> SOUTHERN INDIANA — The song: “School days, school days, dear old Golden Rule days” still rings true today as it did back in 1907 when written by Will Cobb and Gus Edwards. The new school year has just begun and children are being assessed as to where they stand in their learning and what skills need to be strengthened. While on a recent research trip to Boston, I was searching a book, “Early Church Records of New Castle County, Delaware Volume 2, the Records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church Wilmington Delaware 1713-1799” translated by Horace Burr, where I knew my family attended. Among all the births, marriages, baptisms, and deaths I came across something unexpected. Among all these records was, 1717, June 17,  Mr. Gioding began holding school in Johan Gustafsson’s house, the pastor examined the children as to their proficiency: 1. Gustaf Johan Gustafson, 9 years old, can read his catechism tolerably well, and also answers very well various questions of christian [sic] instruction. 2. Peter Johan Gustafsson, 7 years old, recites the 10 commandments [sic] tolerably well. 3. Mary Geens, 9 years old, can read Swedish and say the ten commandments. {sic] 4. Gustaf Mans Gustafsson, 7 years old, can read Swedish tolerably well. 5. Mans Gustaf’s daughter Annika, 6 years old, can spell Swedish tolerably well. 6. Anders Gustaf’s daughter Catherina, 12 years old, can read in a book, but must begin to learn to spell right. 7. Peter Stalcop Johansson’s son, 5 years old, knows the letters. 8. Margaretta, the late Peter Stalcop’s daughter, 11 years old, reads Swedish indifferently well, but must learn to spell anew. 9. Thomas Davis, 11 years old, can spell Swedish a little. 10. Annika, Anders Gustaf’s daughter, 8 years old, can spell a little. 11. Ante Vainan’s son Lars, 7 years old, knows the letters.  None of these are my ancestors but what fun it is to learn about these people who lived in the vicinity of my own family almost 300 years ago and about the children who were also starting their school year.





NEW TO THE INDIANA ROOM OF THE NEW ALBANY-FLOYD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Books: Family Maps of Warrick County, Indiana; Dubois County, IN, Marriages 1955-1978; Dubois County, IN, Cemetery Directory; Indiana Pioneer Stories, Volumes I & II; Jacobi/Baumgardner Family Genealogy of the Chew Family; Descendants of Samuel Greer and Rebecca Howard Greer; The Descendents of John Geswein and Catherine Hahn; Joseph M. Nicholson and Mary Ann Graves: Distinguishing their line of descent through their son, Zachariah Nicholson and his wife, Jane Roberts and through their grandson, Zachariah T. Nicholson and his wife, Adaline Fordyce of Wood Township, Clark County.  



QUERIES

BYBEE/BILBY/BIBA, RILEY

Allen Bybee/Biby/ Biba, and Mary Ann (Polly) Riley were issued a marriage license in Oct 1818 at Corydon, Harrison County, IN. Mary Ann Bibee appears in the 1850 census for Harrison County along with what appears to be her children. Allen is not shown, possibly deceased by this time. There are also records in the 1820 census as well as the 1840 census in neighboring counties for what appears to be the same family. Please contact Jan Flowers, 1793 U.S. Highway 220, Stokesdale, NC 27357 or by e-mail at jflowers5@ triad.rr.com



CASSIDY, DOUGHERTY, DAUGHERTY, HANKINS, FARREN

Information is needed on these families in the southern Indiana area. Please contact Mary Miller, 307 N. F St., Indianola, IA 50125 or by e-mail at Romarmia@msn.com.



Zuverink is a past president of the Southern Indiana Genealogical Society. Queries are free and must include both a date to establish a time period and a location where the people lived. Please submit queries to: Vicky Zuverink, 3834 Dogwood Road, Floyds Knobs, Indiana 47119-9359 or by e-mail at bzuveri@bellsouth.net.