Marriage Return: Henry A. Weber & Mary Anna Keen, October, 1886

     This marriage record for my great grandparents was recorded in Marion County Circuit Court, Indianapolis, Indiana, in October 1886.  As usual, there are several pieces of history in this one discovery.  The information confirms that Henry A. Weber was a merchant at the time of his marriage at the age of 27.  I knew from other records that somewhere around 1887 he established the Weber & Zimmer Dry Goods Store with his partner, Louis Zimmer.   This record is important because it shows me that he was already a merchant in October of 1886. Harry’s father and mother’s names are also listed.  And then, of course, the bride’s information in this record confirms this is the correct couple by her name, age and place of residence: Mary A. Keen, Indpls, Ind., age 26. 
      The marriage returns at this time in Marion County, Indiana, were recorded in a large ledger book.  Their marriage record spanned 13 columns across two pages in the ledger.  So, the copies from the microfilm had to be made in four pages to get all the information.   Harry and Mary’s marriage record below reads across the four pieces that are posted.  A light yellow line highlights the correct line.   I see that my copy shows only the month and year of this page and that there are no other dates that appear on the page. (I confirmed in the church that the marriage date is 21 October 1886.) The transcription of this record is underneath the posted copies. 
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Record of Marriage from Marion County, Indiana:
Book 2, 1885-1888, No. 210, County Clerk's archives, October 1886
Groom:  Henry A. Weber
Residence: Indpls, Ind.
Age next birthday:  27
Color: W
Occupation:  Merchant
Place of birth:  Indpls. Ind.
Father:  Adam Weber
Mother's maiden name:  Amalia Mercuel
Groom's marriage: 1
Bride: Mary A. Keen
Residence:  Indpls., Ind.
Age next birthday:  26
Color: W
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     I obtained this record in the City Archives located in the basement of the City County Building on Market Street in downtown Indianapolis.  The staff is very helpful in providing the microfilm rolls but you must have at least a year of the marriage so that they can locate the right roll.  You can then sit at the microfilm machine and put your eyes on your people.    To learn more about Marion County, Indiana, records, take a look at the Family Search Wiki: Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana, Records: https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Marion_County,_Indiana_Genealogy#Marriage_Records

Thanks for visiting Indiana Ties,
Nancy

Related posts:
Weber & Zimmer Dry Goods: An Exciting Find
Mary Anna  Keen Weber: A Life Lived In Large Families

Copyright © 2016, Nancy Niehaus Hurley

Niehaus Schmaltz Wedding, 22 July 1950: Wordless Wednesday (Almost)

        I was 16 months old when my Uncle Norris and Aunt Betty married on a sunny July 22 in 1950. Even though I missed this party (too young, I guess), I enjoy seeing the Niehaus family celebrating the wedding of Harold “Norris” Niehaus and Elisabeth F. Schmaltz at their reception held at Lake Shore Country Club  in Indianapolis, IN.
     Standing in the back row are from left to right:
     Frank (Norris’s brother) and Rosemary (Weber) Niehaus, my parents; Shirley Ellis, my cousin; John Niehaus, my grandfather and Norris’s father; Betty (Schmaltz) Niehaus, the bride; Ruth Niehaus (Mrs. John), Norris’s mother; Charlotte (Niehaus) Ellis, Norris’s sister; Harold “Norris” Niehaus, the groom; Evelyn Ellis, my cousin; Ed Niehaus, Norris’s brother; Anne Niehaus (Mrs. Robert); Robert Niehaus, Norris’s brother.
     Seated left to right are:
     Martha Niehaus, my sister; Charles Niehaus, Norris’s brother; Marilyn Niehaus, my cousin; Larry Niehaus, Norris’s brother; Donna Niehaus (in front), my cousin; Billy Niehaus (standing behind Donna), my cousin; Kitty Niehaus, my cousin; Donny Niehaus, my brother; Kenny Niehaus, my cousin; Gin (Weber) Niehaus, (Mrs. Ed); Sharon Ellis, my cousin; Unknown lady; Diana Ellis, my cousin (seated at right).
     At least one of these cousins, Marilyn, seems to be having fun as she entertains some of the adults with her pose. 
      My uncle Norris would have been 92 years old tomorrow, October 20.  He and Betty were married almost 55 years when he passed on in 2005.  It's pleasant remembering them.
     Thanks for visiting Indiana Ties,
     Nancy

Copyright © 2016, Nancy Niehaus Hurley

Internet Archives Leads to Cool Stuff and More Cool Places -- Tuesday Tip

     Have you ever felt a nudge when you were listening to a presentation that made you want to go investigate a website right away?  Maybe it was a tidbit of information about a site you thought you already knew. This happened to me at the Genealogy Society of Marion County conference last week when Tina Beird, an engaging family history speaker from Illinois, talked about the Internet Archive.  I was already of the opinion that IA was a useful resource because so many institutions and individuals contribute content. But Tina mentioned some potentially cool features that I didn’t recognize.  For one, she pointed out that not only can I have my own account to create collections that I find there.  But, she says I can upload my own personal materials. She asked us to think about what we might use this for.  Tina planted a seed.     
      I went home and immediately checked back into Internet Archive website.  And over the past week or so I’ve been digging deeper and having a lot of fun.  I can’t begin to describe the wealth of knowledge and unexpected genres free for anyone who visits the website.  There are multitudes of books, images, sound recordings, websites and other contributions from around the world.   For instance, I clicked on the the Audio button on the top left and saw Live Music Archive.  It’s been a flashback fest superb!  I found the Beatles Rehearsals for the Ed Sullivan Show and Grateful Dead and 78 rpms and more. My ear buds were working wonders with by Bose speakers.   In the Videos I found footage of the 1937 Ohio River Flood (Family history connection to that tragedy to follow.).  And there are more history references in my favorites list now from my family lines in Indianapolis and Fayette and Dearborn Counties.  And in the images tab, for example, I downloaded this costume plate of a German woman from 1558 – 1570 from the Metropolitan Museum collection (citation below).
     Although there’s so much more included, I’ll mention just one more place that’s great for exploring. When you click on the book icon entitled Texts in the tabs at top left you’ll see a selection for Open Library.  This takes you to openlibrary.org where there are over one million free ebooks.  When I started meandering around on a list of Indiana History I came across: Sons of the wilderness, John and William Conner By Charles N. Thompson. What caught my attention in the description of the book was this sentence: “To depict their lives clearly it has been necessary to set out the historical background of the Ohio Valley (particularly Indiana) for a little over a hundred years.” This book is now saved in my lists at Open Library. 
     But something else happened on my way through the Open Library.  On the page with this Conner book I noticed other related outside links posted.  Clicking on the first one brought me to  the fantastic site called History of the Great Lakes States (link below).  Here's another treasure trove of free books online for history of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan & Wisconsin.  The categories include fiction, maps, periodicals, social history, military and much more, all organized by state. So much to discover.
     And now…back to my Internet Archives account and my personal uploads.  I’m thinking  that uploading my own stories to my account is another way to distribute the family history I’m writing on my blog. Could this be a way of sharing the research I’m gathering more widely?  It’s an idea I will be pursuing.  I think there’s a lot more to be learned about Internet Archives.  What do you think about it?  Any other features you enjoy?
     Thanks for visiting Indiana Ties,
     Nancy

Links to above websites:
Internet Archive
History of the Great Lakes States

Citation for my image: Costume Plate: Woman from Germany; Topics Engraving, Europe, Prints, Italy, Metropolitan Museum of Art, ca. 1558–70; www.metmuseum.org

Weber Scrapbook: Dolly and Harry Captured in 1933 With Their Dad, Harry Lawrence Weber -- Wordless Wednesday (Almost)

     Here’s another treasured photo from the Weber Scrapbook.  Dolores Marie and Harry Joseph Weber pose on the day of Harry’s First Communion in 1933 with their father, Harry Lawrence Weber.  The grapevines in the backyard of their home on Singleton Street in Indianapolis are familiar to those of us who recall the home and its surroundings.  Dolly is ten years old and Harry Joseph in six.  I’m sure the other four Weber siblings were around for this event.  But the two youngest were perfect to make this special photo with their dad.

1933, Weber Family, Indianapolis, IN

     Thanks for visiting Indiana Ties,
     Nancy

Copyright © 2016, Nancy Niehaus Hurley

Charles H. Albers Declares His Intent to Become A Citizen of the United States, 11 Oct 1890

      Getting to know my Great Grandfather Albers is a little difficult. His early background and whereabouts seem to be hiding. But, these characteristics became just a little clearer when his 1890 Declaration of Intent to become a citizen emerged.  I could imagine a 19-year-old young man leaving home in Germany in 1884 to travel across the ocean to the United States.  And then, six years later Charles H. Albers went into the Marion County Circuit Court in Indianapolis, Indiana, declaring his  intent to become a citizen of his new country.  
        I learned of the naturalization record first through the online index at the Indiana State Archives website (HERE).  Then I took that information in person to the State Archives in Indianapolis to request a copy of the original document.   Following is the page that includes Charles’s name on the list from the  Naturalization Records, Book 3, Page 1, Box 07-B-02.  This is a stitched copy of the large record book page that was scanned for me by the archives staff.  His name and the date are marked with yellow marker.  The transcription is below the document.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------   

The record above gives the following information: 
Name of Alien:  Albers, Charles
Date of Declaration:  Oct 11, 1890
Place of Birth:  Germany
Age: 25
What Nation: Germany
Date of Arrival:  Jan 15, 1884
To Whom Owes Allegiance: Emperor Wm
Clerk Issuing Papers: John Wilson

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     A microcosm of the immigration story overall might be told from looking at this one page of names that start with the letter A.  The page was recorded between 1887 and 1892 and of the 29 men listed 19 were German.  Their ages ranged from 21 to 39.  Our Charles was in the younger range, of this tiny sample, at the age of 25.  There are also Irishmen, 1 Dane, 1 Swede, 1 Swiss, 1 Italian and 1 Russian. Of those on this particular page, only Charles is recorded on October 11, 1890.  I guess the A’s weren’t popular that day.  Or was he the only person declaring on that day?  For now, I can’t access the whole record to know these answers.  
     So, what happens now?   Of course, the search goes on to locate documentation of the day when Charles was actually made a citizen  -- his naturalization.  In the 1900 census the enumerator recorded that he was a naturalized citizen.  But, if, when and where that occurred is still a question.  One thing is sure, I have a glimpse at Great Grandfather Albers through this Declaration of Intent registered on 11 October 1890.

Thanks for visiting Indiana Ties,
Nancy

To learn about Naturalization Records through the Indiana Archives and Records Administration, go to their website: http://www.in.gov/iara/2941.htm
For information on the Indiana Naturalization and Records Indexes available at Family Search: http://bit.ly/2d5zYWy
I wrote one previous story about Charles Albers: HERE

Copyright © 2016, Nancy Niehaus Hurley

Weber Scrapbook: Getting Ready To Go Fishing --- Wordless Wednesday (Almost)

     Isn’t it fun, and mind-boggling at times, the degree to which a photo communicates?!  This Wordless Wednesday (Almost) photo presents a volume of information….if we listen.  Thanks to my cousin, Janet, for once again sharing Uncle Bob's albums at our recent family reunion.  Every time I have the opportunity to see these photo collections I spot a few that I don’t remember from the last time.
     This photo is speaking loud and clear of relaxation, adventure, peace and more.  The two men, Harry L. Weber and his brother-in-law, Ed Ditlinger, are busy preparing for a fishing trip.  Ed and his wife, Edith, owned a farm in Jennings County, Indiana. My grandfather, Harry, and others in the family went fishing and hunting at the farm. I estimate this photo was taken in the early 1930s.      
     Here we can see the two guys assembling their necessities for the trip.  There are pots and pans, a lantern and wool blankets.  Harry might possibly be folding a tent at the front of the car.  You can see their wader boots lined up on the ground.  I’m wondering what the canvas on the side of the car is for.  Maybe it turns into one of those tents that’s attached to the car for a sleeping arrangement.
     This post turned out to be an extra-wordy Wordless Wednesday.  Regardless, I’ll leave it as is, knowing so much more could be said. I can taste those fresh fish now.  Oh how I love ‘em!
    Thanks for visiting Indiana Ties,
     Nancy

Copyright © 2016, Nancy Niehaus Hurley

Tuesday Tip -- Record Reference “Cheat Sheets” Free Online at Family Tree Magazine

    I’m getting ready to create a timeline for a second great grandfather who’s been stubborn about revealing himself.  It’s time to paint a clearer picture of the foggy places in his story.  I decided to pull out my Records Checklist early to remind myself where I might find clues to these blanks.  That’s when I thought of the helpful free resources at Family Tree Magazine’s website.  I went there again to be sure my checklist was up-to-date before plunging into this next research exploration. 

     Visiting the Record References page where the checklist is reminded me of how much organizational and historical assistance is included there for free.  So, I thought I’d share a link to the page to possibly give someone else a lead or two.

    Here’s a brief excerpt and a link to that information:

Record References:  http://www.familytreemagazine.com/info/recordreferences

Don’t waste time searching for records that don’t exist—these cheat sheets list available records and time periods.  Here’s a list of the cheat sheets currently available:
Naturalization Laws Timeline
Records Checklist
War Service Reference Guide
Where to Look for 1880 DDD Supplemental Census Records
Vital Records Chart

     Happy hunting.  Thanks for visiting Indiana Ties,
     Nancy