"In 1865 Susan Fessell began caring for four children who had be orphaned by the Civil War at the Military Hospital in Indianapolis.  In 1866 Miss Fessell and ten children moved to Knightstown Springs in Rush County, Indiana.  This was the beginning of the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Childrens' Home which was originally called the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home.  Several fires have destroyed some records of this institution.  Recently the Indiana State Archives
received applications for admission from 1879 through 1932.  The Archives also has microfilmed the admission book for 1868-1995 and the discharge book for 1890-1996.

The admission books contain: Name of child, birth date, father's name, mother's name, father's military history, admission date, guardian or relative, and misc. remarks.  The admission applications contain: Name of child, name of person making the
application, town, county, and state of child's residence, sex, color, birth date, fathers, father's military record, mother's maiden name, mother's present name, names and addresses of siblings, why admission was sought, and a physician's certificate."

For copies of these records write to:
Indiana State Archives, Room 117,
Indiana State Library and Historical Building, 140 North Senate Avenue,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.

Children listed from Tippecanoe County and the date of admission:

Boardman, Anna Nettie - 1878
Bowman, Charles - 1870
Bowman, Charlie - 1879 no county listed
Bowman, Clintie/Clinty - 1870
Bowman, Clintie - 1879, no county listed
Bowman, John - 1870, no county listed
Bowman, John - 1879, no county listed

Castor, Charles/Charles W. - 1884
Castor, Clara/Clara E./Etta - 1884
Chenoweth, Carrie E. - 1888/89
Chenoweth, Merrill M./W. - 1888/89
Claspill, Jennie R. - 1889

Downing, Alice - 1887
Downing, Eva - 1887
Downing, Nina - 1887

Emanuel, Elmer - 1886
Emanuel, Elmer - 1888
Emanuel, George - 1888
Emanuel, Joseph - 1888
Emanuel, Roy - 1888

Felters, Miriam Lunday - 1888

Harlan, Freeman L. - 1884
Hartford, Joseph W. - 1888

Laughton/Loughton, Elizabeth E./Lizzie - 1884
Laughton/Loughton, George/Geo. W. - 1884
Laughton, John F. - 1888
Layton, Frank - 1877
Layton, Nellie - 1877
Layton, Ota/Ota S. - 1877
Loughton, George - 1888

McKellison/McKellsen, Julia Ann - 1885

Peterdorf, Amelia - 1888
Peterdorf, Lena - 1888
Peterdorf, Martha - 1888
Petersdorf, Augustus - 1889
Petersdorf, Julius - 1888

Stewart, Geo. W. - 1886

Wright, Asa - 1878
Wright, George - 1878
Wright, Oliver - 1880
Wright, Willie - 1880