In anticipation of the 275th Anniversary of the founding of Vincennes (1732-2007), the Northwest Territory Genealogical Society, the City of Vincennes, the Knox County Public Library, and the 275th Anniversary Committee are compiling a book of families who had settled the area around Post Vincennes by 1800. Individuals and families whose ancestors had settled in the Vincennes area before that date are urged to submit a family pedigree chart for inclusion in the book.
The Committee is asking participants for a four-generation pedigree chart that goes back to an early Vincennes ancestor. These charts must contain the contact information of the person who submits the chart – name, address, phone number, and e-mail address optional). Submitting a chart indicates you are giving permission for the material to be published.
For more information, contact the Knox County Public Library’s McGrady-Brockman House at 502 N. Seventh St., Vincennes, IN 47591, call (812) 886-4380 or e-mail bspangle@
kcpl.lib.in.us. Don’t delay in contacting the library if you have information you are interested in contributing to the book.
Queries
• Looking for the parents of Asa Bell, born about 1811 in Virginia and died in 1872 in Sullivan County. His wife was Phoebe McNamer. I would like to know where the family came from and when they came to America. Asa Bell is as far back as I can go. I have a blurry photo of his son Benjamin Franklin Bell, who married Minnie Ford in Sullivan County. Benjamin Franklin Bell (born 1859 and died 1932), was first married to a Sarah Morin on April 16, 1888, and had one child — Ike Virgil Bell. Sarah divorced him and moved to Terre Haute, Vigo County, with the son Ike. I have a picture of Ike. It is said that Ike rode a motorcycle with a side car and took his mother everywhere. My understanding is that Ike never married. Benjamin Franklin Bell and his second wife Minnie Ford had two daughters who married brothers: Gladys, who married Paul Mason, and Flossie, who married Ernest Mason.
Later, they had a son, William Bryan Bell, who married Lillian Masterson. I have also been told that they were in Kentucky after they left Virginia and then went north to Indiana. Please contact Rose Deal, 200 SW Spartan Lane, Lake City, FL 32025, or e-mail fpbdeal@se.rr.com.
• I am looking for information on the following surnames: Riggs, Cates, Wheeler, Stephens, Stewart, and Cooper. I have much on these families, and would love to hear from people who share the kinship. Anyone connected to the following: Harvey Riggs (1863-1932) and Kizzie Stephens, John M. Riggs (died 1891 in Clay County, Indiana), and Eliza or Mary Cates (died 1916), John H. Stephens and Marchess/Martha Stephens, both died before 1914. Contact Lynne Acres, 169 Natasha Lane, Oneida, TN 37841, call (423) 286-9113, or e-mail lynneacres22@yahoo.com.
• I am looking for any family of the late Joseph Vance Rice, born June 26, 1859, in Asheville N.C., and died July 22, 1931, in Catlin, Vermilion County, Ill. He married Louisa Lunsford on Oct 31, 1878, in Manchester, Clay County, Ky. Their children were Emma (born 1880), Edmond (born 1884), Lottie (born 1887), Robert (born 1888), Rufus Raymond (born 1894), and William Taylor (born 1900). Joseph Vance’s parents were William Rice and Polly Marinda (Mary) Keith. I look forward to hearing from any family members. E-mail me at srhonea@comcast.net.
History
Genealogy: Attention families whose ancestors settled in Vincennes: Submit info to be part of book
- History
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GENEALOGY: Columnist seeks info on families from Dana
Perhaps someone out there can help me with something I’ve been working on for quite a few years
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Early Terre Haute theater includes Billy Emerson
Traveling theater troupes performed in Terre Haute before the village was incorporated on Jan. 26, 1832.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Radiant heating — a hot idea
This week’s Historical Treasure is a bit out of season, but a wood stove will help drive away the morning chill and you can make breakfast on it.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: Record-breaking temps hit Vigo
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSON: Emperor Constantine changes the world
The Emperor Constantine, the first Christian ruler of the Roman Empire and the man who ended that empire’s persecution of Christianity, died this week (May 22) in 337 AD, having lived a life that would change the world.
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GENEALOGY: Library archives contain tons of information
Inside the archives room of the Vigo County Public Library, row after row of fragile documents, rare out-of-print books, and historic photographs are kept on shelves in a humidity and temperature-controlled room.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Historic efforts to open Center Street from Cherry to Swan
Efforts to open Center Street, from Cherry to Swan, spanned a half century or more.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002 — Valley drenched in wettest spring in 107 years
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star. -
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Some history wreathed in hair
From the unfortunate occurrence of Prince Albert’s death in 1861 came the social mores of proper mourning practices and accoutrements witnessed and endorsed by the admirers of Queen Victoria in her reign-long state of grieving.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: League of Women Voters reorganizes
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Here comes the bride
The newest major exhibit at the Historical Museum, which opens Tuesday, showcases wedding gowns worn by Vigo County residents.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Downtown changes featured in early 1927
During March and April of 1927 – about 85 years ago – the owners of interests in four major downtown Terre Haute theaters were negotiating to transfer their interests to representatives of Paramount Studios.
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GENEALOGY: Genealogy isn’t for the easily embarrassed
The saying goes, if you’re easily embarrassed or afraid of what you’ll find, don’t start doing genealogy.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The long, lost, last — the 27th —Amendment
Our very last constitutional amendment — the 27th Amendment — was ratified this week (May 7) in 1992 when Michigan became the 38th state to approve it.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The Haymarket Square Massacre
One unhappy byproduct of the Industrial Age was the growing discontent of its industrial workers, who constantly agitated for better pay and more humane working conditions.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Stands packed as Wiley takes county track title
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and the Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Death of Terre Haute jeweler gains national headlines
Terre Haute sought national publicity in 1910 through “Boosterism,” lauding the city’s significant advancements during the decade ending Dec. 31, 1909.
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GENEALOGY: Cemetery Committee to conduct restoration workshop
The Wabash Valley Genealogy Society’s Cemetery Committee will conduct an all-day cemetery restoration workshop on Saturday at the Smith Cemetery near Youngstown, Honey Creek Township, Vigo County, Ind.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Harmonious history
In 1923, a group of singers calling themselves the Harmony Four entertained regularly over the radio and at civic and various club events.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Cleveland observes Lincoln’s funeral
The death of America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, resulted in an outpouring of national mourning, the apex of which came in late April of 1865 when a specially outfitted train carried his body on a thirteen-day, 1,700-mile, eleven-city funeral procession from Washington, D.C., to his home and final resting place in Springfield, Ill.
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GENEALOGY: Many people can trace ancestry to Titanic
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which occurred on April 14-15, 1912.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: ISU bowling team at nationals again
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Sullivan County mine explosion kills 8 in 1878
Shortly after 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, 1878, an enormous explosion rocked the Handford Brothers mine about one-half mile north of the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad depot in Sullivan County.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A common feature, but memorable
As an absolute architecture nerd, I tend to look at buildings noticing the odd ball things such as door hinges and door locks in addition to admiring the overall building.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSONS: MLK’s letter written from a jail cell in Birmingham
This week (April 16) in 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. sat in a jail cell in Birmingham, Ala., having been arrested for violating a trumped-up court order that prohibited him and his followers from conducting various protest activities, most of which you can read about in the First Amendment.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Swope celebrates 20th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: 1955 Babe Ruth League championship team to be feted
Currently in his 25th year as a college baseball coach, Rick Heller is in the midst of his third winning season at Indiana State and has embraced the university and the community.
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GENEALOGY: Long-awaited 1940 census is now available for the public
The long-awaited release of the 1940 census took place on April 2.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Memories baked from scratch
On my Historical Treasure hunt, I was drawn to a pasteboard barrel 28 inches high and 18.5 inches across with the words “Calumet Baking Powder Bakes Best, Received Highest Award” on one side and “Calumet Baking Powder Always Pleases, Try It” on the other.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Thomas Jefferson's flights of fancy
Thomas Jefferson, born this week (April 13) in 1743, is — deservedly so — in the pantheon of American heroes.
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GENEALOGY: Columnist seeks info on families from Dana
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