Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 7, 1940.
Born Before ‘84? It Will Be Hard Thing To Prove!
Porter county residents born before 1884 will find it impossible to get statistical records in Valparaiso and Porter county to establish their age in event it is needed for old age assistance grants or employment purposes.
An investigation made by a Vidette-Messenger reporter Friday revealed the fact that Porter county records on birth go back only fifty-six years, and in some of the years the records are incomplete, due to improper recording.
In the case of Valparaiso citizens the records are available from only 104 and part of the statistics covering the period from 1914 to 1926 are embraced in the Porter county records, the health officer during that time being in charge of both city and county recordings.
At the office of Dr. George R. Douglas, county health officer, it was ascertained that about 35 persons, mostly those seeking employment with factories and other firms, apply monthly for duplicate birth certificates. The number who applied at the office of Dr. J.C. Brown, Valparaiso city health officer, was reported to be considerably less.
Both offices now issue birth certificates to parents of new born children as soon as a birth is reported by the attending physician to the health official. In years gone by this practice was not followed.
The health officers are constantly besieged by persons seeking old age assistance for proof of their age. Sometimes the request is made to the county clerk. The Vidette-Messenger has also received letters from former residents living in all parts of the United States asking for information to include in affidavits so their ages may be established. The family Bible, if one is available, or affidavits from persons who have known the persons and can swear they are old enough to obtain old age assistance are often resorted to when birth records are not available.
At one time during the regime of Dr. M.B. Fyfe, the county birth records were turned over to the county clerk for safe-keeping, but when a new health setup was devised by a recent legislature the records were taken over by the county health official.
