In Honor of Veterans Day

"Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God."

What is a veteran and what is Veterans Day?

In the beginning the word "veteran" meant a person of long experience or skill. After the American Revolution the word "veteran" or "vet" was used to refer to the elderly former soldiers who had fought so hard and secured our country's independence.

World War I was officially concluded on the 11th hour of the 11th Day of November in 1918 at 11 AM. One year later on November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the day as “Armistice Day” dedicated to the cause of world peace. The word “armistice” means the end of wartime hostilities. The day was honored with public celebrations and a two minute pause to business at 11 AM.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated in Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony on November 11, 1921. After this day, Armistice Day was adopted in many states and later in 1938 Congress adopted a resolution making the 11th of November in each year a national holiday. In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

Now both a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, November 11 is commemorated with parades, ceremonies, and observances to pay respects to and celebrate the lives of the men and women who have given military service to our nation not only during the American Revolution, but in all subsequent wars and conflicts at home and around the world.

In honor of Veterans Day I would like to share a few of the names and photographs of the men in my family who have fought to preserve our liberty and freedom and thank them for all we all enjoy today.


MSgt. Robert C. Riddle (living)
United States Army-Retired
Service: career service 1949-1972
Veteran of Korean and Vietnam Wars

Rollan Otto Riddle (1919-2011)
Warrant Officer, Company A, 324 Infantry Regiment
United States Army
Served from 1942-1945 in Germany, France, and Austria

Owen Edward Riddle (1888-1935)
Private, 3rd Regiment, Company I, Indiana National Guard
Served from 3 February 1913 – 8 February 1916
Buried in Oakhill Cemetery, Marshall Co, IN

William Thompson Riddle (1831-1892)
Company C, Garrison Guards, 32nd Regiment Indiana Volunteers
Served in Civil War from 23 Sept 1864-8 May 1865
Buried in McGrew Cemetery, Walnut Twp, Marshall Co, IN

Harrison H. Riddle (1839-1934)
Corporal, Company I, 59th Indiana Infantry Volunteers
Served in Civil War from 6 February 1862 – 4 April 1865
Shot in stomach by enemy gunfire followed by sunstroke at Millikens Bend, LA
Buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Monroe Co, IN

John E. Anderson (1830-1897)
Company B, 67th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers
Served in Civil war from 7 August 1862 – 19 July 1865
Injury to left hip and stomach rupture at Young’s Point, LA
Buried in Union Chapel Cemetery, Morgan Co, IN


Peter Wayne Selner (1825-1923)
Private, Company C, 180th Regiment of Ohio Infantry Volunteers
Served in Civil War from 6 September 1865 – 8 Sept 1865
Injured during the siege of Charleston, SC being kicked by a mule
in the chest causing heart damage
Buried in Olive Cemetery, Elkhart Co, IN

Samuel L. Parks (1757-1844)
Private, North Carolina Troops
Served in Revolutionary War, 1776 - 1780
Enlisted Wilkes Co, NC at beginning of Rev War and served over 3 years
under Capt Lewis, Samuel Johnson, William Lenoir & Colonel Cleveland
Buried probably in Burke Co, NC

FINAL INSPECTION
by Sgt. Joshua Helterbran

The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass.

"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"

The Solider squared his shoulders and said
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just to steep,

And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

(poem from http://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_308.htm)

God Bless The USA

Advice for using an Every Name Index

Every name indexes for those large county histories written in the late 1800s are a wonderful genealogical tool. I know - I create them! They are usually one of the first resources many genealogists look for when beginning their family research. Indexing a big county history book is an enormous project that used to be done by hand. This is why most of the old county histories were published without an index.

Every name indexes are meant to assist researchers in quickly finding passages in the original text that pertain to their ancestors or surnames. A reference to your ancestor in an every name index should always be noted, but it is definitely not substitute for detailed information that may be found when viewing the original text or document. For instance, when consulting the text the only reference you may find is your ancestor’s name in a listed among the men from the county who served in the military. Finding this clue can lead to obtaining his pension, bounty land warrant, and military service records from the National Archives and a wealth of additional family data.

When using an every name index be sure to read the explanation of how it was compiled so you understand how to use the index. You should understand what information the index will and will not help you find. An index is prepared to be as complete and accurate as possible however as with any transcription project, it can be subject to human error. Keep in mind that the index may reflect what you think is a spelling error in your surname, but in actuality was indexed accurately showing exactly how the name was spelled in the original text.

Be aware that if your ancestor is not listed within an every name index, it does not necessarily mean they did not live in that county. A search of other documented sources may reveal in fact they were long time residents. Not being mentioned in an old county history may simply mean your ancestors were not prominent in the founding of the county or part of the more well known families who lived there.

Surnames can be spelled in a variety of ways or contain inadvertent spelling errors. Generations ago names spellings were not standardized. A person may have spelled or signed his own name several ways. In generations past, scores of adults were unable to write or had little or no formal education so they spelled their names phonetically, or simply used initials. They relied upon an individual such as a county clerk to record important documents for them and spell their names correctly while they signed with “their mark” or an “x”.

Accents can change the way a name sounds when pronounced and also how it was interpreted when recorded. Think of the many ways a name could be pronounced and then think of the various spellings that could be derived. If you need assistance consult the Soundex.

The Soundex is a coded surname index that was developed in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration based on phonetics rather than the way a name is spelled. The Soundex system enabled the use of sounds in a surname to be used to classify and index heads of households in the census records. The Soundex system indexes names so they can be found no matter how they were spelled.

Immigrants who were not originally English speaking with hard to spell or difficult names to pronounce often took an Americanized variation of the name by dropping syllables or difficult letter combinations to create a simpler spelling. If the surname had a prefix such as Von, search for it with and without the prefix. There were no official rules governing names and often no official documentation to reflect a name change.

An ancestor's name in the old country may be spelled significantly different than the Americanized version a decendant may use after coming to the United States. Some immigrants changed their names because of prejudices and discrimination and wanted to blend into American society. Shortening their name to remove the ethnic aspect was one way to achieve that goal. Your family surname may have changed several times before it became the family name you know today.

Understanding naming patterns can assist you in adding more ancestors to your family tree. In genealogy research, the focus is usually on the surname or last name of the family however given names or first names should be looked at too. Finding a pattern of given names bestowed over and over could represent a tradition and possibly suggest the nationality or ethnic origin of your family. Naming patterns can also help in determining the birth order of children or indicate there may be additional older children you are not aware of.

Early settlers tended to name their children after other family members. For instance, it was a common naming practice in the 1800s to name the first son after his paternal grandfather and the second son after the maternal grandfather. The first daughter was often named after the maternal grandmother and the second daughter for the paternal grandmother.

The children in German families customarily had two given names. The first given name was a spiritual or religious name in honor of a favorite saint and the second was the name the individual was known by within their family and community. Naming a child after Saint John is the most common example for male children and Maria or Anna for female children. Typically all the boys in the family had the same first name, or variation of the same first name, such as Johann Robert and Johann August, but each was called by the second name. Girls too were often given the same first name such as Maria resulting daughters in the same family named Maria Catharine, Maria Elizabeth, but also called by their second name.

It is also possible for two children of the same family to have identical names. In some families, it was acceptable to name a child the same name in honor of an older sibling who died in infancy. A child’s name can also be bestowed again when a spouse died and the surviving spouse was remarried and had additional children.

Nicknames may be a substitute for or added to the given name and can make your research difficult if you are not aware they were often used in records and documents. Vital records usually record the proper given name but in others such as census records you may find individuals listed by their nicknames. If you cannot find a female ancestor, consider the name you know her by may actually be a nickname. For instance, Mae, May, Molly, Polly, and Minnie all can be nicknames for the given name Mary.

Looking at middle names can also lend clues in research. Both male and female children were often given the mother’s maiden name as their middle name to carry the family name to the next generation. If you have a marriage but do not know the wife’s maiden name, looking at the middle names of her children for possible clues. Your ancestor may have used a combination of first and middle names during his lifetime. He may be recorded using his middle name, particularly if there was a junior and senior in the family. When children were named for their parents or grandparents, they were often called by their middle names to avoid confusion within the family. A man may have been known by his middle name as a child until he became of age, and then switched to using his given name.

There are many resources available to family historians. Every name indexes are a favorite of most. To get the best result when using an every name index, keep in mind naming patterns and the possibilities that your surname has changed. If you search for only one spelling of your surname you will likely miss important information.

Greetings & Welcome to my new blog!

If you have found me it is likely you surfed in from a link from my genealogy website - EveryNameIndex.com Here on my blog site I will share tips, URLs, and other information that I have found helpful in my research.

I am a typical genealogy addict who loves the thrill and challenge of the hunting and being on the trail of an elusive ancestor. I began researching my family tree over 25 years ago and although I have hit some brick walls that I have yet to knock down, I haven't lost my determination to get over them. Just when it seems that I should finally give up, I find a new clue or I get a surprise letter or email from a distant cousin and I am off chasing the new lead.

My philosophy on genealogical research is that the facts are the facts, good or bad. I do not pass moral judgements on my past generations because I cannot know the circumstances that influenced their actions and decisions. I hope my descendants think of me in the same way. I choose to celebrate the good in all they have accomplished but recognize it was not without its difficulties and challenges.

I have learned more about the great beginnings of this country and history doing genealogy research than I ever learned in school. I have come to really appreciate the pioneer spirit and shear determination and bravery our ancestors had to move into unsettled territory. I have a great love for the USA and I am thankful to all who have come before who made sacrifices, defended her, and met the challenges of their day to give us all we have now.

I come from small town every day folks who were simple farmers, ministers, businessmen, and a few who played an important role in helping to establish Monroe County, Indiana. There are quite a few scoundrels and renigades in my family tree but they are far outweighed by the many patriotic men who volunteered for military service to fight for our freedom and liberty.

My ancestors have served in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, World War I & II, and the National Guard. My hero is my dad, who made the United States Army his career for over 24 years, serving in Korea and Vietnam and dedicated himself to Duty, Honor and Country. I am proud of all of them.

Msgt. Robert C. Riddle, Vietnam 1968