Important Local Genealogy Resources
By: Sherri Bonham
Whenever I receive a request for information about early residents of Hamilton County, the first book I go to is the Hamilton County, Indiana index of names of persons and of firms compiled by the U. S. Works Progress Administration in 1940. This book indexes the names of people included in the following local histories:
- Carmel centennial committee 1837-1937 or Celebrate Carmel sesquicentennial, 1837-1987
- Cicero centennial committee; Cicero Fall Festival and Centennial, 1935
- History of Hamilton County, Indiana by John F. Haines, 1915
- History of Hamilton County, Indiana by Thomas B. Helm, 1890
- The People’s guide: a business, political and religious directory of Hamilton Co., Indiana, by Thomas B. Helm, 1874
- Portrait and biographical record of Madison and Hamilton counties, Indiana 1893
- History of the formation, settlement and development of Hamilton County, Indiana by Augustus Shirts, 1901
- Reminiscences of the long ago…historical sketch of the early settlement of Bethlehem, now Carmel and vicinity, approximately 1911.
This is a vital resource because one can look up a name and find several references to that person who may have lived in any township in the county. These books also include stories of the early settlement and development of the county, as well as names of men and boys who served in the Civil War.
The index may lead to an article about a community leader that includes his place of birth, members of his family and his profession, and the marriages of his children. It may list if he served in government or helped to establish a church. It may list his profession and place of business.
I know these images are not very visually appealing – but to a genealogy or local history researcher – they are gold!
You can view this great resource anytime the library is open and on Family History Day, October 12!