March 31 - Mattie Rogers

Mattie Rogers was born 136 years ago today. Daughter of Augustus and Eliza (Holmes) Best, she was the tenth of 14 children - eleven of whom survived infancy. She married Willard Rogers (1869 - 1334) in 1889. They had twelve children - Finis, Clarence, Lon, Charlie, Fred, Clara, Edna, Walter, Della, Hubert, Emma Jane and Leone. She alwys kept a big garden, butting up lots of canned goods and had several fruit trees. In 1934, after all her children and married and left home, she lost her husband in a hunting accident. Later she moved to Geff. She died in Fairfield at the home of her daughter Leone on February 23, 1954 and was buried in the Brown Cemetery between Enterprise and Mt. Erie.

Cook School 1903

I found this picture on the Internet. Faye and Ethel Conard are in the picture. Ethel is in the second row from the top - sixth person in the row. My great-grandma, Faye, is in the bottom row just o the right of the sign. I'm not sure who anyone else is. Ethel adn Faye would later marry brothers - WIllie and George Block.

Mystery Solved

The picture of the young man directly to the left was in gandma's photos neither she nor Granddad had any idea of who he was. With the help of Ruthie, I think we have solved the puzzle. Ruth had the first picture that you see of Albert and Edward Schlunneggar (l-r), younger brothers of Margaret Schunnegar Block. Edward is a perfect match for the man in the second photo. The third picture you see is Albert ( she shorter of the two brothers) on his 101st birthday in 1962.

Fairfield Postcards

Here are some scans of old postcards from the Fairfield area. They date to the 1905 - 1925 period, with the exception of the Sexton Manufacturing Company and the Burning Oil Well, which are late 1940s or early 1950s. Thought you might enjoy them.

Timothy Pickering - a distant relative.

Buried here in Cisne are my great-great-great-great grandparemts Benjamin (1799 - 1874) and Alice Delselms, parents of Elizabeth Deslems Conard. Benjamin's mother was Elizabeth Pickering DeSelms, born 1774 in Hopewell, VA. She was the great-great granddaughter of Samuel Pickering (1718 - 1800). Samuel's third cousin was Timothy Pickering (1745 - 1829).

Timothy Pickering was a Senator and a Representative from Massachusetts; born in Salem, Mass., July 17, 1745; attended the grammar school and graduated from Harvard College in 1763; clerk in the office of register of deeds in Salem; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1768 and commenced practice in Salem; selectman and assessor 1772-1777; member of Committee on State of Rights of Colonists 1773; member of Committee of Correspondence and Safety 1774-1775; held various local offices; elected to the State legislature in 1776; entered the Revolutionary Army as colonel; appointed adjutant general and elected as a member of Board of War in 1777; became Quartermaster General of the Army in 1780; moved to Philadelphia in 1785 and to Wyoming County, Pa., in 1787; member of the Pennsylvania State constitutional convention 1789-1790; special government agent on missions to the Indians; appointed Postmaster General in the administration of President George Washington in 1791, as Secretary of War in 1795, and as Secretary of State 1795-1800; returned to Massachusetts in 1802; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1802 to the Eighth Congress; appointed chief justice of court of common pleas and general sessions of the peace in 1802; elected to the United States Senate as a Federalist in 1803 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dwight Foster; reelected and served from March 4, 1803, to March 3, 1811; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1811; censured by the Senate in 1811 for breach of confidence; member of the executive council of Massachusetts 1812-1813; elected as a Federalist to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses (March 4, 1813-March 3, 1817); declined to be a candidate for renomination; returned to his farm near Wenham, Mass.; returned to Salem in 1820; unsuccessful candidate for election to the Seventeenth Congress; died in Salem, Essex County, Mass., January 29, 1829; interment in Broad Street Cemetery.

Don't Miss This!

Recently, Aunt Janet joked about people taking our photos off this website and circulating them in hopes of making $$ off our glorious images.
Well... I regret to inform you that it has happened....

Click here: http://redneck414.tripod.com/

BTW - this kept me in stitches - let me know what you think. : )

The Story of Goober and the Little Green Men

I'm wondering if Raymond or Bill will remember this. I'm not sure if Dad was still in Japan when it happened, but am sure they all heard about it at the time. By the way - after I read this, I had to wonder if I have ever heard ANYONE describe ANYTHING as "about the size of a washtub." Ha!
Me thinks Cledus was hitting the hooch that evening. Just goes to show - Jack Daniels and Moonpies don't mix... Click on this link to read the story :
http://ufocasebook.com/waynecity1963.html

36 Years Ago Today

Here are two pictures taken 36 years ago this afternoon, Saturday,March 28, 1970. The following day was Easter. We probably had a great dinner that afternoon with pictures afterwards. Raymond's girls really look nice. Remember when people used to dress for special occasions and family reunions. We kids just caught the end of that I think. Wish people would get back to do ing that, but I'm afraid it has gone by the wayside. Well, don't get me started - ha!
BTW, I had supper with Bill and Janis this eve, before the revival at Pleasant Grove. Great conversation and good food at the new Mexican place in F'Field. Always nice seeing them...

Bill's Kids

Taken in Grandma's backyard, here are Bill and Janis' young-uns' in July, 1969.

Best Sisters

I spent this evening watching an old movie ("Captian Blood") and colorizing this old photo of Mattie Rogers (1870 - 1954) (center) and sisters Gussie and Kate. Augusta and Kate were twins (born in 1863).
I'm afraid its a little sloppy - I should have paid more attention to what I was doing instead of the movie, I guess, but here it is anyway.

Mar 27 - Kathy Young

Happy Birthday Kathy Young. See you soon!

The picture, by the way, I copied from one of Aunt Lorita's and was taken in what is now my yard. The barn is gone, the well is gone and I'm sure the car was sold long ago, but I still see Kathy around Cisne.

Lon & Ada

This is Lon and Ada Rogers. Lon (Alonzo Augustus 1893 - 1974)) was the third child of Willard and Mattie Rogers. He married Ada Jane Shelton (1895 - 1988) in 1914. she was the grand-daughter of Harvey Henderson Shelton, brother to our own William R. Shelton. In case you haven't already guessed. the picture was taken next to Grandma's smoke tree in May or June 1969.

Grandma Shelton - 1984

Good lord - well I was thin once. This is 22 years ago - about August, 1984. Taken in Grandma Shelton's backyard at 802 Delaware. I had come back to Wayne County for six weeks, helped Granddad Smith a bit on the farm, learned to drive a tractor and had a great time running around in Granddad's El Camino.

BTW, I stopped by to see Grandma this past Wednesday around 1:00. I had picked up two shakes from Dairy Queen, so when she answered the door I asked her "Chocolate or Vanilla?" (she had chocolate). I had only planned on staying for an hour or so, but wound up visiting for about three and a half hours and then took her to Geff (with a quick Detour to Cisne) for supper. It was a great day.

Isaac Smith

This first photograph is of Granddad Smith in about 1928 or 29. In the second, taken on the same occasion, we see (l-r) Robert Smith, Isaac, Hallie Hoover and Rollie Smith. Hallie (1911 - 2003) was a girl that Fred and Gracie took in to their care.

Mar 1970

This was taken March 28, 1970 behind Grandma and grandpa's house. I'm guessing Mar 28 was Easter that year, but would have to check an almanac to say for sure. The little girl is Jennifer, who was three at the time. Not sure if she will remember this, but thought she would enjoy seeing it.

Harvey Bunnell

Taken probably between 1925 - 35, this is Harve Bunnell. I am guessing it was taken in front of the Faverty home. If it was, then the house in the background was Fred and Gracie's first house (where Granddad was born). Harve lived at the end of the lane between the Favertys and Fred & Gracie.

Camp David

Most everyone reading this site has been to Camp David, I guess, but I think I may have a cousin or two that hasn't. This is where I spend my weekends in Cisne. I guess the picture was taken about '02 or '03. When I moved in, there had been no major renevations since the early 1970s - yes everything was orange and green and brown. In the 1960s Paul Shelton's family rented the farm . In 1972 my Granddad Smith bought the 160 acres and rented the house. I think the last going rate (in the 1990s) was $75/month.
I have done a little fixing up here and tere - mostly cosmetic (new wallpaper, light fixtures, a new well house, and I am a slave every summer top the lawn.) A couple of years ago, Karen Watson (Paul's daughter) asked me - is that house still as cold in the Winter as it used to be?" I thought, "And then some..." Getting in from St. Louis late on a December night when it is 25 degrees outside and the Edison Electric baseboard heaters have been on low all week is always a big thrill. Thank Heaven for electric blankets - ha! This year, with a little carpentry help from Dad, I would like to put in two ventless fireplaces. That should make a big difference.
Moving to a small community and into this house has been an interesting experience for this city boy. At times, while I work out the kinks, it is a lot like glorified camping (complete with skeeters in the summertime) - thus the moniker "Camp David." But the best part of my week is Monday night when I get off of work and can get out there for a couple of days (Tues-Wed are my weekends). Hope everyone will come by for a visit - you are all always welcome!

Laurens and Ytie - my Harlem Ancestors

These are some of Ollie Conard's ancestors. No pictures to go with it,but it is interesting just the same. I'll walk you through it. Ollie's grandparents , Joseph and Mary Brown died in the 1850s and are buried in the Old Cisne Cemetery (Stine). Mary's (b.1807) maiden name was Dye. Now Mary's great-great-great-great grandfather was a man named Laurens Duyts (Duyts later became Dey and Dye).
Laurens Duyts (or Laurens Jans Duytszen) was born about 1610 in Holstein, Denmark. Denmark was part of Viking kingdoms during the 8th through 10th centuries. The Danish Empire was formed under Canute in the 11th century and joined with Sweden and Norway under Queen Margrethe of Denmark in 1389. Sweden separated from the union in the 16th century, followed by Norway in 1814. Schleswig-Holstein was lost to Germany in 1864 and North Schleswig was returned after a 1920 plebiscite. The country was occupied by Germany during World War II.
He married Ytie Jansen (or Utje) (some say her name was Lysbeth Hendricks) before 1639. She was born c.1610 in Olderberg, Germany. Laurens and his wife arrived in New Netherland in July of 1639 on the ship "The Fire of Troy". This was a private armed vessel, engaged by Captain Jochem Kuyter, also from Holstein, a man of wealth and distinction who sailed from Hoorn, bringing with him farmers, herdsmen and laborers to start a new Colony, located in present Harlem.
A lease from Jonas Bronck (a confererate of Captain Kuyter), to Pieter Andriessen and Lourens Duyts: "They shall be at liberty to plant tobacco and maize, on the express condition that every two years they shall clear new pieces of land.... furthermore, Pieter Andriesz and Lourens Duyts bind and pledge their persons and properties for the payment of what Mr. Bronck has disbersed for them on board the ship De Brant van Troyen, 120 guilders, 16 stivers, of which Pieter Andriessen must pay fl. 81:4 and Lourens Duyts fl. 49:12. Done in Fort Amsterdam, 21st of July 1639." Bronck's farm became the center of the Bronx.
Within four months of their arrival a daughter was born (Margaret) and baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church in New Amsterdam as there was no church at that time in Harlem. Laurens was called "the Great Dane" and also "the Great Shoe" becuase of his great size. He devoted his time wholly to farming and his name does not appear in connection with any civic or church activities.

The children of Laurens Duyts and Ytie Jansen are listed as:
--Margaret Duyts, born about December 23, 1639 in New Amsterdam
--Jan Laurens Duyts was born about March 31, 1641
--Hans Duyts (our ancestor) was born about September 23, 1644 in New Amsterdam and died after 1708, Staten Island, Richmond County, New York.

Laurens was banned from New Amsterdam for 50 years for selling his wife, Ytie. He died 1668 in Bergen, New Jersey, and was buried 16 Jan 1668 in Bergen, Bergen Co., New Jersey.

The Court Minutes of Harlem relate that Laurens Duyts of Holstein received sentancing from Stuyvesant on November 25, 1658, for selling his wife, Ytie Jansen, and forcing her to live in adultery with another man, and for living himself in adultery, he was to have a rope tied around his neck, and then to be severly flogged and have his right ear cut off, and to be banished for fifty years. He went across the Hudson River to Bergen (now Jersey City where he died and was buried on January 16, 1668.
Ytie Jansen's parents are not known. Ytie died after 1658 in New York. She was living at date of lawsuit. [Calender of Historical Manuscripts. Vol. 1, pg. 203. ] Her name has also been proposed as Lysbeth Hendricks. She lived some time after the divorce, opening a tavern eventually. If her name was Lysbeth Hendricks, she re-married in NY 19 July 1659 Jan Gervon van Beaumont; as Lysbeth Hendricks, widow of Laurens Jansen from Denmark.
The two sons of Lurens were Jan Laurens and Han Laurens. Jan was baptized in the Dutch reformed Church at new York on March 23, 1642. Jans died before June 11, 1679.
Hans was baptized at the same church on September 28, 1644.
Hans married Grietje Jans in 1666.

Charles & Ollie and kids

This first picture was taken in the 1920s of Charles and Olive Conard. Charles (1863 - 1942) and Ollie (1867 - 1939) had five children, Ralph, Ethel, Faye, Roy and Verne. Ralph died as an infant, but the other children lived in the Ciosne area all of their lives .
The second picture was taken at the 1974 Conard Reunion - probably in August. From L - R are Faye, Verne, Roy and Ethel.

Nov 1969

Here is Grandma Shelton in November 1969. I'm not sure where the picture was taken, but I think a few of those trees could use a drink of water.

Pike's Peak or Bust

During July of 1982, Bill and Janis, Doug and John came out to Colorado. Here are two pictures taken from the top of Pikes Peak. The first is cousin John and the second is looking down on Colorado Springs.