Kells Komments 






 

 The picture above is of my grandmother Catherine Colvin and my birth father Earl Colvin Stewart, I grew up never knowing they existed. At the age of 34 I found out that I was adopted, when I was a few months old. At that point I began the search for my roots. I was raised by great parents my adopted mother being the first cousin of my birth father. Many family dynamics were involved in the entire story but to make it short and not terribly sweet. My birth mother Marybelle Pettigrew Stewart had postpartum depression after I was born in 1944 she was considered insane and was hospitalized. My father could not care for both my brother and myself so I was adopted. My adopted father felt my birth father was irresponsible and did not want me to know I was not his daughter so it began. Completely by accident I found out and before I told my adopted parents I found and met my birth parents. What I did not find was very much about their families so I decided to find out as much as I could about them. It has been quite a journey and a fascinating one. It led me to Switzerland County, in Southern Indiana where my birth fathers family had lived from around 1830. From there to Jennings County where his Grandparents Simeon & Geneva Ayers Stewart lived in the little town of Paris. You will see from the Jennings County pages that I spent some time researching the area, in the process I came to love it but it leaves me with considerably more knowledge of Montgomery Township where they lived than the rest of the County. I need the help of others researching Jennings County families to make this site as useful and informative as possible. Genealogy is a persuit where we will never get all the answers, we just go from one bit of information to the other, it is like a treasure hunt, sometimes you find a big treasure sometimes just another clue but the more information we make available the better for others who come along later.
Please send in what you can to add to the site but keep in mind I am not a computer whiz, I am learning how to do this and believe me the method is trial and error. Thank You, for your help and for the patience you have had with me while I learn.
I live in Indianapolis, Indiana so until I retire from work only get to Jennings County on my days off, which means answsering your requests may take some time but I do attempt to help anyone I can. 

Jennings County research tips;
 1.   When you visit Jennings County a stop at the Library to see if they have your surnames on file it may make it easier to find the records at the courthouse
 2.    Be sure to check the Original Record books at the Courthouse, they have Wills, Probate Records and Marriage Records. The books can be confusing but many   have an index, if you know a date range check each book in that range as all names are not listed in the index.
 3.    The County Recorders office in the Courthouse annex (across the street from the Courthouse) has a really excellent room for researching Deeds and Property Records.
 4.    Birth and death records are difficult as very little was recorded prior to 1880, they are located at the Health Department which is also in the annex.
 5.    Remember the people who work in these offices are doing County business, they are usually not Genealogists and although they will try to help you, the research is up to you.
 6.    The Chamber of Commerce has an excelllent map with most area Cemeteries marked on it, having one of those can make your travels much easier.
 7.    Have fun, and Happy Hunting!  
Sheila Kell
Kfurballkell@aol.com
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