This post is long overdue, and unfortunately, I can't begin to explain everything about our exploits in Knox County, Indiana. I'll just say that it was a great experience and we were able to track down some great things. Here are a few of my favorites:
The original marriage record of James Hooper and Elizabeth Parker, in the Knox County Public Library.
Abraham Hooper's grave, in the Bicknell Memorial Cemetery (a.k.a. Bicknell IOOF Cemetery).
William B. Hooper's grave, in the Swick-McCluer Cemetery (really just about 20 graves under a couple of trees in the middle of a modern coal mine):
It really was an amazing thing that we were able to find this last cemetery (which also includes other Hoopers and their neighbors). As far as we know, it isn't registered in any of the collections of Knox County cemeteries in the Family History Library, and we really only found it with some help of the library director, some barn-raising locals, and a mine-worker. In fact, because of mining, the the road leading up to the cemetery had been destroyed in the last couple of years, and they had just begun replacing it the week we arrived. The gravel had just been laid the morning we were there, and public access to the cemetery itself was actually not allowed. Luckily, we found a new friend, Mark the mine-worker, who carried us up in his truck to let us see it. It was our very own family history miracle!
