Recently I had an opportunity to visit Ohio, and make a side trip to
Indiana. While in Indiana, I encountered a lot of road work and detours. I
planned to go to Greensburg and eventually got there, but not before I took
a series of wrong turns on country roads and detours due to extensive
highway repair and road closure. While driving, totally confused as to
where I was, I found the scenery so beautiful. For as far as I could see,
it was so lush and green. Much more so than California. I finally got my
bearings when I saw a sign for Connersville. I had never intended to visit
Connersville, even though it was my Mothers birth place, because I really
needed to spend my short time in Greensburg. I drove to Connersville anyway
deciding this was meant to be and went straight to the library. Paulette
Hayes, the librarian, whom I had received a lot of information from when I
began my research, was there that day and directed me to the house where my
mother was born. It looked quite different from the early 1900 pictures I
have because over the years additions had been made but it was such a thrill
anyway. And of course I took pictures.
Later in the day I arrived in Greensburg and went straight to the
courthouse. Every one was so helpful and allowed me to spend hours looking
at the land records. Around closing time, a clerk directed me to the Lower
Union Presbyterian Cemetery in Jackson Twp. I had to drive so far out in
the country, I thought surely I was lost again, but there it was. A small
cemetery, in the middle of the most beautiful farm land. I tried to imagine
what it must have been like to live out there in the early 1800's so far
from town.
Several of us with Evans from Decatur Co have been trying to sort out our
ancestors. I particularly was looking for Rebecca Evans, my
grgrgrgrandmother. There was no mention of her in any library records,
however her husband Edward was shown as having died about 1860. Eventually,
around dusk, Isaw a large stone with the name Mary Elizabeth Roberts, the
daughter of this couple, and next to it was two smaller stones. Edward, I
couldn't read, but Rebecc's was b. 1793, d. 1872. What a thrill!!
For those of you from Decatur County, you can be proud. The people are so
friendly and helpful, I found a great pie shop in the square and of course
the historical buildings all through those small towns are really a sight,
especially the courthouse in Greensburg with the tree growing out of the
tower.
Judy Bowman