county histories; also, to those friends who were willing to provide photographs for the various stories:
Fun-Loving Nellie
Jeanine Rhodes—Elkhart Public Library
A Tree with Spirit
Marsha Eilers, Associate Director—Elkhart Public Library
Linda Neff—Goshen Public Library
Jeanine Rhodes—Elkhart Public Library
The Ghosts of Mason’s Bridge
Nancy Bryant, Director—Gas City-Mill Township Public Library
Peggy Garrett, Executive Liaison—Gas City Area Chamber of Commerce
Israel Jenkins House
Sara and Randy Ballinger, present owners
The Phantom of the Opera House
Judy Cowling—Historic Fairmount, Inc.
Cathy Shouse—Chronicle T
Rhonda Stoffer, Head of Indiana History and Genealogy Services—Marion Public Library
The Spirit of Hostess House
Rhoda Stoffer, Head of Indiana History and Genealogy Services—Marion Public Library
On the Banks of the Wabash
Nancy Masten, Archivist—Miami County Museum
Kentland Area Hauntings
Kyle D. Conrad, informant
Matthew Havens, informant
Cheryl Wixon Gocken, President—Iroquois County, Ill. Genealogy Society
White Wolf
Robert C. Kriebel, Staff Reporter—Lafayette Journal and C
The Legend of Hanging Rock
Moonrock
Trula Frank, Executive Director—Wabash County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Carolyn McNagny, Executive Director—Acres, Inc.
Davonne Rogers, Library Director—North Manchester Public Library
The “De-ghoster” Twins
Joan C. Bohm, Archivist, Genealogist—Clinton County Historical Society
Janis Thornton, Editor, Family—Frankfort The Times
Ball State Student Keeps Hanging Around
Mary Lou Gentis—Muncie Public library
Jerome’s Devil Dog
Janice Blanchard—Howard County Public Library
Kokomo’s Haunted Funeral Home
Tom Carey, Lifestyle Editor—Kokomo þ
The Devil’s Creature
Tracey Chapman Jones, informant
Judy Spencer—Crawfordsville Public Library
Judy Todd—Crawfordsville The Weekly
Edna Collins Bridge
Lou Fontaine—Putnam County Public Library
Susan Harmon, Local History Assistant—Putnam County Public Library
The Odon Fires
Catherine Hackett, Reference Librarian—Clark County Public Library, Springfield, Ohio Joan Harvey, Library Services Supervisor—Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library
The Friendly Ghost
Greensburg Courthouse Ghost
Vicki Butz—Greensburg Public Library
Kathie Scheidler—Greensburg Public Library
Pat Smith, Columnist—Greensburg Daily News
Poseyville’s Haunted Library
Stanley Melburn Campbell, Director—Poseyville Public Library
The Weeping Woman of Old Hoop-Pole Township
Steve Cochran, Director—Alexandrian Public Library
Becca Goldman, Head of Community Relations—Alexandrian Public Library
Marissa Priddis, Assistant Director—Alexandrian Public Library
The Wolf Man
Bill Poor, Director—Tyson Library
Jeremy Sobecki, Assistant Manager—Versailles State Park
The Mathias Sharp House
Vevah Harris—Spencer County Visitor’s Bureau
Becky Middleton—Spencer County Public Library
The Ferree (Free) Springs Bridge Ghosts
Rebecca Cole—Sullivan Public Library
Oscar the Friendly Ghost
Sue Thomas—Evansville Public Library
The Gray Lady of Willard Library
Greg Hager, Director—Willard Library
Patricia Sides, Archivist—Willard Library
NORTHERN INDIANA
BENTON COUNTY
The first county seat, Oxford, was platted in 1843. Within one year of the town’s establishment, it had gone through three name changes. It was first called Milroy after one of the original founders, then Hartford after the Connecticut city; however, when it was discovered that both these names were already being used by other counties, it was renamed Oxford.
It’s not clear why this name was chosen—perhaps for the English city and university—although one legend says the name was chosen for the many oxen-driven
