County names most commonly use:

1. Washington County - 31 states
2. Jefferson County - 26 states
3. Franklin County - 25 states
4. Jackson County 24 states
5. Lincoln County 24 states

States with the most counties:

1. Texas - 254 counties
2. Georgia - 159 counties
3. Kentucky - 120 counties
4. North Carolina - 100 counties
5. Virginia - 95 counties

State with the least counties:

1. Delaware - 3 counties
2. Hawaii - 5 counties
3. Rhode Island - 5 counties
4. Connecticut - 8 counties
5. New Hampshire - 10 counties

Howard County Genealogical Society Meeting

The Howard County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, March 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Meeting Rooms A & B at KHCPL Main.  The speaker will be Marcia Ford, retired genealogy librarian.  The topic will be an "Introduction to Researching Your Female Ancestors".  The public is welcome and for more information call 765.626.0839.  Visit the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

Planning Your Research Trip

Spring and summer are great times to travel and visit the areas where your ancestors lived.  Here are some things to consider.  Check the local library's website to see what they have in the collection and online.  Check the days and hours the genealogy department is open.  Check department rules - do they allow food or beverages in the department?  Can resources be copied and if so what is the price per copy?  Can resources be scanned or photographed?  If they can, be sure to bring flash drives, a portable scanner and/or camera.  Ask if they have WiFi.  Be sure you bring information on the people you will be researching in either paper form or on your laptop.  Bring your GPS to find the library and any cemeteries or home addresses you want to visit in the area.  By planning ahead you are sure to have a productive trip.  Enjoy.

Genealogy Humor

• My family tree must have been used for firewood.
• My family coat of arms ties at the back. . . is that normal?
• A people without knowledge of their history is like a tree without its roots.
• So many ancestors - so little time!
• Shake your family tree and watch the nuts fall.

Climbing Your Family Tree Class

There are still a few seats left in the Genealogy and Local History Department's Climbing Your Family Tree class series.  The classes will be held from 9:15 - 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays, March 3, 10, 17, & 24 at KHCPL Main.  This four-week beginning genealogy series
will teach you how to begin climbing your family tree to find your ancestors using vital records, census records, and databases.  You will receive a three-ring binder full of helpful information.  The class is free but registration is required because class size is limited.  Register in the Genealogy and Local History Department or call 765.626.0839.  Don't miss this informative series of classes.

Howard County Genealogical Society

The 2018 officers for the Howard County Genealogical Society are:
President - Karen Sosbe
Vice President - Kathy Smith
Secretary - Amanda Monroe
Treasurer - Pam Carter
Committees include:
Publicity - Cindy Stover
Book Chairman - Ron Tetrick
Newsletter Editor - Melanie Vess
Queries - Janice Blanchard
Library Liaison - Amy Russell

HCGS meetings are on the second Monday of each month from 6 to 8 pm in the lower level meeting rooms of KHCPL Main.  An enlightening and entertaining program is presented at each meeting.  Dues are $15 per year and new members are always welcome.  Call 765.626.0839 for more information.  Come join the fun.

February Display Case

Ron Tetrick has put together a display case to go along with the program that he will present to the Howard County Genealogical Society on Monday, Feb. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m.  The title is:

“Newbury Preparative Meeting: Union Township, Howard County, Indiana, 1842-1857”

Friends (Quakers) began settling around the Forks of the Wildcat Creek as early as 1842, when the land was still part of the Big Miami Indian Reserve.  Most came from Deer Creek Antislavery Monthly Meeting in Mill Township, Grant County, Indiana, but others came from Friends meetings in Henry, Randolph and Wayne counties.  Early family names were Bailey, Anderson, Mendenhall, Felton, Jones, Baldwin, Lancaster, Fry, Horine, Dean, Mason, Moorman, Wright, Ellis, and Macy.  Many moved farther west in the late 1850s and 1860s to Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.  Those who died here were buried at the Forks of Wildcat Creek Cemetery, Simpson Cemetery, Jerome Cemetery and New Salem Cemetery.  Only descendants of the Ellis, Horine and Mendenhall families remain in the county today.  The display shows how Union Township was created out of what had been Green Township; a photo of the cemetery; photos of some of the people who lived here from 1842 to 1860; and several tombstones of those who were buried here or farther west.  This is a part of our county history which never before had been documented.  This information will become part of our Vertical Files Collection after the HCGS presentation on February 12.

Climbing Your Family Tree Class

The Genealogy and Local History Department is again offering it's Climbing Your Family Tree class.  The class will be held from 9:15 - 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays, March 3, 10, 17, & 24 at KHCPL Main.  This four-week beginning genealogy class will teach you how to begin climbing your family tree to find your ancestors using vital records, census records, and databases.  You will receive a three-ring binder full of helpful information.  The class is free but registration is required because class size is limited.  Register in the Genealogy and Local History Department or call 765.626.0839 beginning Feb 3. 

Genealogy Humor

• My ancestors must be in a witness protection program.
• Success is relative - the greater the success, the more the relatives.
• I'm not stuck, I'm ancestrally challenged.
• A Family Tree can wither if nobody tends its roots.
• That's the problem with the gene pool:  No lifeguards.

Genealogy Happenings in 2018

Now is the time to make genealogy plans for 2018.  Here are a few dates to remember:

Feb 28 - Mar 3, 2018
Roots Tech
Salt Lake City, Utah

Apr 11 - 14, 2018
Ohio Genealogical Society
Columbus, Ohio

Apr 28, 2018
IGS Annual Conference
New Albany, Indiana

May 2 - 5, 2018
NGS Family History Conference
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Aug 22 - 25, 2018
FGS Annual Conference
Fort Wayne, Indiana