1908-2005 Obit Index | The Banner | Knightstown, Indiana

1908-2000 Banner Obituary Index

Banner website visitors can now browse the index of nearly 30,000 names of those whose obituaries have appeared in the Knightstown Banner from 1908 through 2000. This index was made available to the Banner following the extensive work of local scouts and their families.

The index was initially generated from an Eagle Scout project of Knightstown's Tommy Maxwell in August 2004 with the goal of updating and computerizing the Knightstown Public Library's obituary card file for the period of 1994-2004. Tommy organized a group to input all the information on the cards into a computer spreadsheet file. After creating the file, the group then verified the information with the original Banners and created new cards for the library's file drawer. This project involved over 200 hours volunteered by Tommy Maxwell (coordinator), Kai Wetzel, Matt Lund, Mandi Lund, Lois Ruth Shields and Charity Maxwell.

Tommy's mother, Charity Maxwell, and his grandmother, Lois Ruth Shields, then took on the additional project of reviewing the remaining years of obituaries for accuracy. From January 2005 to December 2006, they reviewed Banners from 1908 to 1993 as well as created index cards for obits from 2004 through 2006. Most newspapers were reviewed at the Knightstown Public Library, but a few years were missing and those years were reviewed at the Indiana State Library's microfilm section.

The Banner is extremely grateful to the Maxwells and Mrs. Shields for sharing their final database with us. This database, along with The Banner's archive of actual obituaries from 2001 through to the current issue, is an invaluable asset for those interested in their family history. Researchers may also find information in The Banner's online archive of Genealogical Gleanings columns, the How Time Flies in Sports columns, and the How Time Flies in News columns.

After receiving the database from Charity Maxwell, Banner General Manager Stacy Cox began organizing the names alphabetically and formatting the index so it may be made available on The Banner's website. Work will continue on the index, adding any other research information that is obtained. If you have copies of actual obituaries from the period of 1908-2000, please consider transcribing them and sharing them with us to be included online. Further information on any individual listed in the file is also welcome.

PLEASE NOTE: As with all such projects, errors are bound to be found. These may be the result of errors in the actual newspaper item, in the transcription process, or in building the computer databases. Researchers should always verify records found online with other official documents.

Choose a section of the index below:

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► Last names beginning with letter ~A~

► Last names beginning with letter ~B~

► Last names beginning with letter ~C~

► Last names beginning with letter ~D~

► Last names beginning with letter ~E~

► Last names beginning with letter ~F~

► Last names beginning with letter ~G~

► Last names beginning with letter ~H~

► Last names beginning with letter ~I~

► Last names beginning with letter ~J~