Some of the genealogists and researchers, all female I might add, were discussing the fact that men in the 1800s and 1900s didn’t grieve long over a dead wife because they needed a woman to do all the work around the house and raise their children, so they remarried rather quickly after the burial of the first wife.  The wives of the time must have watched this happen to their friends and realized that it might happen in her marriage as well if she were to die young. One woma

The Research Library and History Center will be closed the week of December 21-27. The Kelsey Family of the Bethel Community in Lukin   William Stinson Kelsey and Harriet Blanchard Chamberlain were married in Norwich, Vermont. Eight children were born to this marriage: William Henry, George Thomas, Charles Dexter, Francis, Albert Curtis, Harriet Elizabeth, James Edward and John. William Stinson died on August 3, 1849, leaving his widow with eight children between four and e

Our newest exhibit at the History Center features dresses from 1850-1950, the last being the army uniform of Magdalene Angle Fleckenstein known as Madge.  Madge was born in 1920 in the Klondike area near Chauncey. She attended grade school at the nearby one-room school, going on to graduate from Bridgeport High School in 1940. After graduation Madge enrolled in the Olney School of Nursing and after three years graduated from there as well.  She enlisted in the Army Nurse Cor

One of the dresses on display at the Historical Society's newest exhibit belonged to Lucinda Porter. Lucinda Melton Porter was born in 1837 in Denison Township to a family with deep local pioneer roots.  Her father Benjamin Melton had fought in the Revolutionary War so when she was born, he was between 70 and 80 years old. His daughter Lucinda was married for the first time at age 16 but widowed at age 23 with a young 5-year-old boy. In 1862 Lucinda married David Porter. Luc

Not many people iron clothes anymore, never mind whether it is Tuesday or not. It would be interesting to know just how many households...

In 1941, the location of George Field (Army Air Force Field) was a sparsely settled stretch of Illinois Prairie in Lawrence County where...

June 1880: A runaway occurred three miles west of Lawrenceville in which three persons were pretty badly bruised.  They were L Gosnell,...

Dann M Norton has graciously agreed to allow me to post two of his blog articles about Betsey Reed.  They are both excellent and shed...

The first May Day celebration in Bridgeport started in 1911 and was held at Lanterman Park. Every school in the county was invited to...

April 23rd, 1880 On Sand Ridge, wheat was thriving after the rain. The weather was warm. Peach trees were blooming as were apple trees....