Carmen Barger LaRue, of 343 Muth Road, Mansfield, OH 44903 (Wvalley392@AOL.com)furnished the following items of interest to Bargers with roots in Indiana:

BARGERSVILLE: Down in Johnson County there are two towns answering to the name of Bargersville. The old town is, as its name implies, very old. It was a community of some importance in the early fifties (1850's). Jefferson Barger is registered as one of the first citizens with his purchase of a town lot on 7 February 1850. Our information is that the town was named after this man.

One of the first plank roads in this part of the state was bult from Franklin to Bargersville in the 1850's. In the beginning, these plank highways were considered highly efficient, and in comparison to the mud trails of that day they were a vast improvement while they lasted. But these roads failed to last. Longitudinal trenches were excavated in which logs were placed, and over these three-inch planks eight feet wide were spiked. Little or no provision was made for drainage and the logs soon rotted and with the foundation gone, the planks were a hindrance rather than a help to travel.

In 1906, the Indianapolis Southern Railway was completed through this section, but it missed the old town of Bargersville. A new town was built around the railroad station and immediately took over the name of Bargersville. An elevator, retail grocery and store, a lumber yard, a bank and other business interests soon monopolized the commerial prosperity of the district and the old town was left to decline.

The present decade has noted the radical changes that have come with the recasting of travel, that is, the methods and moeds from railroads to interurbans to automobiles. The motor car and paved roads are bringing old-time prosperity to the old town of Bargersville. Motorists must be served in the old town because two state highways intersect there.

(Note: This offers an interesting historical perspective to a charming town in Indiana. Although it contains scant information of genealogical value, this article, which is undated, but appears to be from the 1920's, was followed by notation that Jefferson Barger was a descendant of Philip Barger. - ed)

MARRIAGE NOTICE - PORTLAND INDIANA - "Charles A. Barger 25 to Lucy Burkey 19" - This notice appears in the Portland, IN weekley paper, dated 8 December 1904.

FORMER PORTLAND MAN, WITH 141 DESCENDENTS, DIES - was the headline above the obituary of John W. Burkey, 90, a former resident of Portland, IN, and native of Berks County, PA. Among the family members listed were six daughters, including Mrs. Charles Barger of near Ft. Recovery (OH).

ARLIE C. BARGER SUCCUMBS AT 36 - In July of 1944, the following obituary appeared in the Portand, IN newspaper: "Arlie C. Barger Succubs at 36 - Former Resident of Madison Twp. Dies Tuesday, Rites Friday - Arlie C. Barger, 36 died at 8 o'colck Tuesday morning following a several months illness. He had been seriously ill only one week. The deceased had resided in Danville, IL, for several years but recently returned to Jay County due to ill health.

He was born in Madison Township on October 22, 1907, the son of Charles and Lucy (Burkey) Barger. A graduate of the Madision high school with the class of 1926(?), he played center on the basketball team that won the county championship in 1926. He also attended Olivet college at Danville and the Muncie Business College.

On February 4, 1936, he was marred to Hazel Chester of Danville, IL, who survives together with the parents and seven brothers; Kenneth of Ft. Recovery (OH), Leon of Kendallville, Floyd and Carl of Portland, Glenn of Greenville, OH, Robert in the U. S. military service and Marvin at home. The grandfather, John Burkey of Portland also survives.

Funeral services will be held Friday afaternoon at 2 o'clock aat the Ft. Recovery Church of Christ. Rev. Earl Lantz, officiating. Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery at Ft. Recovery. The body will remain at the Bainrd funeral home until the hour of the funeral, where friends may call.

(Noted on the newspaper clipping are the date and cause of death - 4 July 1944, dementia praecox - Jay County Health Department.)

Ralph L. Barger of Maryland, an extrodinary researcher who is
descended from the Putnam Valley Bargers, but who has done work 
on all Barger lines, sent us this list of Bargers enumerated in 
the 1850 U.S. census of Indiana.  He obtained the information 
from the Johnson County, Indiana Museum of History.

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                1850 CENSUS - INDIANA
 NAME                      COUNTY            TOWNSHIP
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Bargar, George W.          Shelby 234        Sugar Cr
        John (Wesley)      Shelby 227        Hendrick
        Mary               Shelby 227        Hendrick
        Milton             Shelby 234        Sugar Cr
Barger, Alexander          Decatur 048       Milford
        Christian          Decatur 048       Milford 
        David              Decatur 048       Milford
        Emly               Crawford 073      Ohio
        Enoch              Jackson 163       Vernon
        Frederica          Marshal 450       No. Twp. L
        George W.          Delaware 366      Mt. Pleas
        Godlet             Vanderberg 434    Armstrong
        Harvey             Perry 354         Anderson
        Helen              Perry 358         Anderson
        Henry              Marshal 450       NC Twp. L
        Henry              Harrison 347      45th Dist.
        James              Decatur 048       Milford
        Jefferson          Johnson 031       Union
        John               Lawrence 426      Shawswic
        John               Perry 392         Toein
        John Wesley        Shelby 361        Brandywine
        John B.            Johnson 018       Pleasant
        Joseph             Lawrence 441      Pleasant
        Martha             Delaware 328      Delaware
        Mary               Miami 190         Jackson
        Michael            Marshall 450      NC Twp. L
        Nancy              Crawford 081      Econe 
        Philip             Harrison 361      45th Dist.
        Philip             Randolph 145      Green
        Polly A.           Lawrence 427      Flinn
        William            Decatur 048       Milford
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