Published: June 15, 2007 09:04 pm         

Genealogy: Attention families whose ancestors settled in Vincennes: Submit info to be part of book

In anticipation of the 275th Anniversary of the founding of Vincennes (1732-2007), the Northwest Territory Genealogical Society, the City of Vincennes, the Knox County Public Library, and the 275th Anniversary Committee are compiling a book of families who had settled the area around Post Vincennes by 1800. Individuals and families whose ancestors had settled in the Vincennes area before that date are urged to submit a family pedigree chart for inclusion in the book.

The Committee is asking participants for a four-generation pedigree chart that goes back to an early Vincennes ancestor. These charts must contain the contact information of the person who submits the chart – name, address, phone number, and e-mail address optional). Submitting a chart indicates you are giving permission for the material to be published.

For more information, contact the Knox County Public Library’s McGrady-Brockman House at 502 N. Seventh St., Vincennes, IN 47591, call (812) 886-4380 or e-mail bspangle@

kcpl.lib.in.us. Don’t delay in contacting the library if you have information you are interested in contributing to the book.

Queries

• Looking for the parents of Asa Bell, born about 1811 in Virginia and died in 1872 in Sullivan County. His wife was Phoebe McNamer. I would like to know where the family came from and when they came to America. Asa Bell is as far back as I can go. I have a blurry photo of his son Benjamin Franklin Bell, who married Minnie Ford in Sullivan County. Benjamin Franklin Bell (born 1859 and died 1932), was first married to a Sarah Morin on April 16, 1888, and had one child — Ike Virgil Bell. Sarah divorced him and moved to Terre Haute, Vigo County, with the son Ike. I have a picture of Ike. It is said that Ike rode a motorcycle with a side car and took his mother everywhere. My understanding is that Ike never married. Benjamin Franklin Bell and his second wife Minnie Ford had two daughters who married brothers: Gladys, who married Paul Mason, and Flossie, who married Ernest Mason.

Later, they had a son, William Bryan Bell, who married Lillian Masterson. I have also been told that they were in Kentucky after they left Virginia and then went north to Indiana. Please contact Rose Deal, 200 SW Spartan Lane, Lake City, FL 32025, or e-mail fpbdeal@se.rr.com.

• I am looking for information on the following surnames: Riggs, Cates, Wheeler, Stephens, Stewart, and Cooper. I have much on these families, and would love to hear from people who share the kinship. Anyone connected to the following: Harvey Riggs (1863-1932) and Kizzie Stephens, John M. Riggs (died 1891 in Clay County, Indiana), and Eliza or Mary Cates (died 1916), John H. Stephens and Marchess/Martha Stephens, both died before 1914. Contact Lynne Acres, 169 Natasha Lane, Oneida, TN 37841, call (423) 286-9113, or e-mail lynneacres22@yahoo.com.

• I am looking for any family of the late Joseph Vance Rice, born June 26, 1859, in Asheville N.C., and died July 22, 1931, in Catlin, Vermilion County, Ill. He married Louisa Lunsford on Oct 31, 1878, in Manchester, Clay County, Ky. Their children were Emma (born 1880), Edmond (born 1884), Lottie (born 1887), Robert (born 1888), Rufus Raymond (born 1894), and William Taylor (born 1900). Joseph Vance’s parents were William Rice and Polly Marinda (Mary) Keith. I look forward to hearing from any family members. E-mail me at srhonea@comcast.net.