Map of Weaver 1877

Here is a map of Liberty Township from 1877 - the link to this site is on the left. Here is the map with the area of Weaver boxed off in red. Also, the 2nd picture is that area enlarged - you can see the names of who lived where, where the church and cemetery were located and other hand written details.

Click on the picture to enlarge it. The area between the name George Casey, and Noah Smith (North and South) and between Frank Weaver and James Weaver (West to East) are the main area of Weaver - i.e. the church, cemetery, school.

Weaver, Indiana Cemetery - Free African American Community 1900s

Here is the information gathered from my first trip to Weaver, Indiana cemetery in fall 2005.

This is the area surrounding Weaver - taken from the car. Myself with one of the gravestones - this one was especially difficult to read. Picture of rubbing below. This is the rubbing of that gravestone. It is not on the list of gravestones previously recorded. I came to understand that it reads:

Luzena

dau of A & Diga Hill

died

Aug 18, 1860

Was listed on gravestone list. Reads Louisa, Wife of A. Jones Feb 27 1855 Oct 13 1916 - "Mother" was written on another portion

Also on list. Ethel Ruth -Reads - Dau of Z. & F. Jones died Apr 28, 1907 aged 9Y. 6M.

We also found a gravestone for Elvira Smith which read - Elvira G b. 8-14-1918 d. 6-17-1933 - This stone was lying face down but in good condition. Another gravestone - that of Jane Burden who died at 63 had the inscription of "Blessed are the down hearted in the Lord" - but this was difficult to read. I did not do grave rubbings of all of the stones, but a few that were on the list to see if I got the same readings that they had - which I did. It definitely was a learning experience and I hope to go again to continue the discovery.

Project Number 1 - Weaver, Indiana

In the fall of 2004 I took a basic US History class at Taylor that was taught by Dr. Steve Messer. He is the main reason I came to realize my love of history. The way he taught the class got me involved in the subject and realize that history is not just events, but people - just like me - who have a story. Since then, I have wanted to find out those stories.

That fall we discussed the town of Weaver, Indiana - that began in the 1840s as a community for free african americans. The community thrived. Around the turn of the century it was made up of about 50 families, 2 schools, 2 stores, a church, and a harness racing track. By the 1920s the community was on the decline, but the mark had been made. Today, all that remains is a welcome sign, run down cemetery, a few houses, and fields all around. If I remember correctly, there might be one of the churches still standing, but there is little left to Weaver, Indiana.

Since 2004 I have wanted to know more about Weaver, Indiana. In the fall of 2005, my mother and I went out to the cemetery and did grave rubbings to discover for ourselves what the stones had once clearly said. We drove through the fields and it was beautiful. It only made me want to know more about the people in the cemetery and what their lives had once been. Because of that reason, Weaver is going to be my first project as a research historian. There is not a lot of information on Weaver out there - so it's a challenge, but a rewarding one for sure.

History Major without a Teaching Degree...

I am a Taylor University graduate with a History Major. Since graduation, I have been looking for opportunities that allow me to work in the history field. I continue to run into the same problem - I do not have a master's degree and have not previously worked in a museum. Oh, and I don't have a teaching degree. With these things combined, I am lacking in my qualifications - even at an entry level position. After a lot of thought and questioning how to make my degree be of some use, I decided that historical research is an interest that I am able to build on.

Over this past weekend I came up with an idea to create a space where I am log my current projects and the things I am learning on my own time. I hope to gain some experience in historical research as I continue and keep up with what is going on in the history field. The longer I am out of school, the less informed I am on the field - I must create a way that will help me to stay up to date.

I had planned to create a website, not a blog - but figured I would start smaller (and free!) and see how it progresses over the next few months. I hope to become a member of a few historical societies and take classes offered through them. I am planning on choosing a project to start on and see what I can find - one project at a time - until I have some experience in various areas. By doing this, I can learn new techniques and ideas to build my resume.

I have high hopes for this project and hope I will develop into a better Research Historian.