Murder Most Foul by Mike Fichtel

The Fox Valley Genealogical Society presents, "Murder Most Foul" by Mike Fichtel. FVGS meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you'll join us for this fascinating talk base on a local murder case from the late 19th century!

A look into what one newspaper called the most sensational murder case in Kane County history (as of 1912). The Murder of Edwin Kelchner in 1890 created numerous records. Edwin was married to the speaker’s great-great-grandfather’s sister. This talk will explore the sources used in researching this case, some of which might not be familiar to the researcher, and will also evaluate those sources for reliability and any potential pitfalls they may contain.

Mike Fichtel has been passionate about genealogy since age 13, when he discovered a family history notebook compiled by his mother. That early curiosity grew into a lifelong dedication to researching, preserving, and sharing historical records. A charter member of the Fox Valley Genealogical Society (FVGS), Mike has served the organization in numerous roles, including 1st Vice President for Programs, President, Librarian, and long-time editor of the Fox Tales publication. He has been an FVGS board member since 1981 and continues to serve as Director-at-Large and Librarian.

One of Mike’s most significant contributions is “Mike’s Index,” an extensive database of more than 55,000 entries referencing surnames, vital records, obituaries, Bible records, cemetery information, biographies, and local history sources. Begun over 30 years ago on index cards and later digitized, the Index remains an essential resource for FVGS researchers.

Mike has also led significant cemetery documentation efforts, guiding volunteers in reading and preserving inscriptions from thousands of graves in area cemeteries. He is especially proud of the Calvary Cemetery (Aurora) and Copenhagen Cemetery projects, which include photographs, obituaries, church records, and biographical details—much of which would otherwise have been lost.

Beyond FVGS, Mike volunteered for years at the National Archives at Chicago, assisted local libraries and historical societies, and contributed research for public exhibits. His work has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Illinois State Genealogical Society’s Volkel Medal of Honor and an award from the Aurora Historical Society for his contributions to local ethnic and family history.

Mike remains a trusted resource and passionate advocate for genealogical research.