Showing posts with label Knightstown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Knightstown. Show all posts

Friday, August 19, 2011

Evalyn M. DeGolyer 1894 - 1982: Friend of Grandmother Fern



If my maternal grandmother were alive today I would certainly want to know more about her friendship with Evalyn DeGolyer.

Evalyn M. DeGolyer
Evalyn was born in Rush Co., Indiana in 1894 to James and Mary (Neal) DeGolyer and appears to have been their only child. Evalyn lived in Rush county at least until 1930. My grandmother, Mary Fern (Newby) Runyan was born a year earlier in Knightstown in Henry Co., Indiana just a short distance away. I don't know if my grandmother knew Evalyn when they were young girls or if they knew each other after they were older. When my grandparents married in 1917 they moved around quite a bit so I imagine my grandmother knew Evalyn long before 1917. Later, Evalyn lived in Henry county and her obituary said she was a telephone switchboard operator in Knightstown for many years and was a member of Rebekah Lodge.

Evalyn M. DeGolyer
Evalyn never married. She outlived my grandmother by 10 years, passing away in Knightstown in 1982 at the age of 87. Evalyn is buried in the Glen Cove cemetery in Henry county. These two photographs were found in my grandmother's collection. The photos are not dated and my grandmother simply wrote on the back "Evelyn Degolyer, My Friend".

She was certainly a lovely young woman and both of these 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" postcard photos are in excellent condition. Click on each one for a closer view.



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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday: Ed and Maude (Rhodes) Newby


Edward J. Newby b. 30 Nov 1881 - d. 10 Aug 1944
Son of John A. and Mary Louisa Grunden Newby
Maude L. Rhodes Griffney Newby b. 31 Jul 1884 - d. 13 Jan 1955
Daughter of John Peter and Martha E. Pendergrast Rhodes

Glen Cove Cemetery, Knightstown, Henry Co., Indiana




*Tombstone photo property of Find A Grave Volunteer Susan Clemons - Used with permission.

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Monday, January 24, 2011

Amanuensis Monday: Obituary of Margaret (Newby) Boyer


MILLA MARGARET (NEWBY) BOYER
December 24, 1904 - April 18, 1939

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Margaret was the youngest child of Charles Lee and Ida May Trowbridge Newby and the little sister of my maternal grandmother, Mary Fern Newby Runyan. She married Joseph C. Boyer, son of Charles and Rosa Sidenspenner Boyer, on 15 January 1923 and they had 3 children: John Neil, Bernice Jean (died in infancy), and Jack Newby Boyer. It was devastating to the whole family when Margaret died of pneumonia at the age of 34.

The obituary below is transcribed from the newspaper clipping found among my grandmother's keepsakes, probably clipped from the Knightstown Banner.

Mrs. Margaret Boyer
Funeral Services To Be Held Friday Afternoon.
By Special Correspondent.
KNIGHTSTOWN, April 19 - Mrs. Margaret Boyer, 34, died last night at the Henry County hospital. She had been a resident of Knightstown all her life and was taken to the hospital only yesterday. Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Lawrence Runyan of Lewisville; a brother, Maurice Newby of Lowell, Ind.; and the mother, Mrs. Charles Newby of Knightstown.  Funeral Services will be at 2:30 o'clock Friday afternoon at the Wilson funeral home in Knightstown with the Rev. Ernest Addison officiating. Burial will be at Glencove cemetery.
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Monday, November 29, 2010

Amanuensis Monday: Obituary of Morris H. Newby



MORRIS HENRY (BUD) NEWBY
May 2, 1899 - December 6, 1947

My maternal granduncle Morris H. Newby  Circa 1930
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.


I have two hand dated obituaries for Uncle Bud (as my mother called him). One apparently from Knightstown, Henry Co., Indiana and the other from Lowell, Lake Co., Indiana where he was last employed. My grandmother clipped these and I found them in my mother's photo albums. 

Friday, December 12, 1947
Morris Newby, 48, Dies in Gary

Morris Newby, 48, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Newby, former residents of Knightstown, died Saturday at the Mercy hospital at Gary. He had been ill since August. Mr. Newby was superintendent of schools of Lowell, Ind.  Funeral services were held in Lowell on Monday and the body was brought to Knightstown where graveside services were held with the Rev. E. A. Addison officiating.  The Butcher Funeral Home was in charge of the burial.  Mr. Newby was a member of Golden Rule Lodge No. 16, F. & A. M.  A sister, Mrs. Fern Runyan, of Indianapolis is the only immediate survivor. Two cousins, Floyd and Harry Newby, live in Knightstown. We wish to express our deepest and sincerest gratitude and thanks to the people of Lowell who were so kind to us at the time of the death of our dear brother, Morris H. Newby. The many beautiful flowers, and your kind expressions of sympathy will long be remembered and treasured by us. Signed: Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Runyan.

WELL KNOWN EDUCATOR CALLED LAST SATURDAY
Morris H. Newby Succumbs After Several Months Serious Illness

Morris H. Newby Circa 1940
Morris H. Newby, 48, principal of Lowell grade school, passed away at Mercy hospital, Gary, last Saturday morning following several months illness. His health began to fail soon after starting the summer vacation. He improved some and was able to start his work at the grade school in September, but soon became seriously ill and was compelled to give up his duties.  He became a member of the grade school faculty in the fall of 1925 when M. E. Goodwin, now of Brook, was principal. When Mr. Goodwin transferred to the high school, he became principal and has held the position since. Educated at Ball State Teachers' College and at Indianapolis college, he had spent nearly his entire career in Lowell grade school. He taught one year in Wyoming and two years at Plum Grove school, east of town, before coming to Lowell. He was a man who had the respect of all residents of this community and his acquaintance was very large over southern Lake county. The Lowell grade school was his great interest in life, and he has informed us many times that he expected to end his teaching career here and on retirement to always make Lowell his home. He is a man who will be greatly missed, and the great good he has done in the educational system of the schools here will long be remembered.  He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Lawrence Runyan, of Indianapolis, one niece, one grand-niece and two nephews.  He was a member of the Masonic lodge in his home town of Knightstown, Ind., and of the Lowell Lions club.  Lowell grade school was closed Monday and Tuesday and the high school Monday afternoon in honor of the deceased.  Memorial services were held at Lowell high school at 2 p. m. Monday. The services were in charge of Rev. Luther Villars of the Church of Christ; Rev. Paul Reisen, of the Methodist church; Rev. Kenneth Owens, of the Church of the Nazarene; Rev. Edward Boney, of St. Edward's Catholic church, and Rev. E. L. Worley, of the ShelbyChurch of Christ. Mrs. Edward Minninger played several numbers during the services. Members of the grade school faculty attended in a body.  Tuesday morning the remains were taken by Weaver & Son to Knightstown, his boyhood home, where services were held and interment was made beside his father and mother.

My grandmother was very fond of her brother. Bud never married, never had children. He is interred in the Glen Cove Cemetery in Knightstown, Indiana.
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Thursday, October 7, 2010

1947 Newspaper Ad: Public Sale At Newby Farm



Farm of Charles Lee and Ida May (Trowbridge) Newby
(My maternal great grandparents, deceased)

Ad from the National Road Traveler Newspaper (Ancestry.com)
January 23, 1947 
The National Road Traveler (Cambridge City, Indiana) turned out to be a super entertaining and clue filled find for me. In fact, Ancestry.com has several Indiana newspapers that have given me many hours of happy research. I was up until 2 a.m. last night copying articles about my mother. Wish I'd found those when she was still with us, she would have been tickled pink over the great memories. Now, I've spent most of the day on this same newspaper and the new clues I've unearthed for some of my Trowbridge family are nearly overwhelming! Old newspapers have got to be one of my favorite genealogy resources! 

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Wedding Wednesday: The Gold Earring



Lawrence Everett Runyan to Mary Fern Newby
December 16, 1917 - Knightstown, Indiana

Lawrence and Fern Runyan - Wedding Day
My maternal grandparents


I love this picture of my grandparents because it's really the best picture I have of my grandmother when she was young. I also love it because of the pendant she is wearing. 

My mother told me that this pendant was once an earring and that the set of earrings had belonged to her mother's great grandmother, Martha (Brown) Cook. Martha died in 1841 when her children were very young so it is my guess that their father, Giles Cook, saved the earrings and eventually gave one earring to each of his daughters, Phoebe and Eliza Jane, likely as wedding gifts when they got married. He may have had them made into a new piece of jewelry himself. One of them is seen as a brooch in a photo of my great, great grandmother Phoebe Cook Trowbridge. 

Phoebe Cook Trowbridge
Phoebe passed the brooch down to her daughter, Ida May Trowbridge Newby and Ida May then passed it on to her daughter Mary Fern, my grandmother, and by this time the earring was removed from the brooch pin and added to a chain to become a pendant. It was given to my mother when she was a young woman and, as her only daughter, it was promised to me. 

Although I never saw my mother wear it I remember seeing this piece of jewelry often in her jewelry box and I remember handling it many times. Unfortunately, in the late 1970s or early 1980s, my parent's home was robbed and this was one of the items that was stolen! This was devastating to me! I still find myself looking for it anytime I am in a pawn shop or antique jewelry shop. 

 I am so thankful that I have a picture of my grandmother and her grandmother wearing the same piece of jewelry and that I have the story that went with it. 


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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: 1918-1919 KHS Juniors and Seniors



Knightstown High School, Henry Co., Indiana

My maternal granduncle Morris Henry Newby, right hand row, second from front.

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Sunday, August 8, 2010

Sentimental Sunday: Beyond Serendipity



The small Miracle of finding Jacob and Levina

If you're squeamish about miracles you might want to skip this post....you may be tempted to "believe".

On my very first genealogical expedition back in 1998, my husband, daughter and I left Florida and after stops in Tennessee and Kentucky we finally arrived at our end destination in Henry Co., Indiana. We had several cemeteries on our list and on Saturday I was to meet my cousin Doug with whom I had corresponded about genealogy over the past year but hadn't seen in person since I was a baby. On Saturday morning we left the motel early so we could stop for a short time at the Glencove Cemetery in Knightstown before heading over to Newcastle to meet my cousin. I was eager to find the tombstones of my maternal third great grandparents Jacob N. and Levina Leonard Newby.

No one was at the office of the cemetery so we had to start looking on our own. We knew they were buried in the old part of the cemetery so we drove to that section. Daughter Hallie decided to sit it out in the van and so my husband Mike and I split up and started the search. He took the western edge under the trees on the other side of the road (top of the framed section in the picture below - click to make larger) and I started walking the middle section.

Overview of Glencove Cemetery - screen capture using Google Earth and Jing

After just 20 minutes or so I realized how short our time was getting and I definitely didn't want to be late but I couldn't stand the thought of leaving that cemetery without finding Jacob and Levina. So, halfway down a row I suddenly stopped in my tracks and I prayed a short prayer something like this: "Lord, you know who I'm looking for and you know how much time I have, please help me!" As soon as I said this I looked back over my shoulder and my eyes fell on a stone about 25 stones back and 3 to 4 rows over. I couldn't possibly read it from that distance but I pivoted around and started making my way to that stone. I heard Mike yell "Whaddaya doing?" and I just held up my hand and kept going, never taking my eyes off that stone.

When I found myself standing in front of the tombstone of Jacob N. Newby and Levina's stone right next to his, my knees went weak, and yes...the hair on my arms was standing straight up. I was really thrilled to see those stones but I was deeply overwhelmed with the real miracle that had just happened. There was no doubt in my mind then or now that God himself put me in front of my ancestors. This was a confirmation of what I'd always believed too...that God honors genealogy. I already knew that because of all those "begats" in the Bible!


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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Death Announcement: "Charles Newby Is Dead"


CHARLES LEE NEWBY 1868 - 1937


My maternal great grandfather 
Son of John Alby and Mary Louisa Grunden Newby 
Husband of Ida May Trowbridge


Courier Times - Knightstown, Henry Co., Indiana
Saturday, May 8, 1937 (page 1, column 8)

Charles Newby Is Dead
 ___________________

Dunreith Man Dies From Apoplexy at Son's Home.
___________________

(By Special Correspondent.)

     DUNREITH, Ind., May 8, -- Charles Newby, 73, well-known retired farmer who formerly lived north of here, died Friday afternoon at the home of a son, Maurice Newby, in Lowell, Ind., according to word received by friends.
     Mr. Newby's death was sudden, it was understood, although he had been in poor health for some time. A stroke of apoplexy was given as the cause of death.
     In addition to the son, survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Lawrence Runyan of east of Dunreith, and Mrs. Charles Boyer of Knightstown. The body probably will be returned here for funeral services and burial but arrangements were not complete.

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Friday, June 25, 2010

Knightstown Banner: John Alby Newby - 1923 Obituary And Memorial



~John Alby Newby 1842 - 1923~


John A. Newby was my mother's maternal great grandfather. He died the year before she was born. I was fortunate to obtain both of these very informative articles from the local newspaper in Knightstown, Henry Co., Indiana, The Knightstown Banner.

March 2, 1923 Page 1, Column 2

Death of John A. Newby

    Following an illness of pneumonia of only a few days, John A. Newby, aged 80 years, one of the well known men of Knightstown and an old pioneer resident of the town, died at his home in North Washington street shortly after midnight last Tuesday morning. Mr. Newby came here in the early days from Greensboro and had probably lived here in the neighborood of 50 years. He was a carpenter by trade. Mr. Newby was the youngest old man in this part of the country, as until his last sickness he had been physically able to ply his trade with other craftsmen.
    Surviving are his widow and three sons - Charles, Ed, and Frank Newby, of Knightstown. He also leaves two brothers, L. P. and L. Y. Newby, of Knightstown.
    The funeral was held yesterday (Thursday) afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Methodist church, of which the deceased was a member, conducted by Rev. Ice, the pastor. Interment was made at Glencove cemetery in charge of Undertaker C. F. Baxter.



March 9, 1923 Page 2, Column 4

IN MEMORY JOHN A. NEWBY

    John A. Newby was born near Greensboro, Indiana, March the 26th, 1842, and died at his home in North Washington street, Knightstown, Ind. Tuesday, February 27th, 1923, being twenty-seven days less than eighty-one years of age.
    He has lived nearly all of his life in this vicinity and has been well known. He was the son of Jacob and Levina Leonard Newby. Much of his early life was spent on the farm, but later he followed the carpenters trade. He has always been an industrious man, never afraid of the hardest kind of work, and a faithful workman.
    When a young man he married Mary Louisa Grunden, at the place which afterwards became Wilkinson. There were six children born to them, their first died in infancy, two daughters lived to womanhood, married and have preceded their father in death, leaving three sons living - Charles, Frank and Edward.
    His wife was an invalid for twelve years and then was taken leaving him with the three children. He held his family together until each established a home of his own, except Frank, who has remained with his father.
    Twenty-two years ago he was married to Mrs. Julia Morris, who survives him. She too, has been almost an invalid for several years. He was always thoughtful and patient, finding real pleasure in any service he could render to his own or to a friend. Many deeds of kindness can be recalled by his many neighbors showing his thoughtfulness. He was so fond of flowers and he and his wife found joy in growing them and sharing them with their friends.
    He was a member of a family of seven children, but three of whom are now living, Leonidas P., Loren Y., and Mrs. William Carroll, of Shirley. A step-son and one step-daughter, and nephews, nieces, grandchildren and one great grandchild are among the sorrowing relatives.
    For probably forty years John Newby has been a member of the Methodist church, a faithful attendant, and a respected consistent member. Not only will his family miss him but the citizenship of Knightstown will miss his coming and going and his always pleasant greeting.
_________________________________
  
    The relatives of Mr. John A. Newby desire to express their sincere gratitude to the many friends and neighbors who so kindly assisted them during his illness and funeral.
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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Somewhere In Wyoming: One Room School House 1921

~Morris Henry "Bud" Newby and students~


My maternal grandmother's brother Bud Newby, age 22.  He grew up in Knightstown, Henry Co., Indiana and was educated at Ball State Teacher's College at Indianapolis. He made the journey all the way to Wyoming for his very first teaching assignment. He only taught here one year but I'd sure like to know exactly where this was. 
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Thursday, May 6, 2010

Knightstown Small Pox Epidemic Of 1902


Mary Fern & Phoebe Gertrude Newby



"In the summer of 1902, Knightstown, Indiana had an outbreak of smallpox. It was considered severe enough by the board of health, and the county commissioners, that the entire town and vicinity was quarantined. No one was allowed to enter or the leave the town for any reason. Despite the drastic measures, the disease continued to spread. Where twenty-six cases had been reported in June, fourteen more were added to the toll the first week in July. People panicked as they saw the silent killer stalk their friends and neighbors. Everyone wondered, "Who will be next?" By mid-July the Knightstown toll had shot to 81 cases. During the epidemic Knightstown was like a city of the dead. All business in Knightstown was paralyzed, weeds, corn and other vegetation grew up all over town, hitching racks in the town square were overgrown with weeds as tall as six feet. Hardly any business was transacted for nearly two and one-half months. By early August the epidemic seemed to fade. One by one the quarantines were lifted and normal life resumed."
[Excerpted from the New Castle Democrat, 18 July 1902]


My grandmother, Mary Fern Newby [above left] contracted small pox and was one of the survivors of this epidemic as was her great uncle, Senator Leonidas Perry Newby. My mother always told me my grandmother was scarred from the smallpox but I guess I never noticed. Her sister, Phoebe Gertrude didn't get the disease. Little Phoebe died in 1901 of "acute largyngitis" before the epidemic reached Indiana. She was six years old. 





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