King School House - Madison County, Indiana

This undated article regarding one room school houses in Madison County, Indiana features a picture of the King school house, which was located at the corner of 350 W and 900 N.  I do not have the date of this article, nor information about what publication it was from.

Sadly, I don't know anything about this school house either.  There were King relatives who lived in this area, and I wonder if the school was named for them.  Most likely candidate would be George Washington King (1823-1892).  On my next visit to the Madison County Historical Society I will try to see what records I can locate.

If any readers know anything about this school, please let me know.

Black Sheep Sunday: Did Not See Bank Bandit

Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, April 3, 1925, p. 7


DID NOT SEE BANK BANDIT


But Deputies Did Make Kokomo Trip


Deputy Sheriffs John Schell and Woody Smith, who were at Kokomo yesterday on business, denied that they had met Harry Pierpont, arrested at Detroit, in connection with the robbing of the South Kokomo bank March 27, and wanted here for taking part in the robbing of the South Marion and Upland banks, and identified the man as Pierpont, as was stated yesterday.  The local officers went to Kokomo on other business with the Kokomo police department and did not see the alleged bank robbers, which were brought back from Detroit.


The Kokomo police in their investigation yesterday learned that Pierpont took part in the attempted robbery of of a Noblesville bank last fall, as well as having taken part in the Grant county bank robberies.


Roscoe C. "Whitey" Hayes, arrested at Detroit, as a suspect, who last fall was a member of the Pete Sullivan orchestra, was not one of the Kokomo bank robbers, in the opinion of the police.  Thaddeus Skeer of Fort Wayne, the other bandit, under arrest, has told the police at Kokomo that Hayes does not know anything about the Kokomo robbery.  Hayes was arrested after A.F. Gorton, cashier of the Kokomo bank had picked Hayes out of a photograph of fifty men of Company G, 152nd infantry, of which Hayes was a member, as the bandit who stood in the doorway of the bank while the robbery took place.


Pierpont, Skeer and Miss Louise Brunner of Fort Wayne, who is being held as a witness, were brought back to Kokomo yesterday morning under a guard of eleven armed men.  They came by train to Peru and from Peru the trip to Kokomo was made by automobiles.  The route taken and time of their arrival at Kokomo was kept carefully guarded until the party arrived at the Kokomo jail.


------
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robberies of the South Kokomo State Bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934).  Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger.  These earlier robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-25.

Salamonia Man Killed

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, February 28, 1974, page 1.

3^rd ’74 traffic fatality

Salamonia man killed

Jay County recorded its second traffic fatality within the past two weeks, and its third of the year, when a 24-year-old Salamonia resident, Larry LeMaster, was killed in a crushing one-car accident on County Road 130 early this afternoon.

According to Jay County Sherriff Harold Loy, who’s heading the investigation, he was notified of the accident at 7:50 a.m.  He said LeMaster was found dead in the back seat of his late-model auto.

Loy said it appeared to him LeMaster, who was a Ball State University senior, had been dead for “approximately three to four hours” before police were notified.  He said the accident happened 2 ¼ miles east of the Lower Salamonie Church.

The LeMaster auto, said Loy, was located in a ditch next to a large tree, which had apparently been struck head on.  He said the force of the impact sent the driver against the windshield and then back into the backseat.  The vehicle was considered a total loss.

Loy said death may have been instantaneous, but a coroner’s examination was delayed until after noon because Jay County Coroner, Dr. James Fitzpatrick, is out of the state, and Deputy Coroner, Dr. R.E. Schenck, was in surgery.

No details of the report have been released at this time, although LeMaster’s body was taken to the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland, where it was to be examined.  LeMaster was to be transferred to the Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home, which is handling funeral arrangements.

Assisting Loy on the accident investigation are Jay County Police Captain George Meehan, and First Lt. Jerry Bell; Police Reserves: Gerald Jellison, Charles Frasher, and Floyd Life; and Indiana State Police Trooper, Walter Boguske.

Born June 8, 1949 in Portland, LeMaster, the son of John L. LeMaster Jr. and Helen (Pease) LeMaster.  On Aug. 31, 1968, he was married to Jean Shreeve.  A member of the Indiana National Guard, LeMaster belonged to the Salamonia Christian Church.  He was also a member of the Independent Order of Foresters.

Surviving besides his wife are one daughter, Lisa, and two sons, Dean and Shane, all at home; his mother, Mrs. Helen LeMaster, RR 6, Portland; four brothers, Leland LeMaster, RR 6, Portland; Terry LeMaster, RR 2, Winchester; Douglas LeMaster, Salamonia, and his twin, Gary LeMaster, Warsaw; one sister, Mrs. William (Kay) Addington, RR 6, Portland, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John L. LeMaster Sr., Salamonia.

Funeral services are set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home with Paul Albertson, Port Jefferson, Ohio, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Salamonia Cemetery.

Callers will be received at the funeral home after 3 p.m. Friday.

Planting Cousin Bait

I’ve been planning out some post-dated blog posts for the upcoming New Year, planting cousin bait.  The posts are set up to be published each day, giving details regarding relatives in my family tree database, such as who was born, married or died on a particular day.

My hope is that by getting these small posts out there each day, others who are searching for these individuals will find my blog through the search engines.   In return, perhaps I will meet some new cousins and gain even more information about the family.

In doing so, I’ve discovered that for way too many individuals, I only have dates of birth, etc. and not places.  This is something I need to work on going forward.  Better documentation will help clear up unresolved family mysteries.

The first of these posts is set to start out January 1.  

FindAGrave Success: John Lawrence Metzner (1877-1898)

Thanks to a FindAGrave volunteer, Lulabell, who took the picture of the John Lawrence METZNER (1877-1898) tombstone in the Green Park Cemetery, Portland, Indiana.  


John Lawrence was the son of William H. and Angeline (MEAD) METZNER.  He was born October 18, either in 1877 or 1878, depending on the source.  His obituary states 1877, but Williamson & Spencer Funeral home record book stated 1878 (could have been typo).  

 Jane Ann Spencer, Williamson & Spencer Funeral Homes, Inc. Portland and Pennville, Indiana Burial Records Book One 1892-1899 (Portland, Indiana, USA: Williamson & Spencer Funeral Homes, Inc., 2008)

J. L. Metzner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Metzner, was born October 18, 1877; died at the home of his parents, in South Portland, August 30, 1898, aged 20 years, 10 months and 12 days.  Funeral services will be held this afternoon at the First Christian Church by Rev. Stovenour.  Interment at Green Park Cemetery.

J. Lawrence, son of William H. and Angeline Metzner, was born in Portland, Indiana, October 18, 1878 and died at the home of his parents 247 Shanks Street, South Portland August 30th, 1898, aged 20 years, 10 months and 12 days.

Thus death has again entered a family circle and claimed an only son and brother, leaving empty hearts and an empty home.  Lawrence was industrious and obliging and greatly loved by his many friends.  He was patient and hopeful during his long illness and was never known to murmur or complain and with his mother, who was his daily companion, he had many long talks on the life beyond.  For several weeks before the end came he gave up all hope of recovery.  Although he had gone on before they have one lasting comfort and blessing, even in this sad dark hour when they remember he said, "All is well with my soul."  They may not see his well known form nor hear the welcome footsteps through the home is empty and hearts bowed in grief, yet they know he is not dead, but sleeping, and where he is they may go also, because the Lord has said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."

Funeral services at the First Christian Church, at 3 o'clock, Friday, September 2nd, conducted by Rev. Fred Stovenour.  Interment at Green Park Cemetery.

Wordless Wednesday: Family Reunion

LeMaster family reunion, 2011

FindAGrave Success: Hannah Lemasters (1778-1849)

Belated thank-you to FindAGrave volunteer, Kenny LeMaster (no known relation), who located the gravesite of my paternal fourth great-grandmother, Hannah (________) LEMASTERS (1778-1849), wife of Jacob LEMASTERS.


Hannah and Jacob are buried in the Roberts Cemetery in Shelby Couny, Ohio, near Port Jefferson.  The cemetery is on private property, nearly inaccessible.  Several FindAGrave volunteers in the past have reported that they were unable to obtain access to this cemetery.


Kenny remembered seeing the gravesite when hunting, and contacted me.  He was very gracious to offer to locate it again and photograph.  


The book Memorial Records of Shelby County, Ohio 1819-1875 note her death date as June 16, 1849.  

The Candidate

Cast a vote for myself today - that was a new experience.


I'm one of six names on the ballot for five at-large seats on the Sweetser Town Council.  I've already been serving on the council since March, when I was appointed to complete the term of a member who resigned.  That started a season of turnover in town government, as right after I was appointed, another board member moved out of town and had to resign.  Then, the Clerk-Treasurer moved out of town and resigned.  A fellow board member took that spot, so that created yet another opening.  Basically, we've had full turnover this year without even having an election.  Today we have the opportunity to complete the process.


One of the names still on the ballot is a council member who resigned due to his job commitment.  It was too late to remove his name from the ballot.  If he's elected, it would make for an interesting story in the paper, as he would have to decide if he wants to keep the seat or resign again.


Our town has some big issues to deal with over the next few years - including building our own sewage treatment plant.  I'm looking forward to the opportunity to be able to see that project to completion.


There's an old adage that says if you want to find out about your family tree, run for office, so your opponents will dig up all of the skeletons.  I pretty much already know where all of them are buried, and if your read this blog, you do too.


[Update: I made the cut, election results are posted here.]

Two Candidates Aided By Late Returns

Anderson Herald, November 9, 1978, page 1.

This newspaper clipping from 1978 details the election victory of my maternal great aunt, Martha (PHILLIPS) LAMBERTSON as the Madison County, Indiana Recorder.  Her victory was considered an upset, according to the paper.

Martha was elected to her first term in 1978, and re-elected in 1982.  She was a Republican, though her husband, Harold, was a lifelong Democrat.

Transcript from flyer:

Martha Lambertson is completing her first term as Madison County Recorder.  She was elected to this post in 1978 after serving many years both in and out of government service.  Martha prepared for the job of Recorder by working 16 years (7 years as office manager) of the Elwood Water Company.  She also served over two years as a Deputy Clerk of Madison County and 2 additional years as Office Maintenance Manager of the State Highway Office in Anderson.

Since being elected Recorder in 1978 Martha and her staff have improved the efficiency of the office.  Intensified training of each deputy and improved procedures have resulted in the best possible services to Madison County residents.  Constantly striving to improve the office, Martha attends yearly State Board of Accounts Training Seminars on new laws as well as an annual educational workshop scheduled the Indiana Association of Counties and Cities.  Martha has also been active in the State Recorders Association.

A life-long resident of Elwood and Pipe Creek Township, Martha is married and is the mother of 2 children.   She is a member of the First Baptist Church in Elwood.

Martha Lambertson...our BEST for you in '82  Vote Republican November 2nd.

Black Sheep Sunday: Police Lose Trail of Kokomo Bandit Gang, Blue Car Found

Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, March 28, 1925, p. 1.


POLICE LOSE TRAIL OF KOKOMO BANDIT GANG, BLUE CAR FOUND


Marion police have been asked to aid in the search for bandits, who held up and robbed the South Kokomo bank of $4,000 in cash and a like amount in Liberty bonds yesterday afternoon, and whose trail was lost when the conspicuous blue car, used by the bandits, to make their escape, was found concealed in a slough five miles southwest of Kokomo.


A farmer reported he saw the bandits, about seven in number, change to two small cars, which were a coupe and a sedan.


Many Reports Received


In the meantime many reports had come from Grant, Madison and other counties telling of blue cars which had been seen.  This information became of no value when it was found the bandits had abandoned this car.


The bandits entered the bank singly.  While the first was having a $10 bill changed a second entered and waited at the cashier's window.


The third suddenly displayed a gun and ordered A.E. Gorton, cashier, Miss Winifred Dimitt, assistant cashier, and Miss Frances Gorton into the rear room. Gorton was forced, with a pistol at the back of his head, to open the inner vault.


"Speedy," a small terrier, boldly attacked the burglar's ankles, and was kicked into the basement.


The bandit's car was stolen from Ft. Wayne Thursday night, and carried the license plates of a phaeton belonging to Barrett M. Woodsmall of Indianapolis, stolen from there March 11, and found here riddled with bullets Thursday night.


Holdup is Watched


The holdup was watched by three young men in a drug store across the street from the bank, but they were prevented from calling police because of fear of a stranger who stood in the store and watched them closely.  The alarm was not sounded until the bandits had escaped with their money.


The bandits, at least several of them, have been seen twice in Kokomo recently.  They took lunch at a small cafe in the south part of town last Sunday, and previously tried to get rooms in the hotel above the restaurant.


Cashier Gorton had some difficulty in working the combination of the safe, and this angered the bandit who held the gun over him, and he threatened "to blow his brains out."  The men were in the bank about ten minutes.  Only one customer tried to enter, Vernon Shaw, and he was slapped by one of the men and later robbed of $18.


The bandits tore the telephone from the wall, and also broke a shotgun and took away the extra cartridges.


The impression was that the bandits had gone to Indianapolis, but after they abandoned the blue car it was difficult to determine which road was taken.  Reports came from many places of seeing cars travel at a fast rate of speed, but none were definite.


------
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robberies of the South Kokomo State Bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934).  Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger.  These earlier robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-25.



Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Pierpont Family in Indianapolis, 1918

Polk's 1918 Directory, City of Indianapolis, Indiana

Continuing my research into the PIERPONT family in Indianapolis, the 1918 Polk's Directory at Archive.org listed the following PIERPONTS [h=house, b=boarder].   I've been hoping to find out more about the early days of Harry PIERPONT.

Pierpont Clarence M bench hd h1819 Southeastern av

Pierpont Edw lab h1747 Blaine av

Pierpont Elpha L furn rms 112 w North

Pierpont Ezra M mach h1036 Blaine av

Pierpont Fern M bkpr Fidelity Trust Co r1107 Blaine av

Pierpont Jno T wood wkr h1742 w Morris

Pierpont Macel r907 King av

Pierpont Raymond clk r2810 Schofield av

Pierpont Wm E lab r967 King av

Pierpont Wm R clk Merrill & Alford r2810 Schofield av

Harry's sister, Fern, is listed as the bookkeeper for Fidelity Trust Company and is living at 1107 Blaine Avenue, the same address she had in the 1916 directory.

The unidentified Clarence PIERPONT appears at the same address as the 1916 directory.


The Edward PIERPONT appears to be the same as Edward L. from the 1916 directory.  Believe he is the son of John T. and Hester PIERPONT, and a younger brother of Joseph Gilbert PIERPONT, Harry's father.


The Elpha L. PIERPONT is unidentified at this time.


The Ezra M. PIERPONT, a machinist, I believe is the brother of Edward and Joseph Gilbert PIERPONT, and son of John T. and Hester PIERPONT.


The John T. PIERPONT, residing at 1742 Morris was Harry's grandfather.


The Macel PIERPONT remains unidentified, as does the Raymond PIERPONT, who was listed as Roy in the 1916 directory.  The William R. PIERPONT at the Schofield address is likewise unidentified.


The other William, William E. PIERPONT is likewise unidentified.


There were multiple PIERPONTs in Indianapolis during this time period, all of whom were probably related, but at this point I haven't tied them all together. Since I'm primarily looking for Harry's family, I haven't spent much time sorting out the other cousins.


Where was Harry's father, Joseph Gilbert PIERPONT during this time?  Found him in 1912 directory, yet I'm not finding him listed in directories after that point until the 1920 census.

Previous posts regarding the directory finds regarding the PIERPONT family in Indianapolis can be found here and here.

No Marker ?

Sometimes there simply just isn't a marker at a cemetery for an ancestor.  Whether due to ravages of time, weather or vandalism, today it is possible that a marker from a few generations back might not be there anymore.  Religious beliefs may have precluded any time of marker, or the family may not have been able to afford to place one on the final resting place.


Recently, I had requested two photos of memorials at the FindAGrave website for my maternal 6th-great grandparents, Jacob SWAFFORD (1762-1845) and Sarah (LARKIN) SWAFFORD (c1772-1852).  Both are listed as being buried at the Brushy Cemetery in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.   There are several members of the SWAFFORD family with tombstone photographs in this cemetery.


However, a transcription of the burials at the cemetery at USGenWeb does not list Jacob or Sarah.  Other SWAFFORDS, however, are listed.


It is possible that whomever created the memorial in the database was in error, and they are simply buried elsewhere.

Wordless Wednesday: Dinner Photo

William Wright, Robert & Ruby (Lambertson) Walsh, Nellie (Barr) & Floyd Lambertson

Cousin Bait - It Works!

If I ever doubted whether or not anyone ever read these posts, I just have been blown away in the past few months by the number of people who have found my blog and written me to share information.  From distant cousins to fellow researchers, my inbox has been crammed.  I'm slowly trying to dig out from the deluge and post updates to the blog.


Most recently was correspondence from a distant cousin researching the SNIVELY family, which shares common descent from my LAMBERTSON line.  The extent of my database had this person's great-grandmother, without dates of death and only a name for the spouse - nothing else.  Now, thanks to the blog, I've received email with more names, dates and clues and a connection to a branch of the family that had been lost.


Each and every blog post has the potential to reach an audience who may be "googling" the surnames you are working on.  You never know who you will catch.

Black Sheep Sunday: Father Surrenders His Bandit Son

Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, January 11, 1925, p. 1.


FATHER SURRENDERS HIS BANDIT SON


KOKOMO YOUTH IS SENT TO PRISON


George R. Frazer Says That Women Were Not Innocent of Bank Raids


One Visited The Bank


Got Change to See Lay of Ground and Reported the Conditions


"Is this the captain?" inquired a man of Capt. Jake Campbell at police station yesterday afternoon.  "It is," replied Captain Campbell. "Well here is one of the bank robbers," replied the stranger, who was R.A. Frazer of 1224 So. Washington street, Kokomo, who turned over his son, George R. Frazer, 23, as one of the bandits who robbed both the South Marion and Upland banks and who admitted to being a member of the gang, which attempted the robbery of the Noblesville bank.  After turning over his son to the police, the father broke down and cried and at the request of the bandit son, returned to Kokomo at once.


Following the Upland robbery, Frazer fled to Canada and returned to his home at Kokomo late Friday night.  His father learning that his son had been implicated in the robberies and that he was wanted by the authorities, left Kokomo shortly after noon yesterday with his son for Marion.  After the police station was reached, Frazer told Captain Campbell that he would have the chance that he would "blow his (Frazer's) brains out," and precautions were taken to see that Frazer did not get hold of a gun.


Women Knew Plans.


When questioned later he said that the two women, Mrs. Mary Bridgewater and Mrs. Emily Morse, who have been sentenced, knew all about the plans for the robbery at the South Marion bank and that a short time before the South Marion bank was robbed, the Bridgewater women went into the bank to get a bill changed and while there, sized up the bank, getting the number of persons in the bank and the lay of the land.


Frazer was taken to the court house, where a warrant was sworn out and signed by Chief of Police Frank Brandon, charging Frazer with automobile banditry, for having been implicated in the South Marion robbery.  Judge J. Frank Charles was notified that another bank robber was waiting to be arraigned in circuit court and arrived in court a short time later.  A plea of guilty was entered by Frazer and after being questioned at some length by Prosecuting Attorney Jay Keever and Judge Charles, was sentenced to from ten to twenty-five years in the reformatory near Pendleton.


Frazer said that he was born in Kokomo and his home address was 1224 South Washington street, Kokomo, and that he had no regular occupation, having worked at the machinists' trade when he could get work, but had been out of work for several months.  He admitted to having been sentenced from Kokomo in 1918 or 1919 for thirty days on the penal farm for attempted robbery and also was sentenced to the reformatory for from five to fourteen years on a charge of November 20, 1920, from Kokomo, and is now out on parole, hoaving been out of prison since March, 1924.


Looking for Work.


He stated that on the morning November 26, the day of the South Marion bank was robbed, that he was looking for work, when four men, whom he knew in prison, met him in a machine and told him that they were looking for some place to "stick up," but had not decided on the city.  Two women were in the machine, he said, but he did not know them.  Frazer said he told them he was out of work and disguested [sic] and that they asked that they asked him if he knew of a good place to hold and rob and he told them he did not.  He jumped into the machine and came to Marion.  One of the men said that they would drive over to Marion and see if they could see some place that "would look reasonable."  They drove to South Marion and seeing the South Marion bank, decided that this place would probably be all right.  The machine stopped a short distance of the bank and Mrs. Bridgewater got out of the machine and went into the bank where she asked for some change from a paper bill.  While in the bank, she counted the number of people in the bank, noted the location of the side door, the location of the safe and other details, according to Frazer.  She then returned to the car and reported things as being favorable.  A few minutes later the party then drove up to the bank, the men getting out of the machine and going in the bank, while the two women remained in the car.


Robberies Planned.


Frazer told Judge Charles, in reply to a question as to whether plans had been made by members of the gang, while in prison, to rob banks, said that they had talked things over, but had made no definite arrangements.


Frazer is the seventh member of the gang of nine persons, seven men and two women, who took part in the robbing of the Upland and South Marion banks, to be arrested and sentenced to prison.  Sheriff Bert Renbarger holds a warrant against Frazer on a charge of automobile banditry and also against the two persons who have not yet been arrested.


------
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robberies of the Upland State bank and South Marion bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934).  Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger.  These earlier robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-25.



Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

John Spencer Cummings (1860-1944)

John Spencer CUMMINGS (1860-1944) was the son of Wyatt and Margaret (HENSON) CUMMINGS, and the older brother of Eileen's paternal grandfather, St. Patrick Merlin CUMMINGS (1863-1929).  The information I had for him was rather sketchy, and contact by a fellow researcher questioning the relationships of the Pace and Cummings families has given me reason to search for more information.

I found a link to John's tombstone at the FindAGrave website.  This also gives a transcription of his obituary from the Democrat-Argus of Caruthersville, Missouri of Friday, December 1, 1944.  Transcription states his birthdate was February 15, 1869 at Savannah, Tennessee.  This may be a typo, as other records place his birth as closer to 1862, such as the 1870 census of Colbert County, Alabama.  His death certificate is online through the Missouri Secretary of State website:

At first I wasn't sure who the informant, Robert TREECE was, but now thanks to the FindAGrave transcription of the obituary, I know that he was a son-in-law.

John married Dollie BRUMLEY on September 22, 1904 in Hardin County, Tennessee.  She was his second wife.  According to the obituary, they had four sons and three daughters.  I found record of their marriage at FamilySearch.

His obituary states that he married his first wife, Martha Adaline PACE, in April 1877.  I found a record on Ancestry.com that may be this marriage record.  This would be taking place in Prentiss County, Mississippi.

John had a total of 15 children by his two wives, according to his obituary.

I still have a lot of research to flesh out these families, but now I have leads for more of Eileen's distant cousins throughout Alabama and Tennessee.

Suggestions And Items To Consider In Writing Your Personal History

This page of tips and suggestions for writing your family history was found in some miscellaneous files by my dad, we are not even sure of the author.   I like the quote from Job that is used: "Oh, that my words were now written! Oh, that they were printed in a book!  That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever!" (Job 19:23).  As family historians, don't we all wish that each of our ancestors had recorded their personal histories and stories to be passed down to future generations.

Suggestions And Items To Consider In Writing Your Personal History

1. Your birth: when, where, parents, surrounding circumstances and conditions.

2. Your childhood: health, diseases, accidents, playmates, trips, associations with your brothers and sisters, unusual happenings, visitors in your home, visits to grandparents, relatives you remember, religion in your home, financial condition of parents.

3. Your brothers and sisters: names, date of birth, place of birth, accomplishments, names of spouses, date and place of marriage, their children.

4. Your school days: schools attended, teachers, courses studied, special activities, associates, achievements, socials, report cards, humorous situations, who or what influenced you to take certain courses or do things you might not otherwise have done.

5. Your activities before, during and between school sessions: vacations, jobs, attendance at church, other church functions, scouting, sports, tasks at home, fun and funny situations.

6. Your courtship and marriage: meeting your spouse, special dates, how the question was popped, marriage plans, the wedding, parties and receptions, gifts, honeymoon, meeting your in-laws, what influenced you most in your choice of spouse.

7. Settling down to married life: your new home, starting housekeeping, bride's biscuits, spats and adjustments, a growing love, making ends meet, joys and sorrows, your mother-in-law, other in-laws.

8. Your vocation: training for your job, promotions, companies you worked for, salaries, associates, achievements, your own business.

9. Your chilren: names, dates and places of birth, health of mother before and after, how father fared, characteristics, habits, smart sayings and doings, growing up, accomplishments, schooling, marriage, vocations, sicknesses, accidents, operations.

10. Your civic and political activities: positions held, services rendered, clubs, fraternities and lodges you have joined.

11. Your church activities: as a young person, through adolescence, churches attended, church positions, church associates, church certificates, answers to prayers, necessity and power of love.

12. Your avocations: sports, home hobbies, dramatic and musical activities, reading habits, genealogy, travels, favorite songs, movies, books, writers, poems, etc...

13. Special celebrations or holidays you remember: Easter, Christmas, national and local holidays, vacations.

14. Your plans and hopes for the future.

15. Your ancestors: your impressions of those you knew personally; a general sketch of those you did not know; father, mother, grandparents, great grandparents, other relatives.

16. Your encouragement and counsel to your descendants: carrying on family traditions and activities; their obligations to their country, church and  family; your suggestions to your progeny and others on honesty, humility, health, diligence, perseverance, thrift, loyalty, kindness, reverence, the Bible and other religious and edifying books; service to fellow-men; your belief regarding God, etc...

Never underestimate the effect you may have on unborn generations in helping them through the trials and tribulations of life by the written word of advice you leave your children, grandchildren,etc.. If you would like them to live upright, honest lives, give them the benefit of your experiences.  Job, of the Old Testament lamented the fact that his words were not written when he said, "Oh, that my words were now written!  Oh that they were printed in a book!  That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever!" (Job, 19-23).  But they were written, and he then gave his beautiful testimony of the Redeemer which has been used countless times as the text of sermons in both Jewish and the Christian worlds.  Your communications to your descendants must be written.  They will also appreciate your life story as a precious treasure, and bless you all their days for it.

17. Hints on writing your life story: tell your story plainly and with directness; write truthfully of uplifting, refined and honorable occurrences and experiences.  Humor helps to make for easier reading.  If you can give the whys of your decisions and changes in activities it may help others.  Illustrate with as many pictures as possible.  Make several copies, or better still, mimeograph or print and give one to each of your children and grandchildren.  Place copies in local and national libraries and/or historical societies.

Wordless Wednesday: Brothers

Travis & Jason LeMaster, October 2011

You Bought What At The Auction?

October 1st found me at an auction over in Jay County at the Portland 4-H Fairgrounds.  The contents of the general store of Murl May in Salamonia, Indiana, which had been shut up as it was since 1952, were being auctioned off by an auctioneer out of Greenville, Ohio.  Because so many of my relatives had lived their lives in Salamonia and Madison Township, I was hoping there might be some items of interest of the LeMaster, Wehrly, Chew, etc. families.  Plus, I just love going to auctions.

I spent nearly 6 hours at the sale, watching the farm-fresh advertising, parts and other items of local interest go for extremely high prices.  Wandering around the sale items, I located a set of ledger books that appeared to be from the store.  

Flipping through the books, I searched the "L" section for entries regarding my LeMaster relatives, and hit the jackpot.  I found listing for my grandfather, my great-grandfather and my great-great-grandfather, as well as entries for great-uncles, etc.  The auctioneer was a long way away from getting to these tables, but I was definitely going to stick around and see whether or not I could get them.

I managed to obtain a few pieces of local memorabilia from the 4-H fair at a very reasonable price - the type of things that could end up on eBay or in a museum.

The Lon Wehrly listed as a President of the Fair was the son of John P. and Catherine E. (LeMASTERS) WEHRLY, making him a 1st cousin 3 times removed.

By the time the sale came around to the tables with all of the ephemera and the ledger books that I wanted, I had been there almost 6 hours.  I was fortunate enough to obtain a couple of sets of loose ledgers for $ 2, that appeared to be from the same store and mentioned my relatives.

I quickly snapped up several other ledgers at similar prices, but by the time it came around to the large ledgers, someone else had caught on and the bidding war began.  Not wanting to let a piece of family history to get away, I was willing to spend what it took, which in this case turned out to be $50 for the two large books.  Not much more than I might spend on a good genealogy book, I tried to explain to my wife and family who questioned my sanity.

When I finally had a chance to bring them home and take a look at what I had purchased, I realized that not only did I have more than one ledger that mentioned the financial transactions of my relatives from the mid-1920s through the early 1930s, but that the ledgers were not from the store, as I had first believed.  Instead, what I had was the ledger books of the Farmers  Bank of Salamonia.  Indeed, I had the records of deposits and withdrawals, including some copies of cancelled checks from the 1920s.  How cool is that!

What a thrill it was to find the record of my grandfather depositing $1 in a savings account for my uncle, when he was just a baby.  There is a lot of genealogy in these records, as the accounts often mention the names of the parents, etc. as well as showing who endorsed the checks and dates when accounts were closed, etc.  At least one administration of an estate in my LeMaster family has been discovered.

I have yet to begin the process of scanning the relevant pages and adding the information to my family history.  Eventually, these books will probably be donated to the Jay County Historical Society.  I've already contacted them to try and find out more about the history of the bank.  The ledger records go up until 1933, I'm wondering if the bank survived the Depression.

Black Sheep Sunday: Bandit Trio Leave Today For Prison

Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, January 4, 1925, p. 2.


BANDIT TRIO LEAVE TODAY FOR PRISON


Sheriff's Force Start at Early Hour for State Reformatory


NEXT STEP IN THE GAME


Expect to Arraign Two Women and Man in Jail Sometime Monday or Tuesday.


One week after the arrest of the first bank robber in connection with the South Marion and Upland bank robberies, six of the nine bandits alleged to be implicated in both jobs have been arrested and three of the six given sentences of from ten to twenty-five years in prison, who will start on the trip to prison this morning, while the other three, one man and two women are in jail awaiting arraignment in circuit court on charges of automobile banditry.


James Robbins, the first bandit to be arrested, at Lebanon; William Behrens, arrested next at Monticello, and Marion, alias "Red" Smith, arrested at Indianapolis, will be taken to the reformatory near Pendleton this morning over the traction line to begin their long sentences.  They will be accompanied by Ralph Malott, sent up for obtaining money under false pretenses, and Ray Wilson, who was given a sentence for forgery.  They will leave in the company of a sufficient number of deputy sheriffs to insure their safe arrival at prison.


Only three of the bandits who are alleged to have taken part in the robbery of the Upland and South Marion banks, remain uncaptured, but operatives from the Webster agency at Indianapolis, the department at Indianapolis and sheriffs from several counties are on the job and it is believed that the three will yet be arrested, but it may not be accomplished for some time.


Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morse, who were arrested at their home in Indianapolis Friday evening and Mrs. Mary Bridgewater, arrested at Indianapolis Wednesday afternoon, will probably be arraigned in court Monday or Tuesday of this week, Sheriff Bert Renbarger said yesterday.  Morse and his wife have admitted to having taken part in the South Marion robbery, Mrs. Morse remaining in the automobile, while the men went in the bank.  Mrs. Bridgewater has admitted to being in the car with the bandits when they came to Marion to rob the South Marion bank, but said that she was not aware of the bank being robbed or of the nature of the automobile trip from Marion to Indianapolis on November 26, the day on which the South Marion robbery took place.


The round up of the bandits during the past week, in which the active co-operation of Sheriff Renbarger, the Webster agency and the police of Indianapolis and Lebanon took part, was one of the biggest roundups of any gang of robbers which has taken place in the state for some time, all of which resulted from James Robbins displaying a big roll of money at Lebanon a week ago yesterday.


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This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robberies of the Upland State bank and South Marion bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934).  Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger.  These earlier robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-25.





Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Searching for Brazil Sand & Gravel Company Name

I wrote off to the Brazil Indiana Public Library, hoping that they might have city directories going back to the 1920s that would list the name of the sand and gravel company that Harry PIERPONT's father ran.


Harry worked there for awhile after his release from prison before embarking on a series of robberies throughout Indiana in 1924-25.  It appears that his bank robbing partner, William Behrens, may have also worked at this same company.


The response I received back from them was:

One of the ladies did some research and BPL does not have directories going back to the 1920s.  She suggested that maybe the Clay Co Geneology in Centerpoint may have some of those that old.

So, looks like my next contact is the Clay County Genealogy Society.

Family Recipe Friday: Fruit Truck

Today's recipes come from the 1962 cookbook of the Women's Guild of the Salamonia, Indiana United Church of Christ of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed).

FRUIT TRUCK                                          Pearl LeMaster

Wash 1 lb. raisins: Stew in 2 c. water for 15 min.  Add 1 c. cold water, 1/2 c. lard, 2 c. sugar, 1 tsp. cloves, 1 tsp. nutmeg, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. soda, 1/4 c. flour.  Beat mixture, add 1 tsp. vanilla.  This makes a very large and also economical cake.  Bake 30 minutes in moderate oven and cover with caramel icing.

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Pearl (SMITH) LeMASTER was my paternal grandaunt, the wife of Gerald Walker LeMASTER.  Pearl was born April 23, 1894 in Jay County, Indiana, the daughter of Samuel E. and Mary E. (BIBLER) SMITH.

Family Recipe Friday – is an opportunity to share your family recipes with fellow bloggers and foodies alike. Whether it’s an old-fashioned recipe passed down through generations, a recipe uncovered through your family history research, or a discovered recipe that embraces your ancestral heritage share them on Family Recipe Friday. This series was suggested by Lynn Palermo of The Armchair Genealogist.

The Orcutt-Metzner connection

Initiated correspondence with Mary K. Guinn regarding the ORCUTT and METZNER line, and the connection with Harry PIERPONT.  She sent me a nice printout of the descendants of James Orcutt (1857-1925) who married Samantha METZNER (1857-1890).  James was Harry PIERPONT's grandfather.


Samantha was her name as listed in the 1860 census, when she was 2 years old.  By the 1870 census, her name was listed as Amanda.  I still need to obtain her marriage record from Jay County.  In the 1880 census, she was listed as Amanda.  Ancestry.com shows the marriage of James ORCUTT to Samantha E. METZNER taking place May 12, 1878 in Jay County, Indiana.  They had three surviving children, George, Lena and Mamie.  Melvin died as an infant and is buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


After Samantha's death, James remarried to Nancy E. MAYO on December 11, 1893 in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana.  They also had three surviving children, Carl, Hazel and Lawrence.  Iva died as a child in 1901.


Mary sent me a nice family history report, with a lot of clues for further research. All because I was able to find her tree online and make contact.