Fairland, Indiana History

This photo postcard was another mystery to research. The birth announcement was mailed in 1905 to Katherine Cordes in Seymour, Indiana. It says "Fairland, Dec. 11, 1905, Lelia." Boy is crossed out, and Girl is written in pencil; though that has faded with time. The photo says The American Photography Company, Chicago, 1905. With just a few clues, could we discover who this was? We discovered that Miriam Mayes was born on that date in Fairland to Robert Oscar and Lelia Vest Mayes. But, Robert and Lelia had lived in Seymour, what brought them to Fairland? We tried to research Robert's occupation (he is listed as Robert, Oscar, and R. O.) and learned that in 1905 he worked for the Shelby Coffee Company. But, that was not the reason for their move to Fairland. Lelia's father was Reverend E. R. Vest, and in Sep. 1904, they all moved from Indianapolis to Fairland when he was appointed to the M. E. Church in Fairland. But, that was not the whole story. Rev. Vest requested Fa...

I first became interested in family history and genealogy as a child while visiting my grandmother. She worked many hours to document our family history and had hand-written family tree pages spread across her kitchen table as she discussed the details and stories with me.  Decades later, it is so much easier to search records online and to view scans of documents to help fill in the stories of individuals and families. As I search online, sometimes I find other interesting details. I have added information to the Ancestry and Find a Grave websites to help others who may be researching. And, when I found family letters and photo albums for sale on Ebay, I posted or sent messages to individuals who might be interested in obtaining them. In antique stores, I have purchased photos with names written on them and posted them online to "save" their history. I have made connections by reaching out to an individual about photos he posted on FamilySearch, and a woman contacted me to d...

GET READY for Giving Tuesday! Dec. 2 is the day to support your favorite non-profit organizations, including the Fairland Historical Society. (You don't have to wait; you may give now.) Your support makes it possible for us to share more local history with the community! Donations accepted: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLF78WKW4NEPW/checkout/QBET6B5TRKU23BEZCAEHPFNG Thank you!!

Thanks to this support from the Beaty/C-Tech Fund administered by the Blue River Community Foundation we will be working to place more historical markers in the area. We are grateful and excited to share more history with the community. Thank you! We will be working on this project during the winter. Watch for more details in the spring of 2026!

Oct. 20, 5:30 p.m. Grave Cleaning, Pleasant View Cemetery, 10066 N 850 W, Fairland, Indiana. Volunteers Wanted: Join us for this community service project! Learn how to clean gravestones, and then help us to clean some at the historic Pleasant View Cemetery. We'll work from 5:30 - 7 p.m. This will be our second time working at this cemetery, so our efforts will make a real impact. Wear your yard work clothes, and bring gloves, if you have them. If you have a jug of clean water, bring it to use to rinse the stones. Also, bring water for yourself to stay hydrated. Cleaning supplies (cleaner, brushes, sprayers) will be provided.  Fairland Historical Society events are supported by City & County Progress Grants administered by Blue River Community Foundation. 

July 29, 2025 The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Navy Reserve Ensign Delbert L. Martin, 23, killed during World War II, was accounted for on June 18, 2025. During World War II, Martin was assigned to Fighting Squadron 12, USS Randolph (CV-15). On March 21, 1945, he was reported missing in action after his F6F-5 "Hellcat" failed to pull up from a dive and crashed in Galig-Tomil, Yap Islands, Federated States of Micronesia. Martin's remains were not accounted for after the war and on March 22, 1946, the Navy issued a presumptive finding of death. Ens Martin was Missing in Action (MIA). His name is permanently inscribed on the Manila American Cemetery and Monument. 2025 burial: Delbert LaRue Martin, 23, was killed in action while flying over Yap Island in Micronesia on March 21, 1945. His remains have been recovered, and he will be buried next to his parents at Fairland Cemetery. Survivors include his nieces, Kathryn Brown...