| Franklin CountyBrick WallsDo you have a Franklin County ancestor that you just can't find? You know they should be listed somewhere, but they don't show up anywhere you've looked, and you're out of ideas for what to do next? POST THEM HERE, and maybe someone else can help you find them. Email us, and we'll add them to this page! |
| SUBMITTER | ANCESTOR | NARRATIVE |
| Deanna Sinks | Mizal & Elizabeth BALANGER | Mizal & Elizabeth BALANGER married in 1812 in Butler Co OH and Mizal bought land in Franklin Co in 1820. Then I cannot find anything. They had several children on the 1820 census in Butler Co but that is all I can find. Any help will be greatly appreciated. |
| Geri Shank | Hilda BOYD, Mary Philomena SMITH | My grandmother was Hilda BOYD. Her parents were Charles "Spot" & Anna KNECHT. My grandmother's mother's maiden was SCHMIDT. The problem is how is SCHMIDT had a baby spelled. We know that she a baby girl around 1902. The baby was name Mary Philomena SMITH. But we don't know who the father was. My great grandparents were married in Oct. 1903. I'm looking for any KNECHT, SCHMIDT or SHANK families. |
| Carol Jenkins | John BRADFORD, Mary Ann BRADFORD, Sarah Elizabeth HIGGS | I have a John BRADFORD who married in Franklin County Indiana in 1817 to a Sarah BLADES. Sarah BLADES is the daughter of Isaac BLADES and Sarah Elizabeth HIGGS. I can not find out who John Bradford's parents were. John is my third great grandfather. He is relation to a family by the name of RUSSELL and also SMITH. He was born in Tennessee in 1798. I also can not find out who Sarah Elizabeth Higgs's parents were. There is a Mary Ann BRADFORD who married a RUSSELL in Grainger County Tennessee and came to Franklin County Indiana with one small son and expecting the second son. (He was born in Franklin County IN) She was married in 1800 to the RUSSELL. Does anyone know who her parents and siblings were or who she came with to Franklin County In as her husband had died in Tennessee. Thanks for any help. |
| Barbara Kuykendall | Catherine CASE | My brick wall is Catherine CASE. Born in Indiana, probably Franklin County, 7 January 1821. Died 10 March 1889 in Laurel. Married to Dr. Thomas GIFFORD of Laurel. Reifel says she is the daughter of Henry and Ann CASE of Metamora. He is incorrect. Henry and Ann had a daughter named Catherine, but in 1860, their daughter Catherine was 35, single and living at home, while my Catherine was married with children. A cousin of my dad's (long deceased) said she was a descendant of John and Priscilla ALDEN. I cannot prove that, since I don't even know who her parents were! She named her youngest son Samuel Alden, but we think Dr. GIFFORD's full name was Thomas Alden GIFFORD. The ALDEN connection may be through him, not through her. Can anyone help me find Catherine's parents? One possibility for her parents is Charles Rockefeller CASE and Catherine HEATH. In 1840 they had a daughter in the right age group, who could have been named for her mother. Can anyone help me find Catherine's parents? |
| Greg Boyd | Matthew CAVANAGH | I am trying to find the roots of my Great Grand father Matthew CAVANAGH born in Oldenburg 1812 he had a son in Fayett Texas in 1869 my Grandfather. I have never been able to find anything else about Matthew other than he married a late in his life a woman named Malissa I would guess he had previously been married. Maybe he left the area because of the civil war. Can you tell me where I might find birth records for Oldenburg and or other information. I sincerely thank you for any help you might be able to give. |
| Thomas G West | Richard Hazelwood CRITTENDEN Jr | I've been researching the Crittenden line for many years, but I've been unable to locate the burial site of my GGGG grandfather Richard Hazelwood CRITTENDEN, Junior. Years ago, I found information at the Franklin County Library that he died June 8, 1857 and was buried in the "Crittenden " cemetery located on the Charles Covert property, Section 34 T13N R4E. I have never been able to locate this site. Would appreciate any help on this "Brick Wall." |
| Betty Burkhart(no email) and Pat Powers | Mary Jane CROCKETT (WARNER) | From Pat: I'm a Granddaughter of Converse Bacon Pierce, who was borne in Blooming grove. and he was in the Civil War. I'm looking for his wife, Mother who name is Mary Jane Crockett, who was married to a Anderson Warner. She was
Borne 1805 in N.C. and lived in Blooming grove for years. She died about 1891 and is buried in Metamora , but we cant find her grave, are any information on her . Please if you could help me and my Sister who are the only two Pierce Granddaughters alive. we would be ever so grateful.She had a lot of property there.and her Son Converse Bacon Pierce went to school there. any records would be nice My Sister Betty and me have been looking for years now and still nothing on Mary Jane Crockett,Warner From Betty: We are at the brick wall, Went to Brooksville liberary And was told they have nothing on Mary Jane Crockett (WARNER) B-1805 N.C. D-1891 Franklin Co. Indiana Need help. put this name on your list the brick wall.thank you. |
| Phil Di Matteo | Bernard Antonius DAHMUS | Bernard Antonius DAHMUS (DAHMUS/LUKEDAHMUS /Kuthedamhues/Lutkedamhus) born 31 Oct 1826 in Stadtlohn, Kaesfeld, Germany. I don't know when or where he arrived in the USA. He came to America with his father, Eberhard Henry Waechter and family. He married Philomena WAECHTER 28 May 1865 in Oldenburg, IN. He died 26 Feb 1897 and is buried in the Holy Family Cemetery, Oldenburg, IN. Any help finding citizenship records will be appreciated. |
| Dan Davis | John S. DAVIS, Sarah Ann McFARLAND | My brick wall is finding any information about my great great grandparents, John S. DAVIS and Sarah Ann McFARLAND. I know that they were married in Franklin County Indiana on Sept. 9th, 1852. In 1860 they lived in Ray Township and had 4 children, Joseph, Robert, Hannah and Martha. My great grandfather, John Henry was born in 1861. The family eventually moved to Woodford County Illinois. I have reached a brick wall in finding any information as to who were the parents of John S. and Sarah Ann. Any help will be greatly appreciated. |
| Betty Waite Myers | Henry MEYER (Heinrich Meier) | Henry Meyer (Heinrich Meier) was born circa 1822 in Zug, Switzerland. He married Sarah Kemp 06-23-1852 in Franklin Co., IN. They had 5 children, William H. b 10-09-1853, James Edward b 07-04-1855, George W. b 04-19-1858, John Pleasant b 03-12-1860, Sarah Catherine b 09-16-1862. Henry & Sarah lived in Oak Forest and moved to Adams Twp., Ripley Co. around 1860. 08-15-1862 Henry enrolled at Sunman, IN in Co. G, 83rd Reg, IN Infantry. 06-02-1864 he died in Huntsville, AL of Camp or Chronic diarrhea disease. 12-16-1871 Sarah Kemp Meyer bought 1 acre of land in Franklin Co., & moved back to Franklin Co., IN and died at her home 08-29-1872. Sarah Kemp's parents were Thomas & Mary Kemp who came to the US from Sussex, England 1825-1832. The Kemp childen were Mary Ann, William, Elizabeth, Sarah. I have tried to find information on Henry Meyer for many years. I know nothing of him from his birth in 1822 until his marriage in 1852. I would like to know his parents, siblings, when he came to US, where he lived before coming to Franklin Co., IN and why he came there. Perhaps he had a relative in the area. |
| Verla Smith | Henry DAWSON | My brick wall is Henry DAWSON who was married to Ann SPENCER from N.C. lived in Laurel in the 1850's on and was born in Maryland. Family Tail is he and a brother were capture by indians and traded for by one of the CONNER Brothers and worked for him, and was a shoemaker. One son he had was John Edward DAWSON who Married Emma FIELDS of Laurel. any Help I would be grateful for. |
| Ken Pohl | Benjamin DOTY | Here's one I have been fighting for about 30 years. My wife's gr-gr-grandfather, Benjamin DOTY was born about 1798 in Minisink, Orange County, NY. He married Mary SCOFIELD in Big Flats, Tioga County, NY and they had several children there. They disappeared after the 1830 census. Mary appears as Mary DOTTY on the 1850 census in Metamora, Franklin County, IN with several children including Charles Wilson DOTY, my wife's gr-grandfather, who always claimed to have been born in Rochester, IN. Another mystery - where is Rochester, IN? With some help from others on this site we discovered that Rochester is now known as Cedar Grove, a small village just a few miles down Route 52 from Metamora. There is no sign of Benjamin DOTY on the 1840 or 1850 census of Franklin County. Did he head for the gold rush in California, was he killed during the canal construction, did he just take off from his family? There was canal construction in Big Flats before the family moved to Franklin County so there is a possibility he was a canal worker. A family rumor states that he fell in the canal on the way home from a lodge meeting. Help! |
| Patricia O'Connor(no email) | Sarah GILBERT | My brick wall is Sarah GILBERT, b. btwn 1800 & 1810 in Indiana. On April 15, 1831, in Brookville, she married Henry COLESCOTT, son of Ralph COLESCOTT and Rhoda CAIN. Her children were William G., b. 1832; Mary M., 1832; Rhoda Ann, 1836 and James Henry, 1939. By the 1850 census, Henry is dead and Sarah apparently had remarried a PANNELL. Two of her children, William and Rhoda are living with foster parents in Shelby Co., IN. We can’t find Sarah, Mary or James on the 1850 census. We need her parents; on the 1817 tax list we find a Nathaniel GILBERT; the 1830 census shows a William and James GILBREATH in Franklin Co. and the 1840 census has a William GILBERT. Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
| Carol Tolley | Armstrong HAWKINS, Mary DAVIS | My brickwall is Armstrong HAWKINS and his wife Mary DAVIS. Armstrong was born 25 Jan 1818 in IN. Mary DAVIS was born 22 Sep 1819 in OH. They married 17 Mar 1836 in Franklin Co. This family appears in the 1840 fed census for Franklin Co, and 1850 Ray Twp, Franklin Co IN census. Also in 1850 with them is Rachel HAWKINS, age 59, b in TN. Possibly Armstrong's mother. Family history states that his parents were a John and Rachel HAWKINS. Both Armstrong's and Mary's birth yr are in question. Could be as early as 1812 or as late as 1819. The family removed to Jackson Co, IA in about 1854 and both died in 1869. Also in the 1850, Metamora, Franklin Co fed census are a John and Mary HAWKINS, who named a son, Armstrong. I have not been able to find anything further on them. I have found three main HAWKINS lines in this eastern area of IN. HAWKINS/HACKLEMAN; HAWKINS/ LYTLE/LITTLE and John and Nancy HAWKINS, but have not been able to count any of them completely out. I have not been able to connect Mary DAVIS with any DAVIS line. Any help will be greatly appreciated. |
| Pat Powers and Betty Burkhart(no email) | Solomon PIERCE | My brick wall is our grandfather, Solomon Pierce, who lived and died in Metamora and had land there. We cannot find who his wife was or anything about her. We thought she was Caroline SNIFFIN but are not sure since we cannot find any record on her. Need HELP please. |
| Sherry Perry | Louis/Lewis RARIDEN | I have been trying to find the parents of Louis or Lewis RARIDEN. He was born about 1833 in Pendleton County, Kentucky. He married Nancy FORTNER on 5 JUL 1852 in Pendleton County, Kentucky. He died 22 MAR 1879 in either Metamora or Laurel. He had come into town to cash his Civil War pension check and was found dead in the water 'near the hydraulics' the next morning. I have found his last name spelled many different ways. His children were: Mary 'Mollie' Rariden PATTERSON, Jerry Rariden, Elizabeth A Rariden, Cash Rariden, Kate Rariden, Samuel Rariden, Nora Rariden LINES, Margaret Rariden TIMBERMAN REESE. I know who his ancestors are but do not know which of several brothers he is the son to. Thank you. |
| Mick McDaniel | John A. RIES | "John A. RIES, proprietor of the Star City Bottling Works, and an active and enterprising citizen of La Fayette, is a native of Hesse Kurr, Germany, born at Hanau, January 17, 1839, a son of John A. and Kate (DORNHACKER) RIES, the father being a farmer and weaver by occupation. In 1854 the parents with their children immigrated to America, and all but the father who died on the ocean, landed at Baltimore, Maryland, May 15, of that year. They settled in Brookville, Franklin County, Indiana, where the mother lived until her death in 1873." I have found some other Ries names in Brookville, but have not been able to connect them to the John A. Ries family that grew up in Lafayette, IN. |
| Bev Jones | Jacob SCHMIDT | I am looking for any information of Jacob SCHMIDT listed in the Index of Burials St. Peters for Brookville, Franklin Co., IN. P9 OER4-9 East of Walk - Row 4 - 9th Grave. If possible, I would like some dates. I am trying to connect this Jacob SCHMIDT to being the Father of my grgrgrandfather Jacob SCHMIDT born 1827 in Alsac/Lorraine France. In the New Orleans Passenger Lits 1820-1945 Ship ALLBREE from Lahavre, arriving New Orleans July 1831 there were the following passengers Jacob SCHMIDT, 34, Man, Bricklayer, France, America Madaline J. SCHMIDT, 35, woman, Germany, America Nichoals SCHMIDT, 51 Man, laborer, Germany, America Mary SCHMIDT, 7, girl, Germany, America Anna SCHMIDT, 5, girl, Germany, America Jacob SCHMIDT, 4 boy, Germany, America Nicholas SCHMIDT, 1 boy, Germany, America I am trying to connect the Jacob SCHMIDT, 34 with the Jacob SCHMIDT buried at St. Peter's. If anyone would have any information on any of the above names on the Ship lists. The Jacob SCHMIDT, 4, could be my grgrgrandfather who was born in 1827 in Alsac/Lorraine. My grgrgrandfather Jacob enlisted in the Mexican War in 1847 at Brookville, IN. I have a copy of that information. In the records of Burials there is a Jacob SCHMIDT who died July 14, 1864, 72 years old. Is this the same Jacob SCHMIDT that is listed in reference P9-OER4-9? Thank you for help you can give me. |
| Phil Di Matteo | Johann SELLMEYER | Looking for citizenship records for Johann SELLMEYER born about 1818 in Oesede, Hanover Germany. He arrived in Baltimore who arrived in about 1837. He moved to Cincinnati, OH where he married Mary Elisabeth BRUCKENSCHMIDT (BRUGGENSCHMIDT) May 21, 1840 at Holy Trinity Church (Roman Catholic) Cincinnati, OH. They had two children, then moved to Oldenberg, Franklin Co., IN. Johann (John) opened Sellmeyer's tannery in 1842 and employed 15 men at one time. J.H. Sellmeyer built the St. Joseph Woolen Mill in about 1860 & later in 1872-sold it to Flodder. His wife died in 1887 and is buried in Holy Family Cemetery, Oldenburg, IN. |
| Shirley & Heidi Sparks | Jessee L SPARKS | Our ancestor is JESSEE J. SPARKS possibly born in Franklin County Indiana in 1825. He was married to ELIZA ANN MILLER November 17,1850. in Franklin County. We are looking for the parents of Jessee J. Sparks. If you have information we'd love to get it because we are Stuck at this point! Thankyou, |
| Sarah Hitson | Isaac & Sarah Fitzgerald THOMAS | I am looking for any information on the family of Issac and Sarah Fitzgerald THOMAS. Issac was born 1802 d-1878, Sarah 1806 d-1877. They had children: Elizabeth:1825, Hannah:1826, Daniel:1828, Jane:1829, R.L:1831, F.C:1833, S.Ellen:1836, Lewis:1839, A.J:1843 and M Adaline:1846. Elizabeth was my great great grandmother. I have found a 1850 census of her and husband Alban and 2 of her siblings:Daniel and Jane, living with them. I am trying to find out more on her parents and where they may be buried at and when and where they got married. |
| Beverly Wallen Williams | Daniel WALLEN/WALLING | Daniel WALLEN/WALLING, his wife and son, Isaac came to Whitewater Twp. sometime after 1810 from New York. He shows up in the 1820 U.S. Census in Whitewater, Franklin Co., Indiana. Isaac WALLEN married in 1821 to a Mary MURPHY. Isaac and Mary WALLEN disappeared after this time. Daniel sold his land and his wife did not sign the deed, which leads me to think she died. Around 1821, Daniel WALLEN sold his land. He later showed up in Green Co., Ohio with no wife or son. I am seeking the name and burial location of his wife. And I would like to know what happened to Isaac and Mary WALLEN and if they had any children. I would also like to know the names of Daniel's other children. |
| Linda Washington | George WASHINGTON | My brick wall is George WASHINGTON born about 1791 in England. He married Hannah/Anna CRAWFORD probably in Pennsylvania about 1823. Their children were Anna (1824 PA), Mary (1826 IN), William A (1827 IN). Rachel (1832 IN), Eunice (1837 IN), Samuel G (1840 IN), Florence (1851 IN). George arrived in Indiana in 1825. 1830 he was in Franklin County, Indiana. 1850 and 1860 he was in Westport, Decatur County, Indiana. 1870 he was in Sandcreek, Decatur County, Indiana. He was a shoemaker. I am looking for information on George and Hannah Crawford Washington in Indiana and who their parents were. Your help would be greatly appreciated. |
| Bobbi Everett | Samuel WILLIAMS | Looking for my gggggrandfather, Samuel WILLIAMS, the father of George W. WILLIAMS. George was born in KY 1820 married to Sarah J. RUSSELL in Franklin Co 1842. George's death certificate in Laurel 1900 states his father is Samuel WILLIAMS. Samuel is believed to have been born in VA but was in KY in 1820. |
| Karen Creamer | Rufus R WILSON | Rufus Wilson was my 3rd great grandfather. He may have been born in Bourbon County, KY in about 1816, and he married Huldah LEWIS on 5 Nov 1841 in Franklin County. Rufus died in November of 1842, about a month before the birth of my great great grandmother Harriet Adeline WILSON. I have not been able to find Rufus in a census, a tax list, a cemetery listing or anywhere else, except that he is mentioned once in the probate records of Franklin County, when his daughter Harriet is named as one of the heirs to the William Wilson estate in the early 1850's. Huldah was remarried to the Rev. John MORGAN (his 2nd marriage, also) in 1847 and they had four children. During that time, Harriet lived for a while with Huldah's father, John LEWIS. I'll greatly appreciate any help anyone can give me on Rufus or his (apparent) father, William WILSON. |