Archived Cemetery News

"Did you miss it the first time around?" If so, I have added a new page which will host some of the older news. A lot of these topics were worth saving for those
that are just finding our website. Hope you enjoy it!

2015 Hi-Lites
Condolences
Our deepest condolences to the family of George VanDierendonck,
husband of one of our volunteer researchers,
Pat VanDierendonck. George passed away in  May 2015
And the family of William Harris  husband of Patricia Harris
our Media announcements officer. Bill passed in June 2015.

Pine Lake Cemetery -  Pine Lake Cemetery Burials from early records up to and including 2014 now on line. We have well over 15,000 burials from various records.
The goal was to give credit to those who have donated burial info and combine the listings alphabetically to eliminate some of the repetition that was on site.
This also allows us to see which family surnames we may be missing and add them to this great index. 
Pine Lake Cemetery Link

Many of the newer burials in Oak Grove Cemetery in Wills Township now added.
Oak Grove Cemetery in Wills Link


2014 Hi-lights
Fall 2014
Sharon Snow, our Patton Volunteer Historian, photographed the new Veteran Memorial Section located by the flag pole in the Brady Section
at Patton Cemetery. To see these photos go to Patton Cemetery Section Photos

Completed on September 23, 2014 is a new combined listing for Greenwood Cemetery.
This allowed me to make many corrections and add many of the newer burials.  Sources for this project were the following:
 1.  Volume 1. A - M Volume 2. N-Z Compiled by: Gertrude Davison Flotow, INDEX GREENWOOD CEMETERY Burial Books  --
 Approximately 20900 burials are listed in the burial books   - Greenwood up to  January 1950 - -  1873 to 1950.
 2. A partial listing obtained over 10 years ago from actual cemetery records.
 3. Donated  burial information from family files and newer obituaries.
 4. Calvary Cemetery listing on line 

Sauktown Cemetery:  Updated on September 26, 2014
Thanks to Jean Lempke Caddy  and Ruth Lempke Judson for their recent information.
Listings were restructured by Surname and Area buried in.

Summer of 2014

Oak Grove Cemetery - Dewey Township.
Alvin Zahn sent us additional information on some of his relatives buried there and we added it to that cemetery listing.

Oak Grove Cemetery Wills Twp Inc.
Carolyn Hunt did  2 great maps of the Older Section  and Golda Fuller Section which
I translated over to html and are now on line for viewers . Also restructured their home page which shows both alphabetical index and Index by sections.

The following Veteran Burial Listings were added to and updated in June, 2014
Carmel,
Oak Grove Wills twp
Sauktown Wills, Twp
Spring of 2014
. Patton Cemetery - Phase II of III phases is now complete.  We are working on improving and adding to the burial listing. Spelling and location corrections were made.We increased our old listing from 8,300 to 9,800 burials. A general map of the cemetery, along with individual numbered burial plot maps for each section and garden now on line.  Please take a moment to go through the site and note the updates and information we have uncovered during our research of Patton.  Also, note the two newer areas shown on the general map as being Brady Section and The Garden of Gethsemane. Sharon Snow is our volunteer historian/liaison for this cemetery.
Phase III - Work continues on expanding this site as Sharon will tackle each individual area with some photographing, adding discovered stones  and double checking grave location against our existing listings.
Patton Cemetery Home Page

In March we added to our history data with some of the old time hotels of Michigan City and the people that built and/or operated them. Check it out at
Michigan City Hotels
Updated our Cemetery Volunteer Listing which can be viewed here:
Cemetery Volunteers

In December - 2013 - Oh no a brickwall! We added a brickwall page for folks to
post those ancestors that they just can't seem to locate.

http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/BrickWall.html
Send us your brickwall and email address and we'll post it right away!

On October 1, 2013, I restructured the Oak Grove Cemetery, Wills township, site.
Surnames for both the Old Section and the Golda Fuller Addition (GFA) were organized alphabetically and the latest known burials added. This was necessary due to the size of the files.
Oak Grove Cemetery

2013 - Donated random readings and photos of various stones were added for Greenwood, Pine Lake, Door Village and Salem Chapel now available on line for view. Our thanks to Cindy Hester. 

Summer - 2013
Kingsbury Cemetery - Lloyd and Shirley Mounce have completed working on Kingsbury Cemetery burials and listings. This was a huge undertaking and our hats off to their devotion.  If and when more family files or additional information becomes available on unmarked graves, we will add it to our site. The most recent updates were submitted on April 29, 2013 and added to site.

 Biographies. - Martha A Crosley Graham of the Vigo County GenWeb is sharing her index and bios of  1875 Indiana State Legislators; which we have now added the two on the list La Porte Counnty (Edward Evans & John H Winterbotham)  to our site at   http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/laportebios.htm.  

Spring 2013 - 

New volunteers have stepped forward and are going to be working on improving our cemetery listing St. Joseph Catholic in La Porte city.
Keep in mind that these projects take time to complete.

Door Village 
Completed -  alphabetizing the partial listings we have for Door Village Cemetery.

Histories for Greenwood and Calvary (inside of  Greenwood) have been added to and improved on.

I corrected an error on the Patton Cemetery map. We thought the old archaic map showed a road running (North & South) through the Sheperd and Blessing Gardens. It was only a line to show plant life between the gardens, as a road does not exist there.  Also moved the word Tiers to eliminate confusion that it was part of the East Bank, per viewer request. Thanks Sharon for the heads up on these corrections.
Our La Porte County Pioneer Cemetery Commission placed a memorial marker at Eahart Reed to memorialize many of the markers that were destroyed or unreadable.
 Eahart Reed page 2

December 2012 to January 2013

Union Mills Cemetery - as weather and time permits, Robert Ponda continues his work on repairing and uprighting many of the older stones. 

Cindy Hester sent us  random photos taken in some of our local cemeteries and Sharon Snow contributed some information and photos for Patton Cemetery. 

Histories for Greenwood and Calvary (inside of  Greenwood) have been added to and improved on. 

Our thanks to Richard Blissmer for the Pinhook Cemetery map which corresponds to the photos that Russ Hapke took a few months ago.

I corrected an error on the Patton Cemetery map. We thought the old archaic map showed a road running (North & South) through the Sheperd and Blessing Gardens. It was only a line to show plant life between the gardens, as a road does not exist there.  Also moved the word Tiers to eliminate confusion that it was part of the East Bank, per viewer request. Thanks Sharon for the heads up on these corrections. 

Our La Porte County Pioneer Cemetery Commission placed a memorial marker at Eahart Reed to memorialize many of the markers that were destroyed or unreadable.
 Eahart Reed page 2

September to November - 2012
Pinhook Cemetery - Russ Hapke photographed the stones of Pin Hook Cemetery for us. This was a huge project. We labeled and placed them on line, linking to our burial listing for Pinhook along with a map coordinating with general locations of stones.
We were able to photograph all the stones that were still legible (about 95% worth)


Union Mills Cemetery:  - Work continues at Union Mills Cemetery with Robert Ponda Sr. asking other folks for help in adjusting and straightening many of the stones that have shifted over time. From smaller projects to larger ones, Bob's requests are being heard.  One of the many replants going on is shown in these photos as Mr. Charles Hiigli stepped forward and helped Robert upright a badly leaning monolith; one of many that they successfully adjusted that day in late August.  During project    

September 2012 - B'nai Zion Cemetery - located behind Patton Cemetery. Mark Davis was there in August repairing many of the old stones. He always does such a great job.

Summer 2012 - May/June 2012
Miriam Benedict Memorial Cemetery Robert Ponda Sr. went out and photographed many of the stones at Miriam during the Memorial Day week.

Tracy Lutheran Cemetery also has taken on a new look on our pages. Robert is also in the process of photographing and labeling the photos for our on line Tracy site. He is photographing the older and newer stones. So Keep watching as we add to this cemetery.
 
Maple Grove Cemetery Tour 2012  Host -  La Porte County Genealogical Society

Earhart Reed Cemetery  In June, Robert Ponda Sr. went out and photograped this cemetery. Photos are now on line. It really adds a personality to the cemetery to have photos. Also in 2012 the Pioneer Cemetery Commission had repairs done to many of the stones and a new list was submtted to us, which is now on line.

April 2012 - Union Mills Cemetery - Robert Ponda Sr., our liaison for Union Mills Cemetery has been busy correctly replanting some of the older stones at the cemetery. He is in the process of photographing some of the old broken stones and plotting their locations (for future repair) and adding flat ground table markers for the crumbled unrecoverable ones. He has also sent us discs with more photos of the older and 1st addition sections. We have them available for anyone requesting a photo, if not already on our site.

Memorial Day Events May 28, 2012
Oak Grove Cemetery 67th annual Memorial Day Services- corner of 600 E and 50 N in LaPorte County will have its services honoring our veterans and loved ones on May 28, 2012. The American Legion Post 400 of Fish Lake will be doing the military services at the cemetery at 10:15 AM. Earlier in the morning there will be a presentation of the same services at Salem Chapel Cemetery on St. Rd 4 east of LaPorte. After Oak Grove Cemetery services American Legion members will then continue on to Sauktown Cemetery, 150 N and 875 E North of Mill Creek. (Contact the American Legion of Fish Lake for times at Salem Chapel and Sauktown Cemetery.)

Oak Grove Cemetery Association members will again be served chili, barbecue sandwiches as well as hot dog and polish sausage sandwiches along with Potato chips, baked beans and home made desserts. Beverages included: coffee, iced tea, lemonade, pepsi and coke products.

Oak Grove Military Memorial Services - Monday, May 30, 2011.
Oak Grove Cemetery Participates in Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War and the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812

This year, the Memorial Day observance at Oak Grove Cemetery, Wills Twp. Inc., included a special tribute and presentation. The United States has entered a 4-year commemorative period of honoring the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Oak Grove Cemetery has 1 buried soldier of the War of 1812 and 11 buried soldiers of the Civil War. Oak Grove Cemetery, Wills Twp., Inc., joined historical societies and veterans' groups around the nation in an effort to commemorate these two wars. A presentation of the life of William M. Maple, veteran of the War of 1812, soldier in the famed "Pittsburgh Blues" military unit, and early Wills Township pioneer, was shared with a crowd of nearly 100 as they gathered to pay homage to veterans and loved ones buried at the cemetery. In addition to William Maple's story, the names of each soldier from those two wars were read and a flag bearing their name was passed out to audience members with one simple request: "Remember Me." The American Legion Post from Fish Lake offered a tribute at the cemetery with the squad firing a rifle salute and playing taps. A wreath of flowers was also placed at the foot of the flag pole, with the flag flying at half-mast. A fellowship luncheon followed the tribute, served by youth from the community.

Photos of the stones of Coulter Cemetery have been added. Thank you John!

The 1859 Charles Minot Engine Photo was added to our site, contributed by Joe Berger. http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/histories/railroad.htm

July - Updated listing for Kingsbury Cemetery was placed on line.

Many of the Pine Lake Cemetery - 2011 Burials now on line.

2010 Previous Updates -

November and December I have been trying to catch up with family obligations and it has been rather quiet on our site. This along with directing viewers to the correct pages or links for research, along with helping researchers find their kin, showed that we in no way have slowed down.

Hope all of you have a safe and happy Christmas and Hanakkah season and please drive safe, with no cell phones being used while driving. See you next year, 2011 !

October was rather quiet on site, but we did add more photos of stones in some of our country cemeteries that were donated by our viewers.

September 2010 - Thanks to one of our volunteer photographers who shot yet another 350 grave stones out at Pine Lake Cemetery. It helps us fill in some of the missing years that our other Pine Lake listings don't have.  Look here - once you are at the Pine Lake Page, scroll down and you will see the a column for Random photos taken in August, 2010 - work in progress in adding photos to site. Photos ready for view now.

Also - More obituaries and photos of family tombstones were sent in by some of our researchers and readers. If you haven't checked in with us for a while, make sure to take a little time and do a search for your ancestor.

Special thanks goes out to two of our researchers, Patricia Gruse Harris and Gloria Arnt, in helping viewers locate obituaries and family information.

Greenwood - Also an extended thanks to Pat VanDierendonck for her completion of the 1980's and early 1990 burials for the Greenwood Cemetery burials, which are now on line.

July 2010
We continue to celebrate our 10th Anniversary for the "Cemetery & Research Association of LaPorte County"
Our Cemetery site has been up and running for 10 years now.

Patricia A. Gruse Harris published "Great Lakes’ First Submarine, back in 1982. Because of many requests she and the Michigan City Historical Society is offering a revised addtion. For more information on how to purchase a copy of this great book - look here
http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/sub/flyer%20GKFS.html

Men investigating and connected with the Gunness murders can be seen on our
This That and The Other page along with a link to the museum on line information on La Porte's Lady Blue Beard.

Noteworthy articles added in the last few months revolve around Charles F. Pahrman and some of his creations and life's experiences. Included is a photo of the Peterson Hardware store in La Porte, the Pahrman Museum and the Humane Society Dog Kennel which Charles was extremely influential in establishing.
Read all about them at:
http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/bios/PahrmanCharles.htm
and
http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/histories/PahrmanShelter.htm
Our thanks to Doug Snyder for contributing those great glimpses into the past.
Doug also sent us photos relating to Allis Chalmers and some of the photos taken there. Once you get to the following page, scroll down and you will see a "shoe store on wheels" among other interesting photos.
http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/lpcityphotos.htm

June Povlock sent us some wonderful old time photos of "A Shure Thing Inn" & Hyer's Tavern in Michigan City, along with family photos of the Hyer (Heuer) and Wagner families.
http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/MichCityphotos.htm

Fall 2009 through January 2010 - I have completed the photo project with older associated families contributed by Connie Novreske. Some of those glimpses back in time are: Harness, Watkins, Wolford, Moffit and Pliske family members. Connie also submitted a wonderful excerpt from a diary about Eight Square School which, being on the county line road, where many LaPorte and Porter County children attended classes.

Partially made possible because of some of the notes from the Mary Weston Diary, I was able to piece together a bit of the descendence of this family and place it on line for all to view at: Weston Notes .

Added to our school histories in the month of January were some facts and a few names for the Springfield Township School History.

Cemeteries - Many of the Starrett stones in Union Mills Cemetery were added on line.

The Charles Werden Deane photo has been added to his biography and was contributed by Margot Timberlake.

We continue to add to our old time schools on line. So please check back often to see what has been added. Also do a search to see if any of your family names appear in the school rosters.

April to June, 2009

June 2009 -

Union Mills Cemetery tour on June 9th was presented by:
The LaPorte County Indiana Genealogical Society.
Fern Eddy Schultz stepped in at the last minute to host the tour for the society.
She used information provided by a Mrs. Martin Boesiger who was Secretary-Treasurer of the Union Mills Cemetery Association to the Herald-Argus in May 1970


      

      

For Larger view of above images, just click on the picture.

Added in month of May - 2009 was a biography on the Eli VanDusen and associated families.
Sue Brown of San Antonio, TX sent us a lovely packet chucked full of memorabillia for the Leaming family. We pleace on line; part of the Daniel Leaming family and descendants biography along with a letter written to Miss Ella Leaming in 1882 from her uncle Rush G. Leaming. We'll be handing the documents over to the LaPorte County Historical Society for perpetual care. http://www.laportecountyhistory.org/ don't forget to visit their link marked Historical Photography. You'll see why it is one of my favorites.

    And in the month of May, because so many folks ask us about the earlier marriage licenses and inquire about copies, I typed up some examples that Donna Martin retrieved copies of from the court house. So don't miss our Marriage page. Old Time LaPorte County Marriage.
Folks often ask for copies of marriage licenses with which we offer a caution back. Old time marriages before the late 19th century had very little on them. Donna Nelson provided me with a several copies of different periods of time to show examples of what was on them. I have typed these now and they are ready for view at:
http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/marriagepg.htm

Our research group received a wonderful letter this month (May - 2008) from a family in the Netherlands. Edward W. L. Ritter was but a young man when he was killed in WW II - April 1945 overseas. You can read May Augenbroe's letter to us and view Edward's grave here:
http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/vets/vetfamilies.htm
The family tends his grave and another US service man's in the US Cementery of Margraten in the Netherlands. Our researchers are busy at work trying to find a photo, when he lived here in LaPorte County, to share with this family in the Netherlands.
He was, like so many others, a young man with a family, and we would love to obtain a picture of him to send to this family who has cared for his final resting place for over 60 years

Two more people that I would like to recognize are Amanda Humprhey who donated some photos of Pine Lake and Patton Cemetery and will be submitting more random photos of graves in the future.   Also Phil Przybylinski is photographing the stones of St. Mary's Cemetery in Otis. This will take some time as Phil is coming from Schererville to accomplish this task.

And finally; I took a little time off this month to relax and enjoy our gardens. See you next month with more updates and surprises.

Civil War Marker Dedication on June 28th, 2008

About 45 persons attended the dedication of the Civil War marker for Col. Gilbert Hathaway in Pine Lake Cemetery , La Porte , IN , Saturday, 28 June 2008 .

The program opened with a welcome by Michael P. Downs, Commander, David D. Porter Camp #110, Sons of Union Veterans. This was followed by the posting of the colors by the 27th Indiana Re-enactors. Father Tony Clavier of St. Paul ’s Episcopal Church in La Porte gave the invocation. The Hathaways had been members of this church. Downs gave a history of the 73rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, of which Hathaway was a member. Larry G. Eggleston of the SUV presented information about the Sons of Union Veterans organization.

Fern Eddy Schultz, President of The Pine Lake Cemetery Association unveiled the marker followed by a military salute by the re-enactors. Chaplain Edward J. Krieser of the SUV led the group in prayer. Retirement of the colors and taps ended the program.

An Open House at Eason Chapel followed the dedication program in celebration of the cemetery’s 150th year of service to the community. Hathaway had served as the first president of the cemetery association. Historical displays were available and attendees enjoyed lemonade, cookies and socializingAttendees in above photo - left to right, Fern Eddy Schultz (President, The Pine Lake Cemetery Association), Sharon Dettmer (Reporter, South Bend Tribune), Larry Eggleston (SUV), Michael P. Downs (Commander, SUV), Father Tony Clavier (St. Paul's Episcopal Church) and the person with back showing is unnamed.

Treasures From The Past

Previous News Page Updates

From our news page of May 2008

"Web Site Gets Face Lift and Overhaul"

The Cemetery Site has been on line for approximately eight years this summer.
Wow, how the time flies!
Every month we discover more and more information about many of the cemeteries in LaPorte County, Indiana and the ancestors that once dwelled here.
This is possible because of the efforts and diligent research by: Gloria Arndt, Patricia Gruse Harris and Donna Nelson. They, along with the viewers who write us with new information, have helped us grow by leaps and bounds.

We started out small and have grown to over 785 pages. This includes the LaPorte County Genweb site which I took over in February of 2006.

"Along Comes a Photography Angel"

In the past month of April, 2008, Teresa O'Riley commenced randomly photographing many of the cemeteries, cemetery art and natural beauty that accents some of these hallowed places. Teresa has been an arduous supporter for several years of Genweb tombstone project. You can enjoy her work of many of the surrounding states and counties within, by visiting her website at
http://www.photographyprincess.com/index.html

Knowing how busy our "Cemetery and Research Association of LaPorte County" is:
she volunteered to help. We are in the process of adding and rejuvenating many of our county cemetery sites.   If you haven't had the chance to browse through the Laporte County Cemetery site in a while, you might be pleasantly surprised. A special thank you is extended to Teresa for her continuing work.

March to April 2008

WE HAVE MOVED - Please set your bookmarks to http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/

There are many state and county sites nationwide moving off of rootsweb or have already moved from the old site. It was and is up to each county coordinator whether he/she move to a new site.
  All of us do appreciate the fact that rootsweb did house our information for many years but nothing ever stays the same and sometimes change is necessary.
  Rootsweb was bought out by ancestry.com and all are a part of the TGN (The Genealogy Network). One of the important goals of the USGENWEB is to provide free genealogical information to researchers. County, state and national coordinators, plus those with the archival and special projects, donate thousands of hours of our time as volunteers to provide free internet information to new and more experienced researchers.

In March of 2008, Ancestry.com, who now owns rootsweb, stated that they were trying to figure out a way to "brand" our sites and were not sure that how the "branding" would be accomplished. They reached a decision that each of our pages would show a rootsweb/ancestry banner at the top of the page. Many of us felt that this would give the viewer an inaccurate impression of not only the purpose of our site, but also that we had been absorbed by rootsweb/ancestry.
  We have not been absorbed and are still proud members of the USGENWEB project, which remains free to all. Speaking personally, this was not a decision that was taken lightly, as it took me many, many hours to switch my site over; links and all. As these changes take place, keep in mind you can always reach each state and country there in by going to the http://www.usgenweb.org/ Deanna C. West, President, Cemetery and Research Association of LaPorte County and LaPorte Genweb County Coordinator

More New Beginnings: - Note from the National Genweb Coordinator -
  After a twelve-year association with Rootsweb, the USGenWeb Project has moved to an independent server donated by a member who wishes to remain anonymous. I have made the necessary updates to ensure that the domain is in the project's name and will be passed from one National Coordinator to the next.
The USGenWeb Project's URL remains http://usgenweb. org/ and has links to all USGenWeb Project National, State, Local and Special Project sites. The Project owes an extraordinary debt of gratitude to all Rootsweb staff, past and present, for their support, skill and generosity in helping us achieve the mission and goal of providing free genealogical data online to our visitors. Our thanks and best wishes to Rootsweb. - - Tina S. Vickery. National Coordinator USGenWeb Project

Also moving is the Family Group Sheet Projects: The Family Group Sheet Project url has changed to: http://www.fgs-project.com/

From our friends at the La Porte County Pioneer Cemetery Commission:

Attached is a photo of the new fence around the Avery enclosure in the southeast corner of Hudson Lake Cemetery. The work was done by Richard Fritz of Rustic Fencing of Michigan City and funds for the work were provided by the La Porte County Pioneer Cemetery Commission. Fence photo

Attached is the new historical sign installed at Low Cemetery as part of the Eagle Scout project by Jordan Niegos. The rest of his project included painting the fence, cutting down unwanted bushes and cutting low hanging limbs from the trees. Fern Eddy Schultz aided him with the historical notes and his project was approved by the Pioneer Cemetery Commission.
Photo of Historical Sign

Other additions to site:   
Bruce Johnson donated a history of Carmel Swedish Church in Coolspring Township.
Sol Gorrell, donated his histories and additional photos for the Cass Township churches.
Donna Nelson submitted histories for the churches in Galena and Kankakee Townships.
If you haven't had a chance to check out these additions, you can find them at:
Cass Township churches,   Coolspring Church Page ,   Galena & Kankakee Churches   
Thanks everyone!

March 2008
Genealogical Article of the Month of March
Local News from Yesteryear

March 7, 1850 - Fort Wayne Times
In the Northern part of Indiana, wheat is more generally cultivated , and between LaPorte and Michigan City, the road runs for ten miles through a magnificent wheat field without a single division fence, though owned by several individuals.

October 6, 1865 - Fort Wayne Daily Gazette -
Sheehan and Dalton - This celebrated firm of Westville, LaPorte county, have on exhibition at the fair, and on which they have taken the first premium, one of their fine wagons. It was the admiration of all who saw it. On one side of the "box" of this wagon is painted in finely blended and lively colors, a beautifully executed likeness of Gen. Sherman; on the opposite, an equally well painted and correct portrait of Gen. Grant, on the front, a skillfully executed and well designed combination representing the political and military attributes of our glorious country. The whole master piece of mechanical genius, taste, patience and skill, and well deserved: the premium it received.

September 29, 1880 - Indianapolis - James Forrester and wife, of LaPorte county, who came here to attend the fair, went to their bed at the Pyle house last night, blowing out the gas, instead of shutting it off in the usual way. At 10 o'clock this morning they were discovered, unconscious but still breathing. Forrester died soon after and his wife is still alive, but sinking. Mr. Forrester is upwards of 80 years of age.
   Alvin E. Barney, a patient at the insane hospital from LaPorte county, was caught in belting in the engine room this morning and instantly killed, his head being crushed.

January 6, 1881 - Fort Wayne Daily Sentinel. - A lad named Richard Dwyer, of LaPorte, while playing about the cars on Monday afternoon, stepped in front of an incoming train, was knocked down and both legs crushed off below the hips. He is alive but cannot live.

March 5, 1881 - A severe storm hit the region and trains could only make it as far West as LaPorte when they had to side track the cars and return the engine and caboose to Elkhart . The Lake Shore road did not have as much problem with the storm as they put two engines on every train. But the Michigan division and the Chicago division ran into problems.

January 23, 1884 - Fort Wayne Daily Sentinel
Charles Housees tannery burned last evening. Loss $10,000 Insurance: $3,500

February 21, 1900 - Wolves in LaPorte County
Seven wolves were seen last night on the Kankakee marsh near here and a wolf hunt is being organized for the purpose of destroying them. They are suppose to be the animals that attacked two dogs belonging to William Bogarte, of Stark County, last week. Bogarte's dogs were killed and eaten and Bogarte had a narrow escape from the ravenous brutes.

January to February - 2008

The only Indiana county larger than LaPorte County is Allen County. And as far as number townships; LaPorte has the most of any county within the state of Indiana. The commissioners of the past chose to have 24 townships. But 3 of those townships have disappeared; Van Buren, Madison and Anderson. (See our LaPorte County Histories Page to see when various townships were established).

Van Buren became Cass, Dewey and Hanna township. In 1836, there was to be a township named Madison which would have been situated where the Lincoln and Johnson townships are located today. This township never materialized voted down by the citizens, for whatever reason.

Finally in 1861, George Bosserman wanted to create a township known as Anderson which was also in the Lincoln and Johnson township areas. This would have also cut into the boundaries of what was then known as Scipio, Centre and Union townships. There was much discord and within 11 days after its development, the commisioners rescinded their decision.

November 2007

Buried Treasure - Records of Chicago's Early Years Those of us who live in Chicago have always thought that there were little or no records available for the years before the Great Fire of 1872. Little did the pigeons at the dilapidated warehouse on Chicago's South Side know they were roosting near historical treasures!
      The October 14, 2007 Chicago Tribune Magazine had a fascinating story of the discovery of City of Chicago Council proceeding records that go back to the city's founding. The complete article, written by Tara McClellan McAndrew, can be viewed at:>Due to time constraints, the September project was rescheduled for the first week of October. We will be adding some school grade photos for Mill Creek and Stillwell schools which are on loan to us from Pat VanDierendonck .

Great news!
Indiana State Library -   Indiana State Library has moved to its new location at   http://www.statelib.lib.in.us//>
The Indiana State Library now has the marriage listings up to 1850 and before and also 1993 to 2000 marriages back on line. Follow this link to our marriage page and then go to their site from our

In the past months several more school graduations and enrollments of various grades were added. Our historian/researchers are busy at the libraries collecting these choice bits of history. We have been concentrating on the schools prior to 1900 to help in "Covering the missing census years of the 1890's" Do you have any school grads of enrollments up to and including 1960? Let us hear from you.

Too numerous to list are the added information tidbits and pieces that have helped us add to our on line cemeteries. We would suggest if you haven't used our search engine lately, you might give it a new try.

We are still seeking school graduation listings for students graduating from the 5th, 8th and 12th grades before 1900. Please take a few minutes and note the school classes we already have on line by following this link. School Days
Added to this conglomeration is a new Researchers Completed listing. This allows researchers and historians to follow and also communicate with you as to what listings we are still in need of.

Still hunting for photos, histories and parishioners of the Old Houses of Worship through out early LaPorte County and the pastors that lead their flocks. To view what we have to date, look here Houses of Worship.

October and November

Hello Researchers. To assist both new and frequent visitors to our site, I added to the topics on our index page, viewed at  , with an expansive description of what can be found under each heading.

Also - Added to the Index page is a link to Rootsweb and their Social Security Death Index.

Yearly county death indexes will be coming to the site soon.

We are still seeking school graduation listings for students graduating from the 5th, 8th and 12th grades before 1900. Please take a few minutes and note the school classes we already have on line by following this link. School Days
Added to this conglomeration is a new Researchers Completed listing. This allows researchers and historians to follow and also communicate with you as to what listings we are still in need of.

July to August 2007    1. New this month is US Gen Web “Search Us” sponsored by the US GenWeb which was developed by Daryl Lytton. This link takes the viewer to both the Indiana Search Us site or the US GenWeb Search Engine. I've placed it on the index page just below our "Free Find" search box for readers convenience.

2. We've added a Book Page with the publications being offered through our site, other sites and links to available sites with Books being offered for LaPorte County, Indiana. This includes books being offered for the LaPorte County Genealogical Society and a link to the LaPorte County Historical Society publications for sale.

3. School Grads for Lower and Higher Grads has been expanded and added on to. This remains a work in progress.

4. New Links – Our index page now provides a link to Earlham College Library in Richmond, Indiana and its vast books and articles on the Quaker Research/Society of Friends.

Link to the Court Houses throughout Indiana now provided on the index page.

5. Over 75 New Obituaries have been added to our Obituary Collection.

July 2007 - If you are planning a visit to LaPorte County, don't forget to stop in at the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum.   They are in their new building now and just may be able to help you uncover more of the past in searching for information about your ancestors.

With the assistance of Judy Morgan, we copied and organized the donated obituaries from the old cemetery files into an alphabetical indexing system. You can see how we subdivided them by going to:
Death Notices and Obituaries

And have you made out your Genealogical Will yet? We have a form that you can feel free to use at:
My Genealogical Will

Updating and seeking histories. At present, I am going through each cemetery and updating some of the histories that accompany and tell the story of that cemetery, its surrounding area and its past.

Also, check out our Land Measurements page. It comes in handy when reading old property deeds etc.

June 2007 - Guest Editor - Guest Editorial of the month comes from Donna Nelson The Acorn, 13 January 1916
   A Few Pioneer Events Remembered by Avery I. Barnes Three Oaks, Mich., Jan. 10, 1916
   Mr. E. K. Warren - The 25th of April, 1839, Cyrus Barnes started from Onondaga Co., N. Y. for La Porte, Indiana, by team, with his wife and three children, of which I was the oldest. When we arrived at Old Buffalo we took the boat for Toledo, Ohio. The boat stopped at Ashtabula, Ohio, to land freight. Being told they would have ample time, my father and another man went ashore to get feed for their horses. While gone the captain, having some trouble over the freight, pulled off and left them ashore. Instead of stopping at Toledo as agreed the boat went on to Detroit and then back to Toledo and landed us. A friend helped get our horses and wagon off the boat and found a place for us to stay.
    From Toledo we came by team. This side of Detroit I saw the first train of cars. Instead of steel rails as are now in use they used square timbers with a piece of band iron on the top.
    We arrived at Hamilton, a small village near Hudson Lake, La Porte Co., Indiana. There were no county fairs those times but the people were in the height of horse racing. When we left Hamilton for the Galien woods we came by the Hicks neighborhood. While on the way we saw a horse, pasturing in the woods, with a cow bell on his neck. It was all woods at that time with only here and there a small clearing. The woods were green with leeks and you could smell the cows breath a long ways. The milk and butter would also taste of the leeks. My father traded his team and wagon for 50 acres of land, in Sec. 17, Galena Township, La Porte Co., Indiana. The 17th of May we moved there. There was a small house and two or three acres of cleared land. Father was then taken sick and as we had no team my brother and I had to dig up the ground, so as to get a little corn planted. In the fall I took the ague and fever. I shook every day for eight weeks. Our pigs fattened on beech nuts and so we had plenty of good meat to eat with our corn bread. In the winter father bought a yoke of oxen and hauled logs to the saw mill and had to give half of the lumber for the sawing. He hauled some poplar lumber to La Porte and sold it for $5 per thousand. In 1840 I went to La Porte to a Fourth of July celebration. Our neighbors had two daughters and two sons. As they wanted to go, my brother James and I went along. They had no horse so they hitched an ox to a wagon and one brother drove for the girls. The other one walked with us. There were about fifty there. At noon they set a table in a grove but it was all eaten up before we got there. But we enjoyed ourselves first rate for boys any how. There was no Three Oaks at that time. In the spring of ’41 the snow stayed on so long we ran out of feed and we had to cut down trees for the stock to browse upon. As they would eat the small branches, we kept them from starving and saved them all. I then was 13 years old; from then on I had to handle an ax. I helped cut the road from our place to the New Buffalo road past the place I afterward bought. When I became of age, I worked for fifty cents a day to get money to make the first payment on the place. I now live on Sec. 18 which at that time was all heavy timber. That was in the year 1850. In the early forties I first went to New Buffalo. Our neighbors went to the post office there to get a letter. Those times when you got a letter you had to pay the postage yourself. Mr. Stilson, that was the man’s name, had to pay two shillings to get the letter after going seven miles for it. I went along; there was not much of New Buffalo at that time. All I can remember, there was one grocery or so and a light house. The light house was on the west side of the river, on a high hill. The first plow I used had a wooden mould board with a piece of iron fastened on for a point. I wish I had it for your museum. But we soon had better ones. The log school houses and churches soon gave way to better ones. We enjoyed ourselves about as well as we do now, though we had to work pretty hard. We could have wild turkey and venison most any time as there were plenty of both. I think I am the oldest settler in Galena Township, as I came here in 1839. I lived in this district since that time. From Avery I. Barnes, R. R. 1 La Porte, Ind.

April & May 2007 -

Teeter Cemetery Book for sale. The book is $10.00 plus postage charge of $1.50. Contact Donna M Nelson for further details at: donnamnelson@comcast.net

This is our first Cemetery publication and we hope to be able to offer more publications as time goes by.

Our Thanks to Michele Cuff and her efforts in the continuation of photographing the tombstones at Hanna Cemetery.

Donna Nelson finished her dunelady.com/laporte/histories/LaPorte_Orphanages.html">Orphan's Home article for the genweb and it's on line and ready for view.

Phyllis Ekovich worked on a fresh reading for Springfield Cemetery, LaPorte Co, IN over the summer months. I have added burials on line that were not noted before. I will be working on restructuring this list during the winter months.

Several obituaries up to 1955 were also added to the site this past month. Thank you to everyone that continues to submit them.

April - 2007  

A Look Back at Newspapers in Rolling Prairie
By: Gloria Arndt

As early as 1884 there was movement to incorporate the town of Rolling Prairie according to “The Daily Bee”, a small (approximately 2” by 3”) newspaper. The newspaper was published in Rolling Prairie by Robert Burroughs. Mr. Burroughs was described as a “juvenile editor” by the Michigan City Enterprise newspaper. The earliest known paper published by Burroughs was 1883. In 1884 the newspaper was called the “Rolling Prairie Bee” and had increased in size (4 ½” by 3”). Under the banner of the newspaper was printed “Small Beginnings Sometimes Have Great Endings”. The tiny newspaper reported local doings as follows: “Mr. C. Towner wishes whoever borrowed his wheelbarrow sometime ago to return it or inform him where he may get it.” “Miss Kitty Worden has returned from her visit in Michigan .” “The gross proceeds of the social last Wednesday night amount to nearly $13.00.” “The M. W. parsonage has a new well.” “We are pleased to note the fact that Mr. B.F. McCarty has built a stone sidewalk by his Blacksmith Shop. It is the only walk of its kind in the city.” The Bee announced it would suspend publication of the paper with an undated notice but their job office was still operating and solicited the publics business. The Rolling Prairie Bee had been available to customers for 5 cents for 1 month, 25 cents for six months, and 1 year for 50 cents. Out of town subscribers had to pay 1 cent per week for postage.

Not many of the “Rolling Prairie Record” newspapers survive, the ones that have survived are undated. The publisher was Lowell E. Noland. The “Record” was available to subscribers for $1.00 per year. In addition to local information the newspaper contained an ad as follows: Hair-O-Zone, the greatest of hair tonics with a coupon good for 65 cents.

It is likely a resident of Rolling Prairie or the residents ancestor saved a few copies of the “Bee” and the “Record” and donated them to the La Porte County Historical Society Museum . Because of their sharing we are able to enjoy the newspapers.

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Feb. 2007 - Monthly Editorial from Guest Writer
Michigan City Pierhead Light
Anniversary
By: Patricia Gruse Harris

February 17 is the 23rd anniversary of the Michigan City Pierhead Light with Attached Elevated Walkway being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1904 the U.S. Lighthouse Service commissioned the construction of the Pierhead Lighthouse with its attached elevated walkway, built as a single unit. The walkway is more commonly known as the Catwalk and was used by the lighthouse keepers to access the light in bad weather. The entire structure came under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939 when the U.S. Lighthouse Service was discontinued. In 1983 the Coast Guard scheduled the “catwalk”, along with many others on the Great Lakes, for demolition.

Local concerned citizens organized to fight demolition. After much litigation and congressional help and the support of Mayors Arnold and Behler, the Coast Guard offered to donate the catwalk to City of Michigan City in 1991. Mayor Behler agreed to accept when funds to restore & maintain are identified. In 1993 Historic Landmarks of IN placed the catwalk on the list of Ten Most Endangered Sites in Indiana and the City of Michigan City applied for and received $40,000 ISTEA grant for restoration including replacement of walking surface grating and illumination of catwalk.

On Feb. 17 1994 Mayor Behler presided at the kick-off of the campaign by Save the Catwalk Committee to raise $120,000 for restoration and endowment fund with a steering committee of Edward W. Beutner, Patricia Harris, Betty Rinehart and Marilyn Swope. Later that year the Coast Guard completed their agreed upon portion of the work with the repair of shirred corner stanchion, removal of deteriorated concrete walking surface and painting of the entire pierhead lighthouse. An endowment fund was established with the Unity Foundation of La Porte County with donated funds.

On 21 Dec. 1995 the City received a Christmas present as Mayor Behler accepted transfer of deed from USCG for the catwalk. During the summer and fall 1996 the restoration and illumination is completed and on a blustery 2 Oct. 1996 the lights are turned on for the first time. On 7 Dec. 1997 a large donor marker is dedicated at the shore end of the catwalk. Total cost of the restoration and illumination was $91,012.60. Besides the grant which ultimately paid $57,400, $76,500 in cash donations and $17,227 in in-kind donations was raised. Unused funds remain in the Unity Foundation of La Porte County for future maintenance and donations are still accepted.

The marker is covered for the winter to protect it from the blustery lake weather, but will be uncovered come spring. The lights on the catwalk are turned off for the winter because there is no navigation, but will be turned on come spring. The illumination makes a delightful walk along the pier on a nice night.

Area Archeologist offers Children's book - one of our local volunteers and archeologist has written a wonderful children's book with beautiful illustrations.   "If I Were An Archeologist" by: R. A. Hapke.
Also illustrated by: Mr. Hapke and D. Wolters. Interested parties can find out more about this offering on www.bransoncreations.com

October / September - 2006 News Updates -

More school listings were added in September.
Work is continuing on the County Orphanage Collection and we hope we will be able to display it on line sometime in November.
Several obituaries up to 1955 were also added to the site this past month.
Coming up this next month will be photographing and posting to site, the townships from a circa 1920's atlas for LaPorte County.

New on our web site this month is an addition to our Military pages. It is titled America's Wars, contributed to our site by Larry Chester, a fellow genealogist.

Hesston Church Records were also added with some of its initial members listed. This can be viewed at:

Also the Marston Family Bible records have been added to our Genweb site.

August - 2006 - News Updates - Hanna Cemetery - from the desk of Don Jessup A bit of news about the Hanna cemetery. June 2006. A new white vinyl fence has been installed along the front of the cemetery. It is scalloped along the top. Looks very nice. Don Jessup

Let's hope that one of our many volunteers can take a digital picture and send it to us. We'll make sure to post it on our Hanna Cemetery Site. Pine Lake Cemetery News - For finding out about ancestors or for present needs in making arrangements for a newly departed Pine Lake Cemetery now has it's own site. You may reach them at:

July 20, 2006  

  Check out the Hudson Cemetery site for new work that the Pioneer Cemetery Commission has been doing in the last few months. For just one example, note the new fencing at   Looks Great!
  The Missing Census Years.   The 1890 US census reports were destroyed by fire and the remainder were later destroyed per someone's "less the brilliant" decision. Therefore our research group has been concentrating on the school and business records for this period of time within our county. Sorry folks, but the school records that were previously on the Genweb site for LaPorte were not passed on to me when I took over as coordinator for LaPorte County Genweb. Therefore we are in the process of rebuilding the lists of the graduating classes previously on site and additional school information that was not on site before. Please submit or resubmit any listings that you might have for school classes and graduates.

  New Maps were added this month too. Go to our main page and click on LaPorte County Maps.

July 1, 2006    

Schools of LaPorte Co., records. Along with adding HS Graduating Classes, we are also adding the 8th grade graduating classes up to 1930 to our collections of school records on the Internet.
Military Pages – for the next few months we will be collecting and posting War Memorial Photos to our Military Pages. If you have a photo of a war memorial in our county, please scan and send us a copy. Cemetery pages – we continue to update and correct old listings when and where necessary.
Biographies - Each month I try and pick a few family names that there has been interest in, by viewers dropping by our website. Biographies that I am working on for the month of June are the Hollandsworth (Hollingsworth) and the Trinoskey (Trojanowski) families of LaPorte and surrounding counties.
New to our site - Snippets: These are just brief glimpses of the past. We have added this category to our selection of interesting topics to read from the LaPorte Genweb site. So, snip those snippets and submit them to us. Follow the link here.

July 2006 - Monthly Editorial from Guest Writer
July 2006
INDEPENDENCE DAY, La Porte County (IN)
Fern Eddy Schultz, La Porte County (IN) Historian

Independence Day means different things to different people and at different times in our lives. Today, we less often hear it referred to as Independence Day—to most it is the 4^th of July. If you were to take a poll, it is quite likely there would be a large percentage who would not know why it is a day of celebration. Many express their idea of it as being a day off work for a cook-out (weather permitting) and to view a parade.

This year of 2006, is the 230^th birthday of our nation—the document we call the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress on the 4^th of July 1776, although the original resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia June 7, 1776. This document called for the Continental Congress to declare the United States free from British rule. There are many interesting facts about the signers of this document—some were not even present the day of the signing. Wm. Floyd, Philip Livingston, Frank Lewis and Lewis Morris (the New York delegation) did not vote on the resolution until July 9^th.

Not a single signature was added to the document on the 4^th. By early August, most of the fifty-six had been affixed. The only one remaining unsigned was Thomas McKean—he did not sign until 1781. This document has been credited with making the United States the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” These words we sing and hear in our National Anthem—The Star Spangled Banner. Although the words to this were written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, it was not adopted as our National Anthem until 03 March 1931.

Many events occurred between the signing of the Declaration and the adoption of our National Anthem. Many of these have great impact on our family history. Wars have been fought in which our ancestors served and gave their lives so we would remain a “land of the free.” Immigrants from numerous countries arrived in the United States of America during this period and this country’s makeup became a truly diverse one. They wanted to be a part of this “land of the free.” These are the people we research because they are our ancestors.

Soon La Porte County will be celebrating this day with various events. As we look back in our history, we find this has been done in many ways—some the same as today. In 1904, a cannon of political significance in La Porte County was fired in celebration. However, the gentleman in charge of the firing of the “democratic cannon” got a surprise. The gun burst and was blown into several pieces, wrecking its carriage and knocking him down. The cannon had been made by private subscription at the Lake Shore Railroad shops during the Civil War and had been used as a stimulant to the Union cause, being used to call meetings and to celebrate victories. It finally fell into the hands of the republicans and the last memorable political battle the gun performed was during the presidential campaign of 1876. During this campaign, republican coffers were strained and a democratic offer of cash was accepted and a transfer of the cannon was duly made in writing.

So with the 4^th of July 1904, this cannon, which figured politically and served as an interesting part of La Porte County’s history, became a part of the past. It is very important that we remember “why” we are celebrating Independence Day (4^th of July). As it approaches in 2006, we might want to take a few minutes away from the fireworks, the parades and the cook-outs to recognize that we probably would not be able to do these things had John Hancock and others not put their signatures on the Declaration of Independence.

June 2006 -
Monthly Editorial from Guest Writer - "Indians of NW Indiana" La Porte County - By Russell A. Hapke, archaeologist MA.
For June this year, I was asked to create an article on Native Americans in the Dunes region. Not sure of what to write, there have been several trips across the keyboard, several times the words were deleted, and several more rewrites to follow.

Do I write of the prehistoric Adena and Hopewell cultures who left several state recorded mound sites in the area? Or of the changes in attitude concerning the Native American heritage over the last two centuries? Hmmm…should I dare even go into the half myth – half reality of many families who are hell bent on proving they have a Native American ancestor? When it comes down to it, perhaps the best thing that can be done from my standpoint is to share what I learned as a general theme during the years spent as an archaeologist throughout the Midwest.

"The more I learn, the more I learn how little I know." -- Socrates . The same can be said about Native American knowledge. The more you learn, the less you know about Native Americans. One can spend an entire lifetime learning about one ‘family’, within one clan, within one tribe, within one county, within one region, within one state, and so on and so on. If you are lucky, you can at least understand the most basic of patterns; and from that, you will gain a great appreciation of historic and prehistoric Native American life.

Many of us wonder if we will ever find that projectile point in the farmer’s field, or perhaps wonder if that weird ‘hump’ of dirt in the cow pasture may just be an ancient Adena or Hopewell mound. We know it’s out there and we’re content with just that…knowing. As an archeaologist, it’s not about the ‘digging’ all the time. Many times is it purely about the ‘knowing’ it is there and hoping we can protect it. I’ve seen a burial or two…and handled it just like I would any other burial, in any modern day cemetery…I left it alone, reminded of the reverence someone had for their family member laid to rest. The most important thing we learn as we ‘research’, is that they were people who loved and cared for their families much like we do today. And to that end I cannot stress enough.

In researching Native Americans, it is much like researching our own historical lineages. Sometimes, the information is really fantastic! Sometimes, the information is not quite what we’d want the neighbors to read about… But all the time, the research is about life. Of course, instead of marriage licenses and property deeds, there are fire pits and projectile points. Sometimes it’s a tall tale blurted out by relatives at the family reunion; and other times it is a quiet journal entry in a family bible that cants about the ‘unforgiven’ marriage that should not be spoken of again, but was recorded by some caring soul. To state a Native American ancestor in a lineage is common, but to be able to prove it takes the skill of a PhD.

May 1, 2006
Donated Information keeps pouring in!
Viewers continue to send in "wonderful things" for our Gen Web Pages. Additional church photos and histories along with family biographies are being placed on line at the current time.

Early Marriages - Work on early Marriages for La Porte county 1850 to 1870 continues. Although it is a work in progress, we now have a start on line with all the surnames of the alphabet being represented.

School records and graduating classes - We are slowly going through the graduating classes of each High School with in the county and trying to assemble a complete and accurate on line record for each graduating class. If you have a graduating listing before 1960, please contact us at: laportecountyin@yahoo.com

   has also been added; showing where some of the families went to once they left LaPorte County .

April 1, 2006Enjoying our new Gen Web Home
Our historians and volunteers have continued sending in "wonderful things" for our Gen Web Pages. Make sure to keep watching and reading as our site expands.
Christine Scott took on the daunting task of typing the Military Records from the Packards 1876 History of La Porte County and its Townships. The link to these listings are at the top of the Military Page.
We have commenced working on the Marriages for La Porte county 1850 to 1870. We already have the A surnames up and are carefully working on adding more to these listings as time permits.
The La Porte Roots Web Archives are still up and running. This includes - 1850 Census, Early Settlers, La Porte City Newspapers 1920 & 1940 Obit Index, H. C. Chandler & Co.'s Business Directory For Indiana - 1868 - This Table of Contents is maintained by: Katy Hestand.

March 1, 2006      Setting up our new Gen Web Home - It has been challenging but a lot of fun setting up our new Gen Web home. Since the old site was taken down; we started anew and several volunteers pitched in to make sure the La Porte County Gen Web site would be full of wonderful information.

We migrated our family histories and photos over from the Cemetery & Research site, to SHARE with everyone. Also being added are County Histories from Packard, Jasper, History of La Porte County, Indiana, and Its Townships, Towns and Cities. 1876. In doing this, viewers can read about the founding of this wonderful county and its townships and the people there in.

A slide show and photos of various places, schools and old houses of worship around the county should bring a great perspective to those joining us. We will be adding more photos and information in the near future.

February 22, 2005 - After 9 years, Glen McGlothlin is saying farewell as Webmaster and County Coordinator to the La Porte County Gen Web. We wish him the very best.
In addition to this news; I am continuing with the cemetery site and will also be the County Coordinator for the LaPorte County Indiana Gen Web site. Our NEW URL address is  

I want to represent all of La Porte County and with your help, I will do just that.
And yes, to any of you that are wondering, our cemetery site will stay strong and active. So keep submitting that wonderful information and we will add it to the site. The Cemetery Site will work in unison with the LaPorte Gen Web site and visa versa.

January 18, 2006 - In an effort to improve our site, I gave many of the pages a fresh look and also streamlined some for quicker loading and hopefully easier access to locate information sought. Thanks to Russ Hapke for helping me reorganize the front page layout. Fact is the more animated graphics you have on a web page, the slower it loads, especially for our friends with older PC's and Web TV.

If you have Web TV and you can't access some of our large cemetery pages, let us hear from you and tell us who you are looking for. We'll bring up the pages here and let you know if there are any ancestors there.

Hanna Cemetery -We will be entering an extended listing for Hanna Cemetery sent in by Dorothy Stephenson now that I have a healthy PC again.

From the Study and notes of Patricia Gruse Harris,
President, La Porte County Genealogical Society
Old Burial Book Study - AKA - (Old_Buryal_Book.)

The land for this cemetery, approximately one acre, was set aside by the founder of Michigan City, Isaac C. Elston, on the original plat of the town recorded 11 May 1835 in the La Porte County Recorders Office. Burials were made on this land and some immediately adjacent to the north and west, until 26 Nov. 1864, when the common council decreed that it was unlawful bury anyone anywhere within the corporate limits of Michigan City, except in Greenwood Cemetery newly laid out by the City. Over time it was totally abandoned and concerted efforts were made to remove all the remains and stones to Greenwood, a difficult task since some areas had drifted over with 16’ of sand. The site was later sold to the Michigan City School City.

On 24 Apr. 2003 construction workers working on the renovation of Elston Jr. High School unearthed some human bones. The Dept. of Natural Resources was notified and they brought in an archaeological team to study the site and make a thorough search for any more remains. I met with them on the historical aspects of the site and shared my personal research. More remains and artifacts were found and after study were reburied in Sec. “E”, Greenwood Cemetery in the same area as many of the 1880’s reburials were.

My research showed that some 500 persons had been reinterred, but no records of same survived. And since this was hundreds more than buried in Sec. “E”, a search of the tombstones in Greenwood with dates prior to 26 Nov. 1864 was begun, transcriptions made and stones photographed with the aid of my husband, Wm. Harris. The result was the identification of about 184 persons who had been interred in the Old Buryal Ground. All of this information along with maps, news articles, references found in the Common Council Minutes of Michigan City, IN, information on the persons reinterred and their families and the cemetery sextons, the archaeological investigation report by IPFW, and much more has been compiled into a book. As soon as it returns from the bindery the book will be on the shelf in the genealogy department of the Michigan City Public Library.

January 1, 2006 Site Update Your webmaster, me, Deanna West, has been a little quiet the last few months. Reason being; out of the two hard drives that my computer holds, one crashed. And if you haven't guessed yet, COPIES of the work for our cemetery site were all on the drive that crashed. Close to 100% of our material backed up on disk, net or hard copy, it will take me time to go through and make sure I update all the files with the most recent information that has been submitted. A fresh back up copy will be completed on a DVD today and again on completion of updates. Our free on line Internet Cemetery and Research pages were not affected by this problem. But I had to have a computer technician come in and look at my PC and deliver the sad news.

October - Novermber - "Heckman Memorial Cemetery" All known burials in Heckman Cemetery are now on line.

September & October 2005 Updates:   

Thank you to Oak Grove Cemetery in Wills Township. All known burials up to and including October 2005 have been submitted to us by: Carolyn Hunt.

September & October - 2005 "Heckman Memorial Cemetery"   Nearing completion  
Gloria Arndt, Russell Hapke, Pat Harris, Donna Nelson, Danny and Deanna West went out; re-read and photographed the stones in this cemetery. The work continued on Saturday, September 17th and remainder of rows, along with retakes, were completed on Monday, October 3, 2005. Donna Nelson is in the process of researching obituaries. Interested researchers may contact us and we will gladly forward a tombstone photo copy to you for your family tree.

From October 4, 2005 Cemetery News Page -

Oh No ...... Pirates !!!

Q. What is a Pirate or Pirating ?
A. Pirating is when someone illegally takes, either knowingly or unknowingly information or photos from your site and then reproduces it on another site; then takes credit for the information they copied. This does not include individuals who are using this information to build their own private family trees. That is why we put the site up. We wanted to give folks the ability to share their information and be contacted by other families researching the same groups.

Q. Who are these pirates
A. I call them number counters and lost souls. They may think they are doing a great service in entering tons of information or even photos that they have lifted from other sites, but they are not.

Q. What's the big deal about pirating?
A. Well, it affects everyone in more ways than one.

Q. How does it affect the volunteers, historians and researchers?
A. Because it is extremely frustrating to those that have spent countless hours and dollars researching the families of that particular county. Although you might live in a totally different area and even another state, you are stealing from those that are working on building histories of the county. Most people that pirate do not even show the courtesy to either link back to us or show us as the source.

Q. How does this hurt private individuals trying to build their family trees?
A. They won't know where the information came from and what else we may have found on a particular family. So the additional information we have, us as historians and you as researchers, may fall into a chasm never to be recaptured.

Q. Is copyrighting on the net really a serious and legal issue.
A. Well, this attorney that wrote this article says it is. Take a few minutes and read
What is Copyright Protection?
By the way, he gives his permission to anyone that wants to link to this great article.

Q. How can I correct this error if I have already taken information without permission from this site.
A. Either remove the information or show us as your source.
Source should show this link - Source: La Porte County Indiana Cemetery & Research Association at
And if taken from our Veterans site: Source should show this link - Source: La Porte County Indiana Cemetery & Research Association Veteran Site at
THIS does not imply or state that it is okay if you do it in the future without our permission. No information should be stolen from this site for another site. This includes any other site that does not have their programs set up to link back to us as the source.

So Pirates beware!

On Sunday, August 14th, Russell Hapke and I (Deanna West) briefly visited and took a few general pictures at Heckman Memorial Cemeteryand Posey Chapel Cemetery.

July - Updates & Outlook
Pinhook Cemetery takes on a new look. Pictures taken in June of the new fencing and signage. Take a look.

June 9, 2005 -Carmel Cemetery Tour Hosted by The LaPorte County Cemeteries and Research Association
    Tour began at 6:00 P.M. with Bruce Johnson as our tour guide.  This tour was in lieu of our bimonthly meeting.

14 June 2005LaPorte County Indiana Genealogical Society 2005 Annual Cemetery Tour.   This years location was Hanna Cemetery. The program was Program hosted by Dorothy Stephenson and Don Hanna.

June 2005 Happy Anniversary to all the researchers that have been with us in the past 4 years.   They have helped to make this site what it is.

May 2005 - Veteran listings - Veterans for Salem Cemetery in Wanatah and the remainder of known veterans for Greenwood have now been typed by Sandy Mafera and are ready for viewing. Thank you Sandy!
  Revised burial listing for Patton cemetery with corrections and additions is still being worked on at the present time. This is a huge project that will take some time to complete.

April 19, 2005 - New burials at Oak Grove (Wills twp), and obits for the following cemeteries were added:
Kingsbury, Patton, Pinhook, Sauktown and Westville.

Early April 2005- A partial listing of St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Michigan City is now ready for view - thank you Christine Scott. The listing consists of many of the burials from about 1905 to the mid 1930's. A much improved and expanded burial listing for Kingsbury Cemetery is now also on line.

March 19, 2005 ...... The South Bend Area Genealogical Society hosted its seventh annual Michiana Area Genealogical Fair with Ryan Taylor as featured speaker. Three of our county organizations were there to represent La Porte County and its wonderful history . Along with the LaPorte Cemetery and Research Association, the La Porte Genealogical Society and the La Porte Historical Society were present.

March 24th - A thank you is extended to the La Porte Herald Argus for the editorial on our efforts. And an additional thank you to all the various cemetery associations for their continuous and conscientious work in our county cemeteries.

February 2005 Updates

Salem Cemetery in Pleasant Township, also known as Salem Chapel Cemetery in yesteryear, is now on line with burials up to and including 1949. Typed for the Internet by: Sandy Mafera. Thank you Sandy!

January News
More obituaries uploaded in the month of December. Badly needed PC has finally arrived and I have a lot of back log to be entered. Keep watching this site and using the search engine for future updates.
Please send us any corrections or additions that you may know of.
Contact Deanna at November and October News
Foster Cemetery Section 4 has been added and Section 5 has been updated. And older burials in Kingsbury, Heckman and Posey Chapel cemeteries along with additional notes are now on line.

July 6, 2004 - Burial locations for many of those buried in La Porte County.

Page updated and maintained by Deanna West - Dune Lady Web Designs