YEs, there are several Gigandets in and around Darke county. I have a web page which includes the Gigandets at www.kiva.net/~jweber On Wed, 23 Apr 2003, CJ Lisa wrote: > Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 12:55:17 -0400 > From: CJ Lisa <cjlisa@worldnet.att.net> > Reply-To: CJ Lisa <cjlisa@att.net> > To: OHDARKE-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [OHDARKE] > Resent-Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 10:56:38 -0600 > Resent-From: OHDARKE-L@rootsweb.com > > Isn't Darke County, Ohio near Goshen, Geneva, Berne, Indiana, on the border? > Is the county also a Mennonite / Annabaptist area for Germans, Swiss and > others? > > I received the above from someone when referencing my father's surname and > that a cluster of Gigandet had gone from Belfort, FR to Darke County. Can > anyone tell me whether the above is true or accurate? It would be > interesting for me to know. > > Unfortunately I have not been able to validate my family connection to Darke > Cty as I am unable to get family date past my grandfather, but do believe > that there is some connection. My family is from Vendlincourt, Switz. which > is only 19 miles from Belfort. However, I am interested in any background > for when I am able to make a connection. > > Thank you very much. > Claire > > > > ==== OHDARKE Mailing List ==== > Contact the OHDARKE List administrator at OHDARKE-admin@rootsweb.com > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/usa/OH/darke.html > Subscribe, unsubscribe, view list archives, etc. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Isn't Darke County, Ohio near Goshen, Geneva, Berne, Indiana, on the border? Is the county also a Mennonite / Annabaptist area for Germans, Swiss and others? I received the above from someone when referencing my father's surname and that a cluster of Gigandet had gone from Belfort, FR to Darke County. Can anyone tell me whether the above is true or accurate? It would be interesting for me to know. Unfortunately I have not been able to validate my family connection to Darke Cty as I am unable to get family date past my grandfather, but do believe that there is some connection. My family is from Vendlincourt, Switz. which is only 19 miles from Belfort. However, I am interested in any background for when I am able to make a connection. Thank you very much. Claire

Claire, Geneva and Berne are located in Adams County, Indiana, just inside the Indiana-Ohio state line. Geneva and Berne are about 40 miles north/northwest of Greenville, Ohio ( the county seat of Darke County ). Goshen is located in Elkhart County, Indiana, in the very northern part of the state ( almost to the Michigan border ). Goshen is about 130 miles northwest of Greenville, Ohio. Someone else on the DCO List will have to help you with your other question about the Mennonite and Anabaptist settlers in Darke County. My Darke County ancestors were Methodist and EUB. Sharon Butsch Freeland Superior, Boulder County, Colorado .

GREETINGS, FOLKERTH RESEARCHERS The plan is to print a limited number of copies based on order requests. Please reply to my email address ( NOT TO THE LIST ) if you would like to order a copy and I will put you in touch with the preparer. All requests received before 1 May 2003 will be assured a copy. The minutes of Folkerth Family Reunions held in the Miami Valley of Ohio from 1908 thru 1960 have been transcribed and are ready for printing. These reunions brought together the descendents of Christopher Folkerth, Martin Fulker, and Peter Fulker. Christopher was b ca 1736, immigrated in 1754 and lived in Chester County, Pennsylvania and Frederick County, Maryland. Four of Christopher’s sons moved to the Miami Valley of Ohio in the early 1800s. Martin was b ca 1796 and arrived Maryland ca 1819. Peter was b 1802 and arrived Maryland ca 1825. Both Martin and Peter moved to the Miami Valley. Alternate new world spellings of the surname include Folkerth, Folkert & Folker as well as Fulkerth, Fulkert & Fulker. A Folkerth Family Reunion was held in most years from 1908 thru 1960. Attendance ranged as high as 100 people. Most reunions were held at the Darke County Fairgrounds or in homes around Greenville, but reunions also were held in or near Ludlow Falls, Covington, West Milton, West Manchester, Bradford and Dayton … all in Ohio. Reunion minutes often included an attendance list, officer list, a treasurer’s report and notations about family deaths since the previous meeting. The home location sometimes was noted for out-of-town family members; including Michigan, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and the Dakotas. The book is typed in large text for easy reading and will be soft-bound. The book contains more than 100 pages of information plus a six-page index. DICK FOLKERTH Dallas, Texas rfolkerth@aol.com

The Greenville Democrat, 1895, Vol.XIII "HARTZEL, Baby, inf. son of J.T., died March 6th, funeral conducted by Rev. Bowers. Obit by A.V.V." Transcribed from Newspaper Death Records, Darke County, OH, 1892-1898, Vol.IV.

The Greenville Democrat, 1893 Vol.XIII "HARTZELL, Juliann, born in Abbottstown, adams [sic] Co, Penn; 10-21-1809, from the parentage of Mary and Henry Harman. Baptism at the age of 16; in 1823 mar. Philip Hartzell by Rev. Jonathan Ruthrauff; to this union were born 4 sons, and 5 daughters, all survive but 1 daughter. Leaves; 24 gr.ch. and 8 gr.gr. ch. and 1 sister. In 1836 lived at Beamsville, about the year of 1846 with her husband became a member of St. Paul's Reformed Church of Greenville, Ohio; remained a member until death aged 83yr, 7mo, 16da. Funeral service at the St. Paul's Reformed Church Thursday conducted by Pastor and ass't by Rev. R. B. Reichard; text used is found Isa. 40-41. Obit. W.E.L." Transcribed from page 18, Newspaper Death Records, Darke County, OH, 1892-1898, Vol.IV.

The Greenville Democrat, Wednesday Morning, December 2, 1903, "Local Items." The dead body of Frank Hartzell, aged about 25, son of Albert Hartzell, was found Monday morning against the fence down the embankment along Pan Handle railway about 3 miles east of Greenville. He was deaf and supposed to have been walking on the track the night before and was struck by a train. His body was not mangled but many bones were broken. His remains were brought to Greenville in the afternoon in charge of the Sheriff.

Hello All, The updated Darke County OH Researchers Get-Together, "ListFest 2003," pages are now online. It's a little over a month away (June 21, 2003) so mark your calendars and plan to attend! On the web page you can check the date, place, time, activities, places to stay and places to research during your time in Darke County. We are hoping to see as many of you as possible this year. It's really such fun to finally be able to meet those with whom you've corresponded for such a long time. Go to http://www.dcoweb.org/listfest/listfest.htm for the latest information. Please bookmark this page! Hope to see YOU there! --Jane Barr Torres

June: After your reminder, last night I checked the 1860-1880 censuses.... No sign of them in 1860, so these FORTs must have arrived after the 1860 census. In 1870 I found them listed. In the transcribed version I used there is a note at the beginning of Allen Township which read "1st seven families at end of Wabash". Your FORTs were among those 1st seven families listed for Allen Twp so I am not sure what that really meant except that the person who entered the names on the census form may have started at the end of Wabash but was recording Allen Twp??? This is what the transcribed 1870 census showed: FORT, Stephen 62 m NJ Elenor 54 f NJ Winfield 18 m OH Johile 15 m OH (obviously hard to read <grin>) George 13 m OH Daniel 10 m OH Yeah! Your Daniel was a younger brother of Winfield!!!! 1851-1898 Darke Co. Marriages (page 93 of transcribed version published by the Darke Co. Genealogical Society in 1985): Daniel Y Fort to Mollie Viets 4 Dec 1880 by C W Wheeler, JP G W Fort to Lydia A Stewart 15 Dec 1881 by Robert Ross, MG J D Fort to Roseann Culbertson 24 Dec 1876 by A G Clark, JP W S Fort to Lydia P Clark 11 Feb 1875 by S J Houston, JP A G Clark was Abner G Clark who was Lydia P CLark's father. That's basically the family. Now from the 1880 census we get an even better picture of "J D". Karen already sent you some of this.... 1880 Census (places: 1st is where person was born; 2nd is where person's father was born; 3rd was where perwson's mother was born) Allen Township: FORT, Stephen 72 m NJ Eng NJ Eleanor 63 f NJ NJ NJ George W 23 m NJ NJ NJ Daniel 21 m NJ NJ NJ [several houses away] FORT, Joseph 25 m OH NJ NJ laborer [living with family of Michael Pifer age 38] Brown Township: FORT, Rosean 20 f OH PA PA [living with father Sam Culbertson age 53] Wabash Township FORT, Daniel 21 m OH OH OH laborer (obviously counted twice; where he was working, they didn't know where his parents were from <grin>) FORT, Winfield 27 m OH NJ NJ Lydia 26 f Ia OH OH (this is wrong; her mother was actually born in Indiana) Bertha L 4 f OH OH Ia At 4/14/03 07:19 AM -0400, you wrote: >Thanks for these inscriptions Wally --- >On these inscriptions --- then would Willis D be the son of Winfield and >Lydia? The JD and RA has thrown me for a loop..but >Stephen and Eleanor were my gg grandparents. > >June >kerryoh@sssnet.com > >from Boyd Cemetery, Darke Co., Ohio > FORT, Anna Mary dau of J D & R A d 8-21-1879 age 2y 3d > Willis D son of W S & L P d 5-17-1879 age 2y 2m 2d > Stephen L d 11-16-1886 age 78y 10m 5d > Eleanor d 3-5-1893 age 76y 6m 19d ================= wally@calweb.com

Please reply ONLY on the Board (link below): ============================================ This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/0VB.2ACE/217 Message Board Post: I have a turn of the century baby photograph of Elza Kley taken at C. M Hengen Photo Studio in Versailles, Ohio.

Good morning, The future for Ohio's public libraries (and your research facilities) continues to be in the hands of those in Columbus. The Ohio House of Rep. passed a budget which did NOT zero library funding...but it was not balanced. The Ohio Senate gets the budget at the end of April and is expected to pass "their version" (unknown) in May. We will be contacting Senators then. Because the House & Senate version will be different, it goes to a joint conference committee to hammer out a mutually agreed & balanced version. Then to the Gov. for signature by the end of June. Keep your fingers crossed! Susan -- Susan H. Kendall, Director Preble County District Library 450 S. Barron Street Eaton, OH 45320 voice: 937-456-4250 - fax: 937-456-6092 eLibrary: http://www.pcdl.lib.oh.us/

Could this be it? You can use Google.com, especially the Advanced Search portion, to find such things. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~clanboyd/page34.htm William BOYD donated land for the Old Brock Cemetery (Also known as BOYD Cemetery.). It is located in the southwest quarter of section 33, York Twp. State Rt. 127 adjoins it on the west (1 mile west of Brock, Ohio) ****** Boyd/Old Brock Cemetery, York Twp. Address: SR127. Other Information: Just north of SR185. ... -----Original Message----- From: June E. Hulit [mailto:kerryoh@sssnet.com] Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 10:39 AM To: OHDARKE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [OHDARKE] Hunting for Fort/Brock Cemetery Hello there: Am trying to research lineage on my mother's mother side of the family. Have been viewing the Darke County site and am very much impressed as to all the work several folks have done. It is incredible. My grandmother's name was Effie Jane Fort Geron. She and my grandfather lived in Clark County, OH. However, her father and mother are buried in (Old) Brock Cemetery. Their names were Daniel Y. Fort (b.02/4/1860 born in PA - d.8/19/25) and Mary Viets Fort (b. 08/18/1860 - d. 02/13/1936). I believe my grandmother's brother, Homer Fort is also buried in (old)Brock Cemetery. As a child I remember visiting (old) Brock Cemetery --- I saw a picture up it on your site and except for the trees that look bigger --- it looks very much the same. I just remember we would go over and visit the graves and it was on a very busy highway. Hope the "grave stones" are readable. So far I cannot find anything about my great grandparents on your site...but I am going to keep "searching" and hope to find something. Maybe I should try the Miami and Montgomery County sites? Any direction is appreciated --- if anyone is inclined to help this newbie. Thank you. June E. Hulit kerryoh@sssnet.com Wooster, OH (My cousin and I hope this get over there this summer and take pictures of the tombstones). ==== OHDARKE Mailing List ==== Contact the OHDARKE List administrator at OHDARKE-admin@rootsweb.com http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/usa/OH/darke.html Subscribe, unsubscribe, view list archives, etc. ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.463 / Virus Database: 262 - Release Date: 3/17/03 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.463 / Virus Database: 262 - Release Date: 3/17/03

Hello there: Am trying to research lineage on my mother's mother side of the family. Have been viewing the Darke County site and am very much impressed as to all the work several folks have done. It is incredible. My grandmother's name was Effie Jane Fort Geron. She and my grandfather lived in Clark County, OH. However, her father and mother are buried in (Old) Brock Cemetery. Their names were Daniel Y. Fort (b.02/4/1860 born in PA - d.8/19/25) and Mary Viets Fort (b. 08/18/1860 - d. 02/13/1936). I believe my grandmother's brother, Homer Fort is also buried in (old)Brock Cemetery. As a child I remember visiting (old) Brock Cemetery --- I saw a picture up it on your site and except for the trees that look bigger --- it looks very much the same. I just remember we would go over and visit the graves and it was on a very busy highway. Hope the "grave stones" are readable. So far I cannot find anything about my great grandparents on your site...but I am going to keep "searching" and hope to find something. Maybe I should try the Miami and Montgomery County sites? Any direction is appreciated --- if anyone is inclined to help this newbie. Thank you. June E. Hulit kerryoh@sssnet.com Wooster, OH (My cousin and I hope this get over there this summer and take pictures of the tombstones).

This came in to the Preble Co. list and is well worth sharing. I hope those who live in OH will contact legislators and try to stop these cuts. This could start happening in other states too. Karen -----Original Message----- From: Susan Kendall [mailto:skendall@infinet.com] Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 7:41 AM To: PREBLE_CO_OH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Losing research libraries Hi, If you live in Ohio you may want to draw your attention to the proposed state budget by the House of Rep. -- it eliminates ALL funding for public libraries, which means no places to research genealogy. If passed we could close as soon as July 1st. I'm not trying to be political here...just informing. Please feel free to spread the word. Susan -- Susan H. Kendall, Director Preble County District Library 450 S. Barron Street Eaton, OH 45320 voice: 937-456-4250 - fax: 937-456-6092 eLibrary: http://www.pcdl.lib.oh.us/ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.463 / Virus Database: 262 - Release Date: 3/17/03

Hi, If you live in Ohio you may want to draw your attention to the proposed state budget by the House of Rep. -- it eliminates ALL funding for public libraries, which means no places to research genealogy. If passed we could close as soon as July 1st. I'm not trying to be political here...just informing. Please feel free to spread the word. Susan -- Susan H. Kendall, Director Preble County District Library 450 S. Barron Street Eaton, OH 45320 voice: 937-456-4250 - fax: 937-456-6092 eLibrary: http://www.pcdl.lib.oh.us/

Hello, everyone: I am currently working to compile a list of destroyed courthouses in Ohio. Destruction usually occurred through fire, but some were destroyed by other means as well. I haven't found any records of such disasters in Darke County. Am I correct, or can anyone provide information about any catastrophes that destroyed genealogically valuable records in Darke County? Thanks, Suzann :)

I found this in some Darke County materials. It is a folded, unsigned note recalling a dream, dated March 20, 1928. "I Dreamed that me and father was in the road where WAYMAN WRIGLE saw the white covered wagon in the lane (.) He turned his head there were no wagon there and I were riding old letch when he looked around and no wagon was there. me and father were at the same place (.) father said to me ride strait to the back side of the fild (.) i road thru a bunch of bushes the horse frighted at something and turned back (.) i looked to sea what frighted the horse (.) I saw a red how S W point at me (.) I thurned back and went to father at the road where i started from (.) at the road i said to him what dose this mean(?) I were still rideing old letch our old home horse and father disapeared and left me." Maybe someone will want the reference to Wayman Wrigle. Sharon Mills

Good morning, Wow, I'm amazed how quickly some of you have responded to me about your research needs! I realize we all have those "pesky brick wall" ancestors and continue to search for sources to answer questions. I am glad to bring to the ListFest what we own to help you. I cannot, as much I would like to, take time to research specific questions. Obviously I did not make myself clear. Please send me state, county & time frame types of needs. For example: Butler Co., Ohio cemeteries or PA 1800 census index. Again, do not respond to the list...send to my address: skendall@infinet.com. Thanks, Susan -- Susan H. Kendall, Director Preble County District Library 450 S. Barron Street Eaton, OH 45320 voice: 937-456-4250 - fax: 937-456-6092 eLibrary: http://www.pcdl.lib.oh.us/

Hi, I would like to respond to Jane's comment about the stuff I have brought to the listfest in the past. Certainly, I will be glad to bring things again. In the past I have focused the materials on Darke Co. and some early statewide sources. But, I am open to other book requests. If you've been wondering if your ancestor was in Montgomery, Preble, Butler or need a statewide census index from Virginia (for example) let me know. I'd like it to be useful to you. So as not to fill the list with you requests, please e-mail directly: skendall@infinet.com Thanks, Susan -- Susan H. Kendall, Director Preble County District Library 450 S. Barron Street Eaton, OH 45320 voice: 937-456-4250 - fax: 937-456-6092 eLibrary: http://www.pcdl.lib.oh.us/

Hi Folks, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!!! It's time to really begin to get the ball rolling on this year's ListFest. As many of you know, we have an annual get-together of Darke Co. researchers in Greenville. This is your opportunity to actually get to know many of the people you have been talking to for many months. We all bring our research and compare notes, etc., eat quite an enjoyable luncheon and just generally have a great time! In the past, Susie Kendall has brought a large number of area research books from the Preble Co. Library where she is the Director. I hope that she will be able to do this again. We often have local authors attending (who hopefully have brought along a few books in case we would like to buy one) and usually members of the Darke County Genealogical Society are in attendence. Last year the Society brought some hard to find items to sell and as I understand, were most pleased with the results. If things work out as planned, we will also be having an award-winning digital photo restoration expert giving a short program. WHEN: Saturday, June 21st 2003 WHERE: Shawnee Prairie Preserve, St. Rt. 502, Greenville, OH WHAT: ListFest 2003 - e-mail list get-together and carry-in ADDITIONAL: Anyone with an interest in Darke County genealogy and history is invited. As in former years, we will be having a carry-in luncheon around noon BUT this year we will discuss having it catered in 2004 if we vote to continue next year. Tom has informed me that the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure will be returning to Greenville from Brookville on the same day as the ListFest. This COULD make lodging difficult so I would suggest if you will need a motel to think about making your reservations soon! ListFest List: We also have an e-mail list devoted to discussion and planning of the ListFest. If you would like to subscribe, send me a personal e-mail (to jetorres@indiana.edu) and I'll subscribe you. You can read about last year's ListFest and watch for further updates at: http://www.dcoweb.org/listfest/listfest.htm HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL IN JUNE! --Jane Torres