By BARBARA BARBIERI
A just off the press hard-cover book about the early history of Wells County’s Vera Cruz has been added to the shelves of the Wells County Public Library’s history area, by the author Charles Joray.
Those interested in the county’s history will want to check out the 305 page book that includes 177 photos of the area that once was known as Newville. Twenty-six chapters cover the churches and businesses, the histories of families who settled the area in the early 1800’s and even two unsolved murders.
The book is heavily foot-noted for accuracy and indexed for quick information finding. His reasoning for undertaking the project, which took two and a half years, was because all of his parental ancestors lived in Vera Cruz.
Joray, who was Director at the Wells County Public Library from 1975 to 1982 before moving to being Director of the Kokomo Public Library, has researched and authored over 17 family histories and family cookbooks. In 2018 he took ownership of the Vera Cruz Cemetery (St. John Cemetery) from the St. John Family Worship Center. (The cemetery site had been part of the 80-acre Emanuel Julie Granlienard Joray farm before it was part of the church.) He and volunteers continue to over see the cemetery.
The book is available for purchase for $45 from Joray via email at charles@joray.org. He also may be reached by phone at 765-210-0913.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m. he will be presenting a program about Vera Cruz at the Wells County Public Library. Registration to the library would be appreciated.
Joray also will be presenting a copy of his book to the Wells County Historical Museum.
