Genealogy Trails
JOHNSON COUNTY, INDIANA
OBITS


1881-07-07; Paper: The Indianapolis Sentinel  Franklin Ind. July 6
Payne Spears, a young man from Tipton, who has been suffering with the measles, came down on the morning train to be treated by Dr. Payne, and went at once to Mr. Tom Pritchard's, but died very suddenly before noon. after being here less than four hours.

W. E. Drybread, died at the Aurora Hotel in Richfield on Monday. Formerly of Edinburg, Ind. He took a claim 10 miles west of the city last December. Burial was in the Grand View Cemetery Monday at Richfield. (The Garden City Sentinel, August 31, 1887) Submitted by Peggy Thompson

Ethel Whitson, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Whitson died on Monday, December 10, in Indiana where she had been visting relatives with her mother. The funeral was from the home of Mrs. Whitson's father, Mr. Paul who lives near Seymour, Ind. Burial was in the cemetery there. (The Hatfield News, December 22-29, 1888) Submitted by Peggy Thompson

August 13, 1853 The Morgan County Gazette
Died in Johnson County, near Morgantown, on the 3rd, Emeline, aged about 11, daughter of John and Rebecca Hester.

The Morgan County Gazette August 20, 1853
Drowning - Mr. William Gillaspe, age about 30 and the son of James Gillaspe of Johnson County, drowned in the White River, near Gregory's Ferry, on Tuesday last.

A TRIBUTE TO CAROLINE DUNN 1903—1994
Indiana historians and persons with Indiana ancestry have lost a friend and fellow researcher. Caroline Dunn died 22 August 1994 in Greenwood, Indiana, where she had made her home since retiring as librarian of the Indiana Historical Society’s William Henry Smith Library in 1973. She is survived by a sister, Eleanor Moore. Miss Dunn and her father Jacob Piatt Dunn between them devoted seventy-two years to service to the Indiana Historical Society. After graduation from Butler University in 1923, Miss Dunn worked at the Indianapolis Public Library before attending the Columbia University School of Library Service. From 1928 through 1936 she served the Connersville Public Library, coming back to Indianapolis to work in the new Indiana State Library Building as a reference librarian for the Indiana State Library. In 1939 she assumed the position as the librarian of the Smith Library, a position she held until her retirement in 1973.
In 1940 Miss Dunn was elected as secretary of the Society of Indiana Pioneers. She meticulously examined the applications for fifty years, retiring in 1990.
Persons who were acquainted with Miss Dunn will miss her for her interest and knowledge of Indiana history and genealogy, and for her wit. Her memory was phenomenal; her knowledge of the collection of the Smith Library amazed patrons and fellow staff members. She is missed.
(published in the Indiana Historical Quarterly "The Hoosier Genealogist December 1994)


Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind. Nov. 23.
James Lane an old soldier and an old resident, died at his home in this city, Sunday morning after a long illness caused by disease contracted during his army service. He was fifty years old and leaves a wife and eight children.
Indiana Journal November 25, 1896

Franklin, IN. Dec. 7,1896
Rachel Mathes, who for 68 years has been a resident of this county, died last night after an illness of many months. Saturday she fell and broke her hip which, in her feeble condition, was a shock to great for her constitution. Mrs. Mathes was 74 yrs old and one of Franklin’s best known citizens.

Greenwood, IN. Aug.10,1897.
Rev. William H. Burton, aged 60, a superannuated ministers of the M.E. Church, died at his home at this place today. He had a stroke of apoplexy July 27. He was an officer in the United States navy in the late War. After the war he entered the ministry and served many charges within the bounds of the Indiana Conference, including pastorates at Versailles, Mount Sterling, Canaan. Westport, north Madison, Sellersburg, Henryville, Butlerville, Paris, New Washington, Sugar branch, Acton, Manchester, West Madison and Lawrence. Funeral tomorrow at 10 o’clock, from the M.E. Church. Rev. F.M. Westhafer will preach the sermon.


Franklin, Ind., April 17.- Mrs. Lydia Demaree, wife of W. W. Demaree. a prominent farmer living west of Whiteland, died Saturday night and was buried to-day at Hopewell. She was born at Hopewell in 1834. She leaves a husband and nine children, the latter being William, Victor and George Demaree. Mrs. Allie Ditmon, Mrs. Mattie Smith and Mrs. Agnes Thielkeld, of this county, Ira Demaree and Mrs. Esther Thompson, of Kokomo. and Mrs. Clara Ransdall, of Fremont, Neb.
The Weekly Indiana State Journal, (Indianapolis, IN) Wednesday, April 19, 1899
Contributed by Candi Horton

Greenwood, Ind., April 17. -The eight-year-old daughter of Isaac Sutton, living west of here, was killed yesterday in a peculiar manner. She was swinging on a large farm gate, when it fell, crushing her to the earth and killing her instantly.  The Weekly Indiana State Journal, (Indianapolis, IN) Wednesday, April 19, 1899
Contributed by Candi Horton

Mrs. Lee Burdick, living northeast of Greenwood, was struck by lightning Sunday afternoon and killed. She was sixty years old and a pioneer.
Date: July 26, 1899 Location: Indiana Paper: Indiana State Journal


Olive V. Taylor, 90, died June 15, 1990. She was a homemaker who had lived in Edinburgh since 1963. She was a member of the Methodist faith. She was born March 28, 1900, in Brown County and was the daughter of Charles and Eliza Bay Pruitt. She married Albert Taylor in 1917. He died in 1966. Surviving are daughters, Margaret Clark, Helen Cohee. And Flossie Lohrman; a son, Paul Taylor; 16 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, three daughters, one brother, and two sisters.

Mary M. Winn died February 19, 1991. She was a member of Edinburgh First Chirstian Church, Chriatian Women's Fellowship, Flat Rock Firemen's Association and Blossom Boosters Garden Club. She was born September 12, 1900, in Shelby County, the daughter of Alfred and Emma Cutsinger Muck. She married Louis Winn on Feb. 11, 1920. He died in 1977. Surviving are a son, Kenneth Winn; a sister, Florence Yelton; grandchildren, Cindy Stuckey and Doug Winn; a great-grandson; and seven step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Charles Winn.


Ralph Y. Long, 91, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 1991. He was born Nov. 5, 1900, in Bartholomew County. His parents were Howard A. Long and Phoebe McKee Long. He married Alice Stillahower Oct.10, 1923. She survives. Other suvivors include a son, Robert Long of Shelby County; two brothers, Wilbur "Bud" Long of Edinburgh and Clarence Long of Flat Rock; three sisters, Reba Calvert and Ethel Daugherty, both of Edinburgh, and Delphia Smith of Franklin; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; and two stepgreat-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his stepmother, Mable Smith Long, and two brothers, Oscar and Ray Long. He lived in the Edinburgh area until 1985, when he moved to Shelby County. He was a retired farmer.


Karen Jean (Whitehurst) Fink passed away peacefully at Community Hospital South in Greenwood, Indiana on March 5, 2009 from complications related to lung cancer at the age of 66.  She was born near Newton, Illinois to Glenn and Arlene Whitehurst on March 6, 1942.  She graduated from Newton High School in 1959.  Karen was a 1976 graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and a held a masters degree in education from Georgia Southwestern University.  In 1960, she married Loren Lee Fink of Alma, Kansas.  In 1997, she retired after 22 years of teaching elementary and middle school in Cisco, Illinois, Pulaski, Wisconsin and Montezuma, Georgia.   Her father, Glenn Whitehurst preceded her in death.  She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Loren Fink of Trafalgar IN, her mother, Arlene Whitehurst of Terre Haute IN, her siblings, Dennis Whitehurst of Vallejo CA, Linda Hartke of Wheeler IL, and Thomas Whitehurst of Terre Haute Indiana, her children, Dr. Brett Fink of Carmel Indiana, and Todd Fink of St. Paul MN, and four grandchildren Alexis and Laurel Fink of Carmel, IN and Madison and Simon Fink of St. Paul, MN.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
(Submitted by Kim Torp)






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