I just came across some new information that I want to follow up on yesterday! I have not yet located a convenient place to view Ionia newspapers (except for some select editions at the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library) so am open to any suggestions--I live in the Detroit area. Would anyone be doing newspaper research in some of the more recent years who would be willing to do a lookup or two for me? I am looking for obituaries and/or any further info on two key people, these dates are from the cemetery sexton, Dale Hammond, of the Woodard Lake Cemetery: Bessie May/Mae Whipple died/buried December 29, 1987 Bertha (Freeman) Thayer died/buried January 25, 1975 Anyone willing to do these lookups, I will gladly cover the expenses. Alternatively, if you could suggest a way that I could reasonably access them from the Detroit area, that would be wonderful. I am open to suggestions and really itching to get hold of these obits. Thanks in advance, Valerie (Stoddard) Curren ValerieCurren@aol.com

Hello listers! Jan Cortez has been busy putting the information that has been transcribed by many special volunteers on our website! Stop in and take a look at the birth index. Visit it often...The letter "K" is on line now and the letter "F" is in the works. It won't be long and they will all be on line. Many thanks to those of you who volunteered to help with this project! Couldn't have done it without you! Pam Swiler, President Ionia County Genealogical Society http://www.rootsweb.com/~miionia/Ionbirth.html

In a message dated 6/16/01 2:01:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time, MIIONIA-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: > Is anyone going to the Ionia Courthouse in the near future? I am in > > Virginia and need desperately for someone to check a marriage record I > . I recently was looking to see what might be available at a local Family History Center, and found birth, death, and marriage records available via microfilm. The indexes go from the early to mid 1800s until 1974 and the actual records are viewable through 1903-1909 depending on the type of record. Check to see if their is a center in your area and you may be able to access this item yourself. Here's the website <A HREF="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp">FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service.</A> Best Wishes, Valerie (Stoddard) Curren ValerieCurren@aol.com

Is anyone going to the Ionia Courthouse in the near future? I am in Virginia and need desperately for someone to check a marriage record I found on the DiBean Marriage Records on the Ionia Web Site. The record is for Ashael J. ROOT and Merrett GOODSELL, Oct. 25, 1867. I believe this Merritt is one of my "missing people" and is Marietta Goodsell. What I need is for someone to look at the record and see if her parents are listed and if so, was her father named George Goodsell (Boston Twp.). Her mother was named Sallie and her birthplace should be New York. With my luck, her parents are probably listed as "unknown"!! <g> I haven't been able to pick up any trail on them in the years following their marriage in Ionia, so possibly they may have lived elsewhere. Thanks for any help provided. Jane Goodsell Dear Folks, I live in Ionia County. I am researching one of my wifes families, the Stockfords. I've noticed in the 1875, Odessa twp plat book the following, "A.J. Root Store & Post Office". Apparently A.J. Root was the postmaster, but I'm not sure. It was usually the ways things happened in those days. They were living in a place called Algodon [say al-ga-don]. This was just little place at the intersection of Clinton Trail and Jackson rd. It had mail delivery from about 1863 to 1899. Some of our relatives were postmasters. Clinton trail was an old, old Indian pathway. I'm not sure if had a stage coach for sure. It is just east of Clarksville another burgh. Clarksville survives. But there is nothing left of Algodon. I don't thin even a foundation in a field. There might be two houses. That about all. My wifes relatives were the Stockfords who lived across the road, that is on Jackson rd. I am researching for some other Stockford researchers. Do you know anything of Algodon? Gary Veale vealehaven@earthlink.net

Jane, I can go look up the Root-Goodsell marriage for you. I do know that a Carrie Goodsell, who died at the age of 9 yrs/9 mo./7 days in 1886 is buried in the Saranac Cemetery, Ionia County, MI. Is this possibly relation? Her death happens to be on a photocopied page from the cemetery records that also has one of my ancesrtors on it. Sue Carpenter

Jane, I live in Washington (state). When I was looking for an 1880 marriage, also from the Dibean list, I called the Ionia County Clerk's Office. They were very helpful. I followed up with a letter telling them what I needed. They charged a nominal fee, I believe it was $1 for a copy of the marriage papers. I am sure that did not cover their time, postage or copy paper. It certainly helped me to find the family in Ionia County. It should be worth your time to contact them. Nona ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jane Goodsell" <goodsell@infi.net> To: <MIIONIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 3:38 AM Subject: Re: Look up > Is anyone going to the Ionia Courthouse in the near future? I am in > > Virginia and need desperately for someone to check a marriage record I > found on the DiBean Marriage Records on the Ionia Web Site. > > The record is for Ashael J. ROOT and Merrett GOODSELL, Oct. 25, > 1867. I believe this Merritt is one of my "missing people" and is > Marietta Goodsell. What I need is for someone to look at the record and > > see if her parents are listed and if so, was her father named George > Goodsell (Boston Twp.). Her mother was named Sallie and her birthplace > should be New > York. With my luck, her parents are probably listed as "unknown"!! > <g> I haven't been able to pick up any trail on them in the years > following their marriage in > Ionia, so possibly they may have lived elsewhere. > > Thanks for any help provided. > > Jane Goodsell > > > > > > > ==== MIIONIA Mailing List ==== > Visit Jansdigs @ http://www.jansdigs.com > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history > learning and how-to articles on the Internet. > http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library >

Is anyone going to the Ionia Courthouse in the near future? I am in Virginia and need desperately for someone to check a marriage record I found on the DiBean Marriage Records on the Ionia Web Site. The record is for Ashael J. ROOT and Merrett GOODSELL, Oct. 25, 1867. I believe this Merritt is one of my "missing people" and is Marietta Goodsell. What I need is for someone to look at the record and see if her parents are listed and if so, was her father named George Goodsell (Boston Twp.). Her mother was named Sallie and her birthplace should be New York. With my luck, her parents are probably listed as "unknown"!! <g> I haven't been able to pick up any trail on them in the years following their marriage in Ionia, so possibly they may have lived elsewhere. Thanks for any help provided. Jane Goodsell

Hi to all of you who asked me about those Ionia High School Yearbooks that I hope to get hold of. I just spoke with a librarian at the Ionia Public Library who was most helpful with information. She said that they have most editions of the Ionia High School Yearbooks (especially the older years!) there and could provide the copies for the copying fee (25cents/page) plus postage. The best way to get the information is to write to them with a list of people and the years they would be represented. Apparently underclassmen, as well as Seniors, were included in the Yearbooks. Also enclose a self-addressed-stamped-envelope for the return documents. Here is the contact info... Ionia Public Library 126 E. Main Ionia, MI 48846 616-527-3680 email ion@lakeland.lib.mi.us web searchable catalog here www.lakeland.lib.mi.us/ionia Also, if you want their copying service for obituaries and other newspaper announcements you need to provide the exact publication date. Otherwise, they would refer you to a local genealogist to do further hunting. They do not have the staffing level to permit "fact-finding" expeditions. Hope this may provide some insight to you, my fellow searchers. Best Wishes for your continued genealogical successes, Valerie (Stoddard) Curren ValerieCurren@aol.com

On a recent visit to the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library (<A HREF="http://www.detroit.lib.mi.us/burton/">Detroit Public Library - Burton Historical Collection</A>) I ran across the following wedding announcement in the Ionia Sentinel Standard Tuesday, June 25, 1935, edition (this paper serves Ionia County, MI--interested parties can use some of these searches: <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~miionia/">Search--Ionia County, MI Genealogy,</A> <A HREF="http://resources.rootsweb.com/USA/MI/Ionia/"> Ionia Co. MI,</A> <A HREF="http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/ionia1/">Ionia County GenWeb)</A> on page 3 under the heading Weddings. Ridgeway-Curran Miss Mary E. Curran, Keene township, and Howard R. Ridgeway, Lowell, were married at Lowell Saturday June 22, by Rev. Robert S. Miller, pastor of the First Methodist Church at Lowell.  They were attended by Alice Brown and Roy Flemming. Hope this may be of help to someone.  Blessings, Valerie (Stoddard) Curren ValerieCurren@aol.com

I've set up a new Ionia County Birth Index page - Now in addition to H & L Surnames being online - we also have I, Q, U, Y & Z. If you have an interest in these surnames - stop in and take a look. http://www.rootsweb.com/~miionia/Ionbirth.html The letter K is next up and then letter F. Hope you make a connection. Jan Cortez Ionia County Coordinator

Thank You Very Much! Thanks to your hard work I was able to find a divorce record that I had been looking for, for quite some time. Frank & Alta Townsend Thanks Again Chuck Townsend Clio, Michigan  ICQ# 4432153 <mailto:CDT3@PERCEPTIONET.COM> -----Original Message----- From: J. Cortez [mailto:cristian@netonecom.net] Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2001 1:40 AM To: MIIONIA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Ionia Divorces Are Done!! The rest of the S's are all online. So this job is completed. Thanks to Pam and Brenda for getting the job done. http://www.rootsweb.com/~miionia/iondiv.html And this great team of volunteers is way ahead of me on the births - so tomorrow that is what I will be doing. Hope to get a few letters online this weekend. Keep the faith - they're coming! Jan Cortez Ionia County Coordinator ______________________________

Just checked the site, what a terrific job you have done!!! THANK YOU!! Evelyn in Oregon > > The rest of the S's are all online. So this job is completed. Thanks to Pam and Brenda for getting the job done. >

What a great job you are all doing. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I just did a quick search and only looked at 3 links and found several things on my Sayles family.. Yes I have them already.. but what a nice thing for the next person searching for our Sayles family. It will be so easy for them. I wish some of the other groups were this well put together. Great Job.... Cheryl Do you know these people? <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/shirtail4/page1.html">Waivadaindex.html</A>

Thanks for your wonderful work ladies!!!! I can now find proof on Ken's grgrandparents marriage and divorces. Yup, grandma married and divorced 2 times!!!! Wonderful job. Happy Summer! Teresa Leak Sweet Vice Pres., Ionia Co. Genealogical Society tree@pathwaynet.com or sweets@pathwaynet.com Member: First Families and Sebewa Association of Ionia Co., MI Researching: BAILIFF, CARPENTER, CURTIS, LEAK, MAKIN, SHIPMAN, MEYERS AND MYERS in Barry, Eaton and Ionia Co., MI

The rest of the S's are all online. So this job is completed. Thanks to Pam and Brenda for getting the job done. http://www.rootsweb.com/~miionia/iondiv.html And this great team of volunteers is way ahead of me on the births - so tomorrow that is what I will be doing. Hope to get a few letters online this weekend. Keep the faith - they're coming! Jan Cortez Ionia County Coordinator

In a message dated 6/5/01 3:02:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time, MIIONIA-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: > Could someone on this list please give me the name and contact information > of the Sexton for Green(e) Cemetery (I've also seen it called "Green's > Corner Cem."), Orleans TWP -- a couple miles due east of Belding? > > Here's what the cemetery (<A HREF="http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/ionia1/sextons.htm">sextons</A>) page said for these two Orleans Township cemeteries. Since I have not yet visited Ionia County, I'm not sure which of these may bee the one to which you referred. However, it appears that you would deal with the same person either way. Greenop (Orleans/Hurd) Cemetery is located in Sections 15 and 16 on Orleans Road in Orleans. Kitty Bigler 3175 W. Belding Rd. Orleans, MI 48865 616-761-3145 Green Cemetery is located in Section 17 on Johnson Road in Orleans (about 3 miles east of the city of Belding). Kitty Bigler 3175 W. Belding Rd. Orleans, MI 48865 616-761-3145 Hope this will be helpful to you. Best Wishes, Valerie (Stoddard) Curren ValerieCurren@aol.com

Just an added thought about the next ICGS meeting (Saturday, June 9th at 1:00)...since the topic is newsletters, we are asking anyone who already does a family newsletter, and who plans to attend the meeting, to bring a copy of it along to share with others. It will be fun to see what folks are already doing and get ideas from one another. Pam Swiler, President Ionia County Genealogical Society

We are looking for Ionia County area folks who would like to work on the First Families of Ionia County Society Committee. If you are interested, contact Jim Moses at jmoses@mvcc.com for details. We meet once a month on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Currently we are meeting at the Lake Odessa Historical Society Depot Museum, but sometimes we meet at my home. There are many parts of the First Families Committee - some complicated, some not. What you will do is have a good time with some great people and be a part of one of the fastest growing parts of the Ionia County Genealogical Society. Some of the tasks that we do are as follows: -approve applications -input data into the computer for the website -organize the annual banquet -create certificates -photocopying materials when we get requests -creating program for the banquet -setting up entertainment for banquet -and all other things as deemed appropriate (where have you heard THAT one before!) :-) -etc, etc., etc Each of these tasks takes several people working together to complete them and we would love to have you become an active part of this group. So, if you live in Ionia County, or nearby, and would like to help out - let us know! Thank you in advance for your continued support, Pam Swiler, President Ionia County Genealogical Society

The next meeting of the Ionia County Genealogical Society will be held on Saturday, June 9th at 1:00 p.m. at the Lake Manor Apartments Community Room. The Manor is located on Emerson Street in Lake Odessa, MI, just south of the fairgrounds, and west of the Depot Museum where we used to meet. The library will be open to researchers following the meeting until 5:00 p.m. I realize that some of you live too far away to attend, but if you are in the area, we would love to have you join us at this very informative meeting. The guest speaker will be John R. Waite, President of the Lake Odessa Area Historical Society, who will speak on Compiling Your Family Newsletter. John speaks from many years of experience and I am sure will share some helpful tips to those who wish to start a newsletter, or those who already have one in progress. Also, I would like to invite you to join us at the Grand Rapids Public Library on Saturday, June 23rd at 9:00 a.m. until about 5:00 p.m. We will be taking a day trip there to do research. Those leaving from the Lake Odessa area are welcome to car pool with us - just contact me and I will set it up for you. The library staff has been kind enough to give us a short tour of their collection when we arrive. If you plan to attend, please let me know so I can tell them how many will be there. Thank you for your time and I hope to see you all soon! Pam Swiler, President Ionia County Genealogical Society

Could someone on this list please give me the name and contact information of the Sexton for Green(e) Cemetery (I've also seen it called "Green's Corner Cem."), Orleans TWP -- a couple miles due east of Belding? Thank you. Best Regards, Sally BOLSTER HOLCOMBE <holcombejr@mindspring.com> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Researching: California -- BOLSTER, DALANDER. ESTABROOK, HENNAGIN, HOLCOMBE Canada -- ESTABROOK, JAYCOX Connecticut -- ALVORD, CONVERSE, ELITHORPE, HOLCOMBE, WEEKS Cornwall, Eng. -- DAVEY, EDDY, EDWARDS, MENHENNICK, POLKINGHORNE, RODDA, WEBB, WHITE, WILLIAMS, WOLFE Devon, Eng. -- BOLSTER, HOLCOMBE Cumbria, Eng. -- SATTERTHWAITE, TURNER Indiana -- BOLSTER, LAWHEAD Illinois -- BOLSTER, REYNOLDS Massachusetts -- ALVORD, BIDWELL, CHILDS, BOLSTER, BULLARD, ESTABROOK, GRANT, HATHAWAY, WEEKS Michigan -- ALVORD, BIDWELL, BODENSTEIN, BOLSTER, CHILDS, CONVERSE, DAVEY, EDDY, EDWARDS, MENHENNICK, POLKINGHORNE, REYNOLDS, RODDA, STOKESBURY, WEBB, WEEKS, WHITE, WHITNEY, WILLIAMS, WOLFE New York -- ALVORD, BODENSTEIN, BOLSTER, CAREY, CHILDS, DELANEY, HOLCOMBE, JAYCOX, LEWIS, LYON, MERTZ, WARREN, WEEKS, WELLS North Carolina -- HARVEY (Quaker) Ohio -- BOLSTER, HARVEY (Quaker), LAWHEAD, STOKESBURY Pennsylvania -- BOLSTER, LAWHEAD, MERTZ, WELLS Rhode Island -- BOLSTER, TUCKER Vermont -- BOLSTER, CONVERSE, ELITHORPE, HOLCOMBE, LYON, SMITH Washington -- BOLSTER * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *