Southeastern Indiana Genealogy Society Launches First Families Program

The Jefferson County (Indiana) Genealogical Society introduces a First Families Program to honor the founding families of the county.

Madison – November 1, 2008 – The Jefferson County Genealogical Society is sponsoring a lineage program specifically aimed at discovering and honoring the founding families of Jefferson County.

The program recognizes three categories of early settlers. Frontier Families are those who blazed the trail into the wilderness, settling in the county on or before 7 August 1820. Founding Families, those who settled here before 1 June 1860, drove the county’s major growth period and brought it prosperity and national prominence. First Century Families, those who settled here before 11 February 1911, helped move the county into the modern era.

Applicants to the program must prove their direct descent from an early settler as well as that settler’s residence in the county before one of the category dates. Applicants need not be current residents of the county. Those who apply before 15 April 2009, and are approved by the evaluation committee, will be eligible to participate in the Madison Bicentennial Founder’s Day Parade. All approved applicants will receive a certificate and lapel pin to commemorate their achievement.

The Jefferson County Genealogical Society encourages those with an interest in family history to make the effort required to document their personal connection to the pioneers of this county. Compiled applications will be archived by the society for the benefit of other researchers, and the preservation of this link to our past. A book honoring the founding families is planned.

For more information about the First Families program, visit http://www.jeffersoncountygenealogicalsociety.org .

For more information about the Madison Bicentennial, visit: http://madisonbicentennial.com .

About the Jefferson County Genealogical Society
Founded in 1998, the primary purpose of this organization is to preserve information of genealogical value and to encourage and assist others in gathering genealogical information. Membership is open to everyone with payment of annual dues. The meeting schedule and topics are posted at http://www.jeffersoncountygenealogicalsociety.org.

Courtesy of Annette Harper

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