Welcome to the Indiana - Reference Books

Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the Early Events of the Pioneer Settlement of the County, and Many of the Happenings of Recent Years, as well as a Complete History of Each Township, to which is added Numerous Incidents of a Pleasant Nature, in the way of Reminiscences, and Laughable Occurrences - John L. Forkner and Byron H. Dyson. A painstakingly rendered and richly detailed history of Madison County, its individual townships, and the city of Anderson, the county seat. Madison County covers an area of 450 square miles, just northeast of Indianapolis. The lands on which the county is established were originally occupied by the Delaware and Miami tribes, who ceded their territory to the United States in 1818. Anderson derives its name from the Delaware chief Captain Anderson (Kikthawenund) who, along with James Nantikoke, Captain Killbuck, and Captain White Eyes, represented the Delaware in the treaty of 3 October 1818. Unlike many of their neighboring tribes, the Delaware had little desire to combat the white settlers moving into Indiana and refused to take part in the military campaigns organized against them by Tecumseh. The county seat bears Captain Anderson�s name as a tribute to his enduring good will. The text begins with an overview of the pre-settlement period and details the organization of the county. Each township within the county is described in great detail, noting outstanding landmarks, local government and industry, the temperament and demeanor of the citizens, families of high regard, and any newsworthy incidents and occurrences. The incidents described alternate sharply between tragedy and comedy, giving accounts of natural disasters, accidental deaths and sensational murders alongside jovial anecdotes concerning frontiersmen, farmers, belles and a veritable army of town drunks. Forkner�s informative but casual prose infuses the text with a charming, fire-side quality, endearing Madison County and its inhabitants to the reader. Biographical sketches are also included for notable county residents. A scarce and important midwest local history, once again available to historians 100 years after its original publication. (1897) reprint, 1038 pp., 2 vols., illus., original fullname plus subject index, paper, $64.00 #ZF564

Local History and Genealogy Abstracts from Fairmount News, Fairmount, Indiana, 1888-1900 - Ralph D. Kirkpatrick. The region of Fairmount, Indiana, was first settled "along Back Creek in the late 1820s and early 1830s" by North Carolina Quakers who were "escaping the moral blight of a southern society based on human slavery." By the mid-19th century, these Quakers had established an agricultural community around the new town of Fairmount, named for Philadelphia's "Fairmount Park." The Civil War had its effects on the young town, as many citizens fought and several died in support of their Northern cause. Fairmount's growth stalled for a few decades following the war, but the expansion of the railroads and the discovery of natural gas revitalized the town as factories were built to utilize its resources. It is this last portion of the 19th century which the contents of this book directly encompass. Within these pages can be found abstracts from "all existing Fairmount newspapers published through 1900." The local newspapers of the time chronicled births, marriages and deaths as well as the migration of individuals from Fairmount to other parts of the country, all topics which can be tracked through these pages. The abstracts have been organized alphabetically by the subject's surname, and some entries are cross-referenced, for the readers' convenience. 1997, 158 pp., paper, $16.50 #ZK367

Local History and Genealogical Abstracts from the Fairmount News, 1901-1905 - Ralph D. Kirkpatrick. The town of Fairmount is located on the Back Creek in Fairmount Township, Grant County, Indiana. In the mid-19th century the Quakers established the town, naming it for the beautiful "Fairmount Park" in the Quaker City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Civil War claimed the attention of the community and also claimed the lives of several who died in the Northern army. Growth of the town and its population following the war was slow but soon quickened with the coming of the railroads. Natural gas discoveries and gas exploitation dominated the 1890s. Factories, particularly glass factories, were built to utilize the gas. The first years of the 20th century saw further development of the institutions that gave added meaning to the lives of Grant County citizens. Churches and educational facilities, as well as industrial and commercial enterprises, were all enhanced by technological advances that made possible the electric lights, telephones and automobiles that now appear on the scene. The Spanish-American War and the War in the Philippines caused hardly a ripple in the community, even though several men served in the military during these conflicts. Included in this wonderfully informative work are abstracts of births, marriages and deaths which took place in the community. The information has been gleaned from Fairmount newspapers published during the years 1901 through 1905. The alphabetically arranged name entries may include: marriages, anniversaries, birth and death dates, occupation, location of funeral, age, organizations, names of schools and churches, and much more. 1997, 175 pp., paper, $17.00 #ZK364

Early Settlers of Indiana's "Gore", 1803-1820 - Shirley Keller Mikesell. In 1803 a wedge of land was ceded to the Indiana Territory from Ohio and named Dearborn County. It became known as the "Gore" and slices through the present-day counties of Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Randolph, Switzerland, Union and Wayne. Original Entry Tract Books as recopied by the Indiana government circa 1845 and county Deed Books are major sources of information for this book. Unfortunately, an 1826 Courthouse fire destroyed the earliest records of Dearborn County. A variety of documents in the Indiana State Archives were abstracted to fill that gap--letters, petitions and militia rolls. All material is carefully researched and resources identified. Also included are muster rolls of the War of 1812 that provide additional knowledge of the pioneers. 1995, 405 pp., maps, index, paper $31.50 #ZM349

Cedar Grove Cemetery Inscriptions, South Bend, Indiana - Gene Szymarek. 1987, 92 pp., index, paper, $13.50 #ZS800

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Records: Marriages and Deaths, 1749-1838, Knox County, Indiana - Barbara Schull Wolfe. Marriages and deaths in Knox County, Indiana, 1749 to 1838 as documented by the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church of Vincennes, organized alphabetically by surname. Marriage entries include fullname and maiden name of both spouses and marriage date. Death records note date of death, age of the deceased, place of residence, cause of death and additional personal information whenever known. A cross-reference of deceased spouses is provided. 1999, 104 pp., 8.5x11, paper, $22.00 #W544