No Loafers in Heaven: The Forgotten Legacy of Father Michael J. Byrne

Click on the following story to learn about the fascinating life of Rev. Michael J. Byrne, the dynamic priest of St. Ann’s Catholic Church from 1901 until his death in 1924. Michael J. Byrne Biography

Jennie Dugan’s Lafayette Connections

The Jennie Dugan story created a few curiosities, such as Rebecca Ball’s interest in the story, and the dedication to Mrs. James Spears. What were the women’s connections to young Jennie Dugan? A little sleuthing produced probable answers. Mrs. James Spears was the former Julia Crooks, a sister to Miranda Crooks Dugan, Jennie’s mother, and

Jennie Dugan Tragedy of 1860 Put to Words by Rebecca Gordon Ball

The last words of Jennie L. Dugan were poignantly expressed in recently discovered poetry written by Rebecca Gordon Ball in the form of historic sheet music. The poetry was put to music by Composer Chandler Robbins and published by Oliver Ditson & Company after the death of Jennie Dugan in 1860. A copy of the

Early Lafayette Settler’s 1906 Interview Sheds New Light on Local Controversy

Martin Jenners Tombstone Controversy An old, but controversial tombstone sits just southwest of the old Sexton’s office within the Spring Vale cemetery in Lafayette, Indiana. The story behind the Martin P. Jenners’ tombstone controversy has been written about by historians over the years with limited information extracted from minute books and a December 23, 1919

“Lark” O’Connor: The Last of the River Boat Captains

Larkin “Lark” O’Connor, a Civil War veteran, steamboat builder and navigator, was known as “the last of the river captains.” He and his brother, Jim, were household names in Lafayette, where they operated several steamers along the Wabash River for 40 years until 1872. Along with passengers, their freight included corn, logs, lumber, stone, gravel,

Henry Ellsworth: Lafayette’s Connections to a Famous Family

Henry L. Ellsworth was known throughout the country as a great American history maker.  It’s no wonder that Ellsworth Street in Lafayette, Indiana was named for the famous former resident who changed the course of history for the Greater Lafayette area.  He first changed the course of history for the nation before coming to Lafayette

A Sawbuck Worth Twenty Dollars: Forseman Vs. Dryfus

From the Times (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Sun., Feb. 10, 1895 THE GREAT INDIANA CASE WHICH DECIDED THE POINT The Sawbuck was not the wooden kind, but the slang name for a Ten-Dollar Bill. That is the general acceptation of the term, but in the leading case the ruling was the other way. The day I was