Mossy Feet Books – Author Paul R. Wonning
Books About Indiana History, United States History and Garden Guides
In a precursor to Hine’s Raid and Morgan’s Raid, Confederate colonel Adam Rankin Johnson captured the town of Newburgh, Indiana using two “Quaker Guns” as a ruse to subdue the town and to his nickname, Stovepipe Johnson. Continue reading Podcast/Video – Historical Site – Newburgh Raid
After a trial in Plymouth for murder, the jury convicted John Billington of murder. Massachusetts Governor William Bradford, after consultation with the Massachusetts Bay Colony governor, decreed death by hanging for the convicted murderer. Continue reading The First Execution for a Crime in British North America
Amerindians of the Mississippian culture built the eleven earthen mounds between A.D. 1050 and 1400 to elevate important buildings. Continue reading Ancient Indian Mounds in Southern Indiana
Governor John Winthrop turned many heads with his use of a “split spoon” as he sat at his meal. During this time, Winthrop likely owned the only fork in North America as the clergy considered split spoons evil. Opposed to the use of the new eating utensil they considered that the only thing worthy of touching “God’s food” were fingers. Many considered them effeminate since Thomas Coryate introduced them to England. Continue reading Before the Table Fork, there were Fingers and Knives
Organized in 2013 as the Freedom Heritage Museum, the museum opened in May 27, 2017, as the Evansville Wartime Museum. Evansville played a prominent role in World War II. During the war workers from the Republic Aviation manufactured the P-47 Thunderbolt and a shipyard on the Ohio River built the LSTs (Landing Ship, Tanks). The Evansville Wartime Museum acquired a P-47 Thunderbolt in 2020 from the Lone Star Flight Museum. Restorers repainted the aircraft in a paint scheme that mimicked the style of the P-47 manufactured in Evansville. The local Chrysler plant manufactured ammunition for the war effort. Continue reading Evansville Wartime Museum
In a pinch for money, English King Charles I ratifies the Petition of Right. This document is still in force in England and many historians give it equal standing with the Magna Carta in terms of importance. Approved by both Houses of Parliament, Charles I agree to it so Parliament would provide funds for his Thirty Years War effort. It provided precedent for the 1641 Massachusetts Body of Liberties. Several amendments in the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution also have roots in the Petition. Continue reading Podcast – Charles I grants Royal Assent to the Petition of Rights
John Augustus Reitz constructed the home in 1871.
John Augustus Reitz (May 13, 1815 – December 17, 1891)
The son of Franz Josef and Maria Franziska Gertrud Fredebolling Reitz, John was native to Dorlar, Prussia. He attended Esloh, which was one of the leading schools in Germany. In 1836 he emigrated to the United States, landing in Baltimore in December. From Baltimore he migrated to Louisville, Kentucky where he lived for about a year. Continue reading Podcast – Reitz Home Museum
After Hudson’s brief foray into the Hudson Bay in 1609, the next Dutchman to enter the Bay was merchant Arnout Vogels, who went on a secret mission to the Hudson Bay in 1611. His success on that trip caused him to make two more trips, in 1612 and 1613. These trips he did not keep secret resulting in competition from other merchants seeking to cash in. The Netherlands formed the New Netherlands Company on October 11, 1614, which received a three-year monopoly from the Netherlands’s government to establish a trading post. This post proved successful, however they did not get a renewal of the monopoly and they abandoned the post. The Dutch decided they needed a permanent presence in the area to ward off threats from the Spanish, French and English, thus they created the Dutch West India Company in 1621. Continue reading Podcast – The Beginnings of New Netherlands
Local Lincoln historian George Honig suggested to the Spencer County Historical Society that a replica pioneer village be constructed to honor the memory of the county’s famous son, Abraham Lincoln, in the early 1930’s. That organization and the Rockport City Council supported the idea. Officials requested help from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA). Continue reading Podcast – Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum
Thanksgiving feasts were a common practice for the European settlers and their native neighbors. It was tradition for the Europeans to set aside days of thanksgiving. They celebrated for a bountiful harvest, drought-ending rains or other providential events. These events did not have any connection with their worship service. They were set during week and commonly involved fasting beforehand. After the fasting, they would have one or several days of celebratory feasting. The Indians had similar traditions. They had thanksgiving celebrations sporadically throughout the year for special events. Thus, both peoples had traditions of this type of celebration. Continue reading Podcast – The Earliest Possible Date for the First Thanksgiving Day
Local Author Paul Wonning Will Attend the Indiana Historical Society Author Fair Saturday, December 6, 2025 12:00 AM – 4:00 … Continue reading Local Author Paul Wonning Will Attend the Indiana Historical Society
The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is a suitable memorial to the Sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln spent his boyhood years on Spencer County and grew up in the land around the Lincoln Boyhood Memorial and Lincoln State Park. Continue reading Podcast – Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
By the early Seventeenth Century, Spanish settlement delved deep into the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. The Bolivian city of Potosi, Mexico City and Lima, Peru all had larger populations than any city in the parent nation, Spain. The colonists grew coffee, sugar, tobacco and other agricultural products for export to Europe. The silver and gold mines of the regions also supplied a vast quantity of wealth for Spain. The ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha carried a large quantity of this treasure in its holds when a hurricane sank it off the coast of Florida. Continue reading Podcast – Ill Fated Treasure Ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha Departs
Local Author Paul Wonning at the 2025 Christmas Gift and Hobby Show November 12 & 13 9:00 AM – 7:00 … Continue reading Local Author Paul Wonning at the 2025 Christmas Gift and Hobby Show
Tri Kappa’s Winter Wonderland Bazaar 2025 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM November 8, 2025 South Ripley Elementary School 1568 S … Continue reading Author Paul Wonning at the Tri Kappa’s Winter Wonderland Bazaar 2025
Author Paul Wonning will be attending the Batesville Holiday Bazaar at the: Batesville Primary School 760 State Road 46 W, … Continue reading Author Paul Wonning at the Batesville Holiday Bazaar
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 April 15, 1865)
The son of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, Abraham was native to Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky. Continue reading Podcast – Abraham Lincoln
The earliest evidence of the European Honeybee in America comes from a letter drafted by the Council of the Virginia Company, dispatched to Governor and Council in Virginia. The letter noted that the colonists had ordered seeds, apple trees, pigeons, mastiff dogs and beehives. The shipment of bees arrived in Virginia sometime in March 1622 to serve as pollinators for the European crops. The bees would also produce honey and beeswax, which the native bees did not produce. Continue reading Podcast – First Report of European Honeybees in the Colonies
Located on the banks of the Wabash River, the 3,465 acre park features hiking, camping and picnicing in a serene setting a few miles from historic New Harmony. The varied landscape of Harmonie transforms from the flat Wabash River floodplains to the hilly terrain of the campground. Harmonie offers fantastic views of Indiana’s storied river, the Wabash. Sunsets can be spectacular from the Wabash River Picnic Area as the sun sets over the river. Picnicers can choose from seven other picnic areas scattered around the park. Its location about half an hours drive from Evansville and a few minutes south of Historic New Harmony make it an ideal spot from which to explore southeast Indiana. Continue reading Podcast – Harmonie State Park
Parliament had passed the Tea Act on May 10, 1773 to help the struggling East India Company compete with other tea importers. The legislation allowed the company to undersell their competition, including colonial tea smugglers. The company sent ships to Boston, New York, Charlestown, and Philadelphia in September 1773 with combined cargoes of over 500,000 pounds of tea. Tea importers in Charleston, New York, and Philadelphia, under pressure from local patriot groups, refused the shipments. However, the Boston merchants allowed the ships to dock. Continue reading Podcast – Boston Tea Party
Mossy Feet Books - Author Paul R. Wonning 