Monroe County (Indiana) Commissioners' Book C, p. 275. March Term of Commissioners, 1837, 1st day Van Buren Township Now is presented the petition of sundry citizens praying that a new township be laid off composed of a part of Richland and Indian Creek townships and to be composed and to include all of Township Eight North of Range Two West in Monroe County, Indiana. Whereupon the matter is considered of by the board after which ordered that the prayer of said petitioners be granted as by them requested. That there be and is hereby ordered, an election township to be organized and composed of and including all of Congressional Township Eight as aforesaid. That said township be known and designated by the name and style of Van Buren Township. That an election be held therein on the 3rd day of April next for the purpose of electing two justices of the peace for said township. That said election be held at the house of Coonrod Kern (difficult to read) and that he be appointed inspector of the same.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Herald-Times, August 1, 2015, p. D3. NOTE: The item below was abstracted by Randi Richardson from the original that was accompanied by eight photographs. In the 1940 Bloomington City Directory, Edward F. Melcher was identified as the owner of the home. He was an Estimator for the Shawnee Stone Co. The 1945-46 Bloomington City Directory, Andrew C. and Mabel Levaggi, resided at the address. The 1925 Dutch Colonial, brick home for sale at 430 S. Clifton Avenue is described as an updated historic home in Elm Heights. It has three bedrooms and 1/5 baths in 2,328 square feet of living space.

New Albany (IN) Evening Tribune, October 24, 1895, p. 4. Prof. Henry B. Gentry of Bloomington, and Miss Grace Clark, formerly of this city, were married last night at Bloomington. They left after the ceremony for California to spend several months. A number of guests were present from this city.

New Albany (IN) Evening Tribune, October 24, 1895, p. 4. Baxter Demaree and Orville McDowell, two well known young men of Bloomington, were arrested yesterday on charges of shoplifting. They confessed their guilt. Both intended going to Cuba to fight for her independence.

No source noted, penciled date of August 9 1920, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. STROKE ENDS LIFE OF MRS. HELLENER Dies at Hospital Sunday; Climax of Courageous Life Following a stroke of paralysis Saturday, Mrs. Sallie (consider Sally a spelling variant) Cherry Hellener, aged about 50, died Sunday at the hospital. Mrs. Hellener had a large number of friends in the city and they were shocked Sunday when the news of the death became generally known, as it was the first intimation they had received that Mrs. Hellener had been stricken. The stroke of paralysis that caused the end came shortly after noon Saturday and was caused from over work. Mrs. Hellener was taken to the hospital, but it was evident from the first that she could not recover. Mrs. Hellener was the daughter of Mrs. Anna Cherry, long a respected resident of Bloomington and who died only a few years ago. Mrs. Hellener's life was an example of fine courage. As a girl she was one of the prettiest and most popular young women of the city, but in early middle life she suffered a stroke of paralysis that left her a bad cripple. She was working at the Campbell & Son Company store at that time, but her physical condition did not daunt her, and when she had recovered to some extent she started a novelty store at her home on East Kirkwood Avenue. And in spite of her handicaps, she made a success of her business. Mrs. Hellener was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and Rev. Thomas R. Hanna, Jr., will come here from Champaign, Ill., to preacher the funeral service. The funeral will likely be held Tuesday from the Allen & Allen undertaking home.

No source or date noted, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. BURIAL OF MRS. CHESTER TAYLOR TOMORROW The funeral of Mrs. Chester Taylor will be at the home of her father, George B. Hanna, west of town, at one o'clock Thursday. The services will be in charge of Rev. Whitted as that was the desire of Mrs. Taylor as she was taken in the Methodist Church by him. Mrs. Fred Lane, a sister of Mrs. George Hanna from Chicago, and M. G. Hanna and wife of Kokomo, and Charles Hanna, a son from Fairfax, Minn., are expected for the burial. The pallbearers are: Winfred Moffatt, Archie Coan, George McDaniel, Marvin Hamilton, Lloyd Hamilton and Gorrell Oard.

No source or date noted, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. Date coincided with a reported of the death of Mrs. Chester Taylor. L. J. BROWN UNDERGOES DANGEROUS OPERATION L. J. Brown, the South Rogers street groceryman, was operated on at the City Hospital last evening for strangulation of the bowel by Dr. Gatch of Indianapolis (and) Drs. Batman and Wiltshire of this city. Mr. Brown is in a critical condition but is thought to show signs of improvement at noon today. He was stricken Monday.

No source noted, penciled date of March 29, 1931, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. Final tribute was paid Rassie E. Ranard, well known printer, in funeral rites held this afternoon at two o'clock from the First Baptist Church. The services were largely attended by members of the newspaper, fraternity and family friends. The Rev. Ray Banks of Bedford was in charge of the services and a mixed quartet composed of Miss Alice McHenry, Mrs. Clyde McHenry, Walter F. Woodburn and Wallace Franklin sang, accompanied by Mrs. Wallace Franklin on the organ. The sections were: "Asleep in Jesus," "Going Down the Valley," and "No Disappointment in Heaven." Interment was in the Old Unionville Cemetery. The following members of the Red Men lodge, of which the deceased was a member, acted as honorary pallbearers: Theodore Treadway, Ancil Sare, John Fisher, Dow Brock, B. R. Adams, and Thomas Isbell. Those who served as active pallbearers were: Bryon Shawver, Vernon Stover, John Neal, Elmer Abram, Warren Fielder and Henry Alexander. Flower bearers: Mable Crites, Wilma Beachler, Fanny Jackson, Maggie Brock, Betty Abrams and Lizzie Gillespie.

No source or date noted, probably about January 16, 1923, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. The funeral of Mrs. Mary Wantland, who died Tuesday morning, was from Charles Cooper home on Walker Street today at 10:30 in charge of Rev. Jones.

No source or date noted, probably about January 16, 1923, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. Ellen, the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Eads, was buried today at 10:30 at Ellettsville, services in charge of Rev. Hays.

N source or date noted, probably about January 16, 1923, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. Miss Narosa L. Allen whose death was reported yesterday, was buried at Maple Grove this afternoon, the services being in charge of Rev. Trusty. A brief service was held at the Modern Funeral Home at 12:30. The pall bearers: Ephraim Wahl, John Wampler, Morris Shaffer, Fred Dutton, Ralph Ridge and Lennie Ison (consider Isom a spelling variant) ----------------------------------------------------- No source noted, penciled date of January 15, 1923, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. DEATH OF MISS N. L. ALLEN; THE FUNERAL TOMORROW Miss Narsona L. Allen, age 39, died at the home of Lennie Ison, East 11th Street, last night after an illness from lung trouble of almost a year. Miss Allen spent some time with her sister in New Albany but, her health rapidly failing, she returned to Bloomington about a week ago, going to the Ison home. Those of the family who survive are: Homer Allen, a half brother; and Mrs. Cora Ducker and Miss Kate Allen, half sisters. Miss Allen was raised by the Dutton family north of town and was a member of the First Christian Church. Tomorrow at 12:30 brief services will be held at the Modern Funeral Home then the body will be taken to Maple Grove for burial at 2:30 in charge of Rev. Trusty. The pallbearers are: Ephraim Wahl, John Wampler, Morris Shaffer, Fred Dutton, Ralph Ridge and Lennie Ison.

No source or date noted, probably about January 16, 1923, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. The burial of Mabel, the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Brown, four miles west of Ellettsville, was today at eleven o'clock in the Ellettsville Cemetery.

No source noted, penciled date of January 16, 1923, from an unidentified scrapbook of clippings titled COLLECTION OF LOCAL MONROE COUNTY OBITS donated to the Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. LEE STRONG FOUND DEAD In ill health for some time, Lee Strong, a resident of East Second Street and well known in the city, was found dead in bed this morning by his wife. The cause was high blood pressure. Yesterday Mr. Strong seemed better than usual and last night about 9:30 when he retired was in good spirits, but his morning at 6:30, when he did not get up at the call of Mrs. Strong, she went to the bedside and found him dead. >From reports of Coroner Reed, he had evidently passed away about four o'clock. Mr. Strong was born and raised in Bloomington and was 45 years old, the son of Captain and Mrs. Robert Strong, (some) of the best known citizens of Bloomington. For a number of years he was a railroad man until out in Arizona he lost one of his legs. Returning to Bloomington, he conducted a restaurant and other kinds of business. The wife survives and also four children: Edmond, who is a senior in Wabash, Allen a senior in the local high school, and Margaret and Anna Lee; also the parents, Capt. and Mrs. Strong, and two brothers-Charles and Edgar. Mr. Strong was a man who had many friends and was popular and much respected by them. The funeral will likely be Thursday.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Courier, July 16, 1887, p. 4. NOTE: According to the Monroe County (IN) Divorce Index, Dulcenia (sic) Griffin was granted a divorce from William Griffin on September 14, 1887. State of Indiana, Monroe County, September Term 1887 Dulcina Griffin vs. William Griffin: Complaint No. - Now comes the plaintiff by R. W. Miers, her attorney, and files her complaint herein together with an affidavit of Robert Pryor that said defendant is not a resident of the State of Indiana. That said cause of action is for divorce. Notice is hereby given said defendant that unless he be and appear on the first day of the next term of the Monroe circuit court to be holden on the first Monday of September, A. D. 1887, at the courthouse in Bloomington in said county and state and answer or demur to said complaint, the same will be heard and determined in his absence. Witness my name and the seal of said court, affixed at Bloomington this 12th day of July, A. D., 1887. Enoch Fuller, Clerk, Monroe circuit court

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Courier, July 16, 1887, p. 4. THE OLDE PIONEER Give the Courier an Interesting Sketch The following is substantially the sketch as related to your correspondent by the old pioneer, John Armstrong of Salt Creek Township. I was born in Nelson County, Kentucky, October 1, 1800. Sometime in September 1816 I left for Indiana. We stopped in Jackson County that winter and I left there in February 1817. When the people asked us where we was moving, my uncle would answer "Section 36, North Range One West," then the territory of Orange County. We started from Jackson County about February 26, 1817, and was about five days reaching our destination, driving our cattle and hogs. We did not bring the family until March following. My mother's family and uncles came out on horseback. My uncle, Thomas Headdy, myself and another man made a couple of pirogues, loaded our household goods in them and came down White River to Salt Creek. There we camped, the creek being very high. The next morning I got breakfast, Headdy and Newton went hunting. I went to take the things in, when I fell in the creek. We came up the creek in our pirogues making slow progress up to the north of Clear Creek to the horseshoe bend. We got moved about April 1st. The county was then very thinly settled but some few raised corn in 1816. Their names to the best of my recollection were: William Jackson, Jonathan and Joseph Gilbert, Elias Swift, Jonathan Rains, Solomon Green, a Mr. Cox, James Bryant, William Patrick, John Saddler, Jonathan Chance, James Mitchell, Mr. White, Mr. Sharp, a family named Barnes, Mr. Bales, Mr. Leebo, Jonathan Rogers, Mr. Brown and his sons James and Bazal and Mr. Morgan. In the fall of 1816, Granville Ward, George Richey, Moses Williams, George Hedrick, Julius Dugger, Jack and Isaac Storms and a few others whose names I do not remember, came here. In the spring of 1817, the following persons emigrated here: William Newton, Thomas Headdy, Michael Buskirk, David Rogers, John Thompson, Sam Scott, John Smart, Bryson Miller, James Thompson, John Easlinger, several others we could mention if we had room, came the same year. Thomas Baker, William Nail (consider Neal and Neill as spelling variants), Christys, Lees and Andersons. If any of the above are living, I don't know it. If any are living, they are not here. When I came here the first Indian I saw was Capt. Wolf who was camped on Clear Creek, that was when we were moving our goods to horseshoe bend in the spring of 1817. I think I saw some more, but that spring they were moving off to their towns so I did not get to see many until fall when they moved back to hunt, then I got acquainted with many of them and was with them a good deal of the time. Among them was Little Duck Schooner, Joe Beaver, Big Boy, Joseph Williams and Blue Eagle, officers among them and big leader named Red Jacket and others. As to our first officers, John W. Lee was our first sheriff, being appointed to collect taxes and so on. Nothing progressed much but farming until 1818 when the first election was held at the residence of Solomon Green near Basin Springs. The officers elected were: clerk, William Lowe; sheriff Jesse Wright; county commissioners, 1st district, James Parks, 2 district, Michael Buskirk, 3rd district, Bartlett Woodward. There were three commissioners appointed by the State Legislature to locate a county seat, Col. Burcham of Jackson County and the other names I cannot recall. Bloomington was located in 1818. There was considerable dispute where the location should be, was finally settled by citizens contributing and buying a tract of land of David and Jonathan Rogers. Benjamin Parks was appointed town agent. To the county commissioners several different names for the new town were suggested. Bartlett Woodward suggested Bloomington and the other commissioners agreed with him and the place was so named. I think the court house was built in 1819. The building was made of logs and consisted of two rooms with a passageway between them. David McDonald was one of the first judges that presided. Among the first assistant judges were Lewis Noel, Michael Buskirk and Joseph Berry. Our way of getting a meal in early days was grinding on hand mills. John Whisnand (consider Whisenand a spelling variant) built the first horse mill in 1819, and it was worn by grinding day and night, Sunday not excepted. I once stayed at that mill one day and two nights before I could get my grinding. The first water mill was built by Col. John Ketcham, I think in 1820. About this time Robert Hamilton built a mill near Hamilton's Springs, the next was built near Mt. Tabor. The great hurricane came June 26 or 29, 1819, came late in the evening, averaged about three-quarters of a mile in width, in places it was a little wider. Its course was a little southeast, the tops of trees blown down lay to the northeast, where the timber was tough it fell as if twisted. No stock was killed except a horse owned by George Anderson. We had a horse injured but not killed. We had the first apples and peaches in the country. I bought seeds and sprouts from Kentucky in 1817. In early days the country abounded with wild animals such as bears, panthers, wolves, wildcats and such. Among the first county surveyors was William McCollough, Mr. Sedwick and a young Mr. Maxwell. The first school teacher in our county was Addison Smith. He taught school in the old courthouse. In 1821 Monroe County elected her first representative to the State Legislature. David H. Maxwell and John M. Jenkins were candidates, Maxwell was elected but don't recollect his majority. In regard to marriages, the first marriage license issued was issued to John Gooddin (consider Goodin and Gooden as spelling variants) and Hannah Bales. The first death in the county to the best of my knowledge was a man named Basket who lived down on Jack's Defeat. Ratliff Boone was the first congressman elected in the district in which Monroe County was located. The first vote I ever cast was for David H. Maxwell for representative. My first vote for governor of Indiana was cast for Jonathan Jennings, my first vote for president was cast for General Andrew Jackson and have never missed voting for president since, voting for every Democratic nominee. I cast my first vote for Ratliff Boone for congressman. My home has been in Monroe County ever since I first came here in 1817. J. B. E.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Herald-Times, July 25, 2015, p. D3. NOTE: The item below was abstracted from the original by Randi Richardson. The original was accompanied by eight photographs. The lovely, 2-story, all-brick home at 2516 E. Nottingham Ct., Bloomington, is being offered for sale. It consists of five bedrooms and 5 ½ baths in a 7,525 sq. foot living space on a one-acre lot. The listing agent is Erin Freund, Owens Realty Group.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Herald-Times, August 3, 2015, p. A3. NOTE: The item below was abstracted from the original by Randi Richardson. The original was accompanied by one photograph. The building where Suburban Lanes bowling at 2634 N. Walnut was once situated has sat empty for several years. It was purchased by George Schermer in 2014. Schermer is friends with Steve Birch who owns the Furniture Exchange business. Birch has been remodeling the bowling alley and will move his business to the new location in November 2015. His current location on South College was purchased by the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center in order to facilitate their expansion at a future date.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Courier, July 16, 1887, p. 1. E. P. Adams died on last Sunday after long suffering with a kidney disease. His life was insured for $1,000, and Capt. Mart Alexander was named in his will as executor. The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon under the auspices of the Odd Fellows. Mr. Adams was well known as a genial, whole-souled man who made many friends and but few enemies. His loss to this community is much to be regretted. Deceased was 47 years of age.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Courier, July 16, 1887, p. 1. Theo. (consider Theodore a spelling variant) D. Craven has returned from Wichita, Kan., where he had been looking after real estate for the past three months. He thinks Wichita is the greatest place in the West, and such was his faith in the city that he withdrew all his property from the market believing that this fall and winter would show a bigger boom than ever before.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Courier, July 16, 1887, p. 1. Trustee Thrasher has engaged the following named teachers in Van Buren Township: No. 1, Mary Freeze; No. 2, Nora Baker; No. 3, Alaska Eaton; No. 4, Stanford, E. P. Carpenter and Arie Eller; No. 5, Myrtla (sic) Umbarger; No. 6, Mathe (sic) Carter; No. 7. Thuston Smith.