210. Donates Books To RCHS, Past Genealogical Queries, Sheriff Dies.

 

RCHS Blog Post Number 210.  

Donates Books To RCHS, Past Genealogical Queries, Sheriff Dies

July 31, 1982, Winchester News-Gazette.

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Genealogy Collection Donation

  Imogene Hannon BROWN, descendant of the Hunt family, early Randolph County settlers, gave the remainder of her personal collection of research books recently to the Randolph County Genealogy Society. Mrs. Brown, a resident of Alexandria (Indiana), is retiring to Arizona after a lifetime of genealogical research for the Indiana State Library. Her extensive works on the Hunt family are housed in the Indiana State Library and the Fort Wayne Library. She has previously presented the local Society with a large index of these works.

  Early in her career she was instrumental in going into the first 12 counties of the state, which included Randolph County, and copying the early land records and other pertinent records for the State Library. In addition, she spent many years researching the Quaker records for Willard HEISS, state chairman, Genealogical Department, and Randolph County native. Heiss published an inclusive six-volume set of Indiana Quaker records.

  Mrs. Brown's gift collection includes: yearbooks for the Society of Indiana Pioneers, 1970 through 1981 and 1969 and 1961; the six volume set of Quaker Records in Indiana, by Heiss; 1820 and 1840 Census of Indiana; Handy book for Genealogists by Genealogical Helper, files and notes in volumes collected on personal research into the families of TIPTON, HUNT, DENTON and SMITH, etc,; Indiana Historical Society publications.

  Mrs. Brown made her presentation to June POTTER, Randolph County Recorder, and Monisa WISENER, County Historian, at the Recorder's office at the courthouse, where research volumes are housed. 

(2021: Items housed in library at Randolph County Historical Society, 416 South Meridian Street, Winchester, Indiana.)

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  Also, in this issue of the July 31, 1982 News-Gazette, was their regular column, Genealogy: People Want To Know...

Genealogy: People Want To Know...

Boyce Curtis JONES.  Query:  Is there anyone around Randolph County who remembers Boyce Curtis Jones, son of William Roey Jones? William died here at the age of 82 in 1950 and is buried at the Buena Vista Cemetery. Boyce Curtis was in the first World War and was released in California in 1918. He stayed there for about 12 years, then lost contact with his family there. It is believed Nora (Mrs. Milo) SHADE was a sister to Boyce Curtis. A family member from California was here seeking any relatives and would like to make contact with anyone who knew them.

Ida Catherine ALLDREDGE.  Query:  Information is wanted concerning Ida Catherine Alldredge or ALDRICH. She was a school teacher in Winchester about 1886 to 1896. Also she had a photography studio in Winchester at the same time. She was married in June 1896 to ? GAYMAN and moved to Delaware County.

Henrietta ENGLE.  Query:  I am looking for information on my grandmother, Henrietta Estella Blanche Engle (called Blanche or Nettie). She was born in Winchester or Union City on Feb. 23, 1876. Her parents were Sarah Ann BURKET and Samuel Clay Engle. I will correspond with anyone interested in Engle or Burket families. June Kisner SHAW, Kansas.

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RANDOLPH COUNTY JAIL

  Also, the News-Gazette has received a request for a photograph of the Randolph County Jail (outside and in). 

  The person requesting the photographs is particularly interested in the kitchen area.

  She says: "I'm especially interested in this (jail) because my grandfather was sheriff of Randolph County in approximately the year 1902. George BRIGHT and all of his family, including my mother, lived there and have heard some exciting stories when my grandfather used the horse and buggy to bring prisoners to the jail. I have a picture of the horse and buggy. Contact Mrs. Roy KINSEY.

Another Randolph County Sheriff story taken from a hand written letter in the FORD family file at RCHS:

  D. F. Ford, 1840 - 1871. "A ring of horse thieves was operating in these parts. One night "Doc" Ford was driving down a country road in a buggy when he met another buggy with a horse tied behind it. He said good evening to the driver who turned his head and didn't answer. This made Doc suspicious so he pulled off the road, unhooked his horse and followed the other buggy for several miles. The buggy pulled into a farm where a man came out with a lantern and they took the horse out to a patch of woods and tied it out of sight. Doc beat it back to Farmland and picked up fresh clothes and another horse and some money and then went back to stake out the farm where the horse was hidden. He followed the farmer to another farm with the stolen horse. He followed this course of action for several days until he got to a horse auction down in Kentucky. He obtained warrants on all of the people involved and brought them back to Indiana for trial. While they were waiting for the trial they were held in the county jail.

  One day Doc took food into one of the cells. There was a bed in the cell and one of the prisoners took an iron side rail out of the bed and stood behind the door. He hit Doc over the head. Doc kicked the door shut and then proceeded to almost kill the man with his bare hands. From the blow on the head, Doc developed a brain problem and died a short time later."

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Would you like a book to learn more about local history? 

Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.

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