At a term of the Circuit Court held in and for the
County of Shelby and State of Illinois, at the Court 
House in Shelbyville, on the 12th day of
May, A.D.,
1875:

Present:  the Hon. H. M. Vandeveer, Judge oc.   
In the matter of the petition of Daniel F. Augenstine 
and Frances Augenstine, his wife, for the adop-
tion of a minor child known as Antoinette Ponsler.

This cause coming on to be heard upon the petition 
of the said Daniel F. Augenstine and Frances 
Augenstine, and it appearing to the Court that the said 
Antoinette Ponsler is a minor child and has no
parents nor guardian, and that the nearest of kin to said 
child is its grandfather, Solomon Ponsler, and it appearing 
to the Court that the said Solomon Ponsler gave his full 
and free consent that the prayer of the petitioners may be granted,
and that said Antoinette should be adopted by the said Daniel F.
Augenstine and Frances Augenstine.

And it further appearing to the Court that the petitioners have 
sufficient ability to bring up said child and furnish suitable 
nurture and education for the same.

It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed by the Court that 
from and after the date of this decree, the name of said child 
shall be changed from that of Antoinette Ponsler to that of Antoinette 
Augenstine, and that from henceforth said child shall become to all 
legal intents and purposes the child of Daniel F. Augenstine and 
Frances Augenstine.

John F. Aldrich )
 et al.  ) Specific Performance
 ex parte ) Continued generally oc.

Thomas Burns  Et al )
 vs  ) Partition
Antonius Veruier Et al) Continued generally

NOTE:
The above noted Antoinette Ponsler, (born to Caroline Ponsler, 
17 year old unwed daughter of said Solomon Ponsler, who died 
in childbirth) and father unknown was my grandmother.  It was 
only this year that I was able to find any adoption papers and 
had always thought my grandmother was raised by the Augenstine 
family, not legally adopted by them.   I had written Shelby County 
courts for over 30 years trying to get some sort of adoption 
acknowledgement but to no avail.  I would like to thank Eileen M. 
Bridges of Windsor, IL who saw my query online and went to
Shelbyville and found the record for me.  Thank you so much, Eileen.
Antoinette

Through this adoption, my grandmother had a step-sister Lottie
Augenstine who married Harry Leitzell and they resided in 
Altamont, Illinois having a Photography Studio there; and
a step-brother John Clyde Augenstine whom we called Uncle 
Clyde, but I have no further information on him.

Antoinette