The German Baptist Aged Person's and Orphan's Home was established on 3 Jul 1883 for the care of the aged members and orphans of the German Baptist Congregation of the Southern District of Indiana. Hazzard's History of Henry County, Vol. #2 lists the first Trustees as Jacob W. Yost, James M. Wyatt, John Hart, John L. Krall and Joseph D. Neher. On 1 Mar 1883 the trustees met with Jacob P. Miller, on the farm where the home now stands to purchase the one hundred and forty acres of Mr. Miller, for the sum of $7,000.00, four thousand of which was paid in cash. Jacob P. Miller donating one thousand dollars of this amount. Articles of association were drawn up on 3 Jul 1883.
In 1886, the first building was erected at a cost of $3,000.00, and in 1901 a second building was erected for the aged, it was called "The Home." While the first building was called "The Orphanage." The first Superintendent was John S. McCarty, of Clarksville, IN, for six years, he was replaced by John Brunk of Middletown, IN, for five years, he was replaced by Calvin Cook. In September of 1898 Andrew C. Snowberger took charge.
The first inmate was Jane Orr, of Ladoga, Montgomery County, IN who entered the home on 30 Dec 1886 and remained there for nearly twelve years.
In 1899, the General Assembly passed a law forbidding the detention of dependents between the ages of three and seventeen years for more than ten days in the County Poor Asylum. In 1901 this law was amended, increasing the time of stay to sixty days.
The first contracts made by the Henry County Commissioners with the
German Baptist Home to care for its children at 23 cents per day, was
made on 5 Dec 1893. On 10 Apr 1901 the second contract was made at 25
cents per day. This contract continued until 1 May 1905, when the Bundy
Home at Spiceland was opened. (From: Hazzard's History of Henry County, VOL. #2)
The following names were taken from the 1900 and 1910 Federal Censuses for Jefferson Township, Henry County, Indiana
1900
NAME
STATUS
AGE
STATE BORN
Snowberger, Andrew C.
Head
48y
Indiana
SnowBerger, Rachael A
Wife
44y
Virginia
Miller, Henry
Inmate
89y
Virginia
Alger, Susan
Inmate
52y
Virginia
Corbin, Amos
Inmate
83y
Kentucky
Corbin, Eliza
Inmate
65y
Indiana
Hinshaw, Grace
Inmate
14y
Indiana
Hamilton, Ernest
Inmate
10y
Indiana
Hamilton, Walter
Inmate
8y
Indiana
Dillinger, John F.
Servant
27y
Virginia
Dillinger, Sarah E.
Sevant
23y
Virginia
1910 Census - German Baptist Aged Person's and Orphan's Home
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