Our History


The Society was founded by

William "Ford" Hebner III and Marilyn L. Hebner.

The Society was originally organized in 1982.

The first meeting was held at Clifford Willett's home

(in Bad Axe, MI) on Saturday May 15, 1982 with 6 people in attendance.

At the moment not too much is known between 1982 to 1987.

I have contacted Marilyn Hebner to find out more HCGS history.

I have also been reading the past issues of our newsletter to fill in the gaps.

The very first newsletter published was Vol. 1, no. 1 for January 1987.

The newsletter stated that up to that date that meetings were held on the third Saturday of the month in Bad Axe, MI at 7:30 pm.

It stated that the meeting for January 17, 1987 would be a research trip to Saginaw-Hoyt Public Library.

The morning of the trip they were going to meet at Cliff Willett's house at 8:30 am and car pool to the library.

Jan 1987 marked the start of research trips, which we continue today.


In Jan 1987 our Officers were:
President: Clifford Willett     Vice President: Helen Kerr
Secretary / Treasurer: Marilyn L. Hebner     Corresponding Secretary: Ford Hebner


In the back issues of our newsletters held at The Flint Public Library there are some missing issues.

So, sometime between June 1991 to May 1993 our newsletter got the title "MI Thumb Prints." (which we still use today).




In May 1994 Helen Kerr is still listed as Vice President,
but in the July 1994 issue of the newsletter Allen Depcinski is named as Vice President.




Disbanded in Mid - 2008.

Re-organized by Gerald A. Little Jr. on Oct 1, 2012.


On November 5, 2012 our society lost a member and woman who was a very important part of our society.
    

Diana M. Hebner

April 25, 1962 to November 5, 2012
Diana Marie Hebner, 50, of Kimball Township, died Monday, November 5, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer.   She was born April 25, 1962 in Port Huron to Marilyn and the late William Ford Hebner III.   Diana was Office Manager for Quality Mold Services.   She enjoyed researching family genealogy, embroidery, writing poetry, reading and beadwork.   She is survived by her mother, Marilyn; two brothers, William Ford (Laura) Hebner IV and Michael Hebner; two uncles, Ronald (Beverly) Angbrandt and Larry (Audrey) Angbrandt; her aunt, Donna Hebner; four nephews, William Ford Hebner V, Nicholas, Jackson and Carson Hebner; and her niece, Kierston Hebner.  Visitation will be 2-4 & 7-9 p.m.   Thursday in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home.   Diana will lie in state in St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday, November 9, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m.   The Rite of Committal will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery.   Memorials may be made to the Port Huron Museum or American Cancer Society.

We will miss Diana.   She served as The Huron County Genealogical Society newsletter Editor from the early 1990's until mid 2008 (when our Society disbanded.)

She also served as Corresponding Secretary.


Our first meeting after the re-organization was Friday Dec. 7, 2012 at the Sandusky Public Library.

We had three of our 7 members attend the meeting / research trip.
They have the Sanilac County cemetery index and obituaries on their website (see link below).
Sandusky District Library Genealogy Page



On Saturday, June 22, 2013 we had our first Annual Dinner since the re-organization.
There were 4 present: Clifford Willett, Judy Visner, Gerald A. Little Jr., & Amy Hubbard.


As of July 2013 we have 8 members.

We had a meeting / research trip on Oct. 19, 2013 in Bad Axe, MI.

Our Vice President, Judy Visner, was there because I had to work that day.

No one else showed up, So we did not have any meeting / research trips in Nov. 2013 or Dec. 2013.


As of January 2014 we have 11 members.

In January 2014 we scheduled two meetings and had to cancel both due to weather.


On Thursday, June 26, 2014 we held our second Annual Dinner since the re-organization.

There were 3 present: Judy Visner, Gerald A. Little Jr., & Amy Hubbard.


As of June 2015 we have 10 members

(we had 12 members at the end of 2014, but 2 did not renew for 2015).


On Saturday, June 20, 2015 we held our third Annual Dinner since the re-organization.

There were 3 present: Judy Visner, Gerald A. Little Jr., & Amy Hubbard.




on September 17, 2015 when I went to the MGC meeting in Gladwin, MI

I talked to Marilyn Hebner co-founder of the HCGS.

I got her new address, as her ride was waiting.

September 17, 2015 Marilyn Hebner was named an Honorary (Lifetime) member of the HCGS.


This is Not definite yet, but ...

Saturday, June 18, 2016 will most likely be the date of

our fourth Annual Dinner since the re-organization.


On February 17, 2018 our society lost a member and woman who was a very important part of our society.
    

Marilyn Louise Hebner

September 27, 1937 to February 17, 2018
Marilyn Louise Hebner, 80, of Kimball Township, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 17, 2018. She was born September 27, 1937 in Port Huron to the late Edward and Mildred Angbrandt. She married William Ford Hebner III on June 29, 1957 in Port Huron. He preceded her in death on August 28, 2000. Marilyn was employed with the Port Huron Museum and cooked many dinners for its various groups over the years. She lived a very active social life and enjoyed her involvement in all the clubs and organizations she took part in. She loved spending time and talking with people. She was President of the St. Clair County Family History Group for 40 years, member of the Michigan Genealogical Council of Lansing and one of the first members of the Friends of the St. Clair County Library. Marilyn also belonged to the Boy Scouts of America Blue Water Council and was awarded the Silver Beaver for her years of service. She is survived by her sons, William Ford (Laura) Hebner IV and Michael E. Hebner; grandchildren, William Ford V, Nicholas, Jackson, Carson, Kierston and Ireland Hebner; brothers, Larry (Audrey) Angbrandt and Ron (Beverly) Angbrandt; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Diana M. Hebner. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 7-9 pm Tuesday in the Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home. Marilyn will lie in state from 10:30 am until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 am on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 in Holy Trinity Parish St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Very Reverend Salvatore Palazzolo KHS will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Port Huron. Pallbearers will be Ford Hebner IV, Michael Hebner, Ron and Larry Angbrandt, William Wagner and Rick Ferriby. Memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Parish St. Joseph Catholic Church or the Port Huron Museum. For guest book and information, please visit www.karrersimpson.com The family wishes to thank the staff of Blue Water Hospice for their care and compassion for Marilyn. Also to her sister-in-law, Beverly, who took care of her till the end. For complete information visit Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home.

We will miss her.  She did a lot for our society over the years.

Her and her husband were the founders of the society in 1982.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

​

In October 2018 we lost another member, and our first

President of the HCGS.

​

Clifford Durel Willett
October 14, 1922 to October 4, 2018 (aged 95)

Could not find his obituary, but here is his Findagrave.com

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


March 1, 2019 New Treasurer was named

Amy Little, wife of our President Gerald A. Little Jr.


In 2020 with Covid- 19 we were Not able to hold any meeting / research trips.

With many societies holding virtual Zoom meetings.

We held our first Zoom meeting on October 17, 2020.

No one joined in.


We held our second Zoom meeting on November 21, 2020.

We had three people, including myself, join in the meeting.

​

​

On Dec 6, 2023 we started this Wix.com website.

​

​

​

​

​