Feb 26 - Alice Shelton

Happy birthday to Alice Shelton. I had supper with cousin Teresa lat Monday evening. Afterwards we dropped by Wayne and Alice's place and wished Alice a happy birthday! The little girls is Wayne and Alice's granddaughter, Angelina.

Feb 25 - Mom and Uncle Wayne

Happy birthday to Uncle Wayne and my mom, Elaine.

15 years ago

Here are two photos from February, 1992. The baby is my nephew, Cameron Noone. He is sitting on his mom's lap in the second picture.

40 years ago this month

This picture was taken in Feb, 1967. My grandparents, Harry and Leone Shelton are holding my cousin Jennifer and I. We were born 20 days apart. I'm not sure which kid is which, but I think Grandma is holding me.

Bunnell Family Picture

This picture was taken of the Harvey Bunnell Family probably in the late 1910s. children Gracie, Elver, Justin and Iva are standing behind parents Harve and Mae. The quality of the photo is not brey good - too dark. May have to see what I can do with it on photoshop.

Feb 19 - Janet Shelton

Happy Birthday Aunt Janet!

Unknown Photograph Rogers/Van Fossen

Here is a photograph of three men taken probably around 1910-20. they would probably be Rogers or Van Fossens - but not necesarily. Does anyone recognize them?

Feb 16 - Marlene (Rogers) Jones

Happy birthday to Marlene Jones. Marlene is a grandaughter of Willard and Mattie Rogers and the daughter of Walter and Mary Rogers. Marlene checks in on this site from time to time so hope she will enjoy the picture of her dad!

2 Obituaries from 1875

Sometimes to pass the time out at Camp David I will drive into Fairfield and read through some old newspapers on microfilm (yeah, I lead a really exciting life!). Here are two obituaries I copied from the Wayne County Press. The first is from June of that year and annouces the death of Palestine Rogers (Oct 21, 1821 - May 27, 1875). If you have done any researcdh on the Rogers clan I know you will recognize this name. There were actually (at least) two Palestine Rogers'. The first, who's obit we see here, is the brother of my great-great-grandfather, Milton Rogers. Milton also named his first born son after his brother, but the infant onlhy lived for a month and four days (Mar 1 1862 - Apr 5, 1862). Both Palestine Rogers are buried at the Brown Cem.

These next two photos are the tombstones of both Palestine Rogers. The Milton and Margaret Rogers framily lost several children that were all buried in the same row. The small sandstone markers had fallen over after many years and Aunt Clara had them re-set, back int he 1940s . Some of the inscription is buried in the concrete.
I have been talking recently with a couple of Palestines great-great grandaughters. Hope they enjoy this post! : )


The next obituary is from November, 1875. It is my great-great-great grandmother, Amanda (Chaney) Bunnell - pictured below. She was married to Seneca Bunnell. Both Amanda and Senceca were born in Butler Co., OH. They and their families moved to Clinton County, IN, where the couple was married. The Bunnell and Chaney families relocated from Clinton County to Clay County, IL in about 1853. Seneca and Amanda lived on the same property that my Granddad and Grandma Smith occupied from 1942 - 2003. Amanda died at the age of 44. She and her husband's gravesite has reamained a mystery for years. I asked many, many older relatives, but none of them ever knew the location of the grave. This past week, I was looking at some Wayne County death registrations and came across that of Seneca Bunnell. It listed his place of burial as the Selby Cemetery. Eureka! ha ha! Well, I had never heard of the cemetery. Seneca and Amanda lived in the Indian Prairie area of Wayne County. After looking at Doris Bland's series of books on the cemeteries of Wayne County, I learned that there is one cemetery in Wayne County (no longer in use) that she listed as un- named. Could this be the Selby Cemetery? It was bitter cold the day I learned this info and there was only a very vague map showing the location of the cemetery. It is somewhere between Johnsonville and the Blue Mound Road, about a mile or so north side of 161. My uncle Bob lives in that area - I am will check with him and see what he knows about that cemetery - more on this in the next week.

Feb 14 - Clarence Rogers

Feb 14, 1892 was the birthday of Clarence Valentine Rogers, second son of Willard and Mattie Rogers. this picture was taken in the mid 1940s of Mattie and her sons, Finis, Lon, Clarence and Fred.

40 years ago today

This picture was taken 40 years ago today - Feb 12, 1967. It was taken at the home of my grandparents. I am the baby meeting for the first time, my great-grandparents, Fred Smith (1884 - 1972) and Gracie (Bunnell) Smith (1888-1967).

Feb 10 - Adam Zinanni

A very happy birthday to Adam Zinanni - pictured here in 1984 with his mother and brother. Adam is Raymond and Janet's grandson.

35 Years Ago Today

Here are three pictures of me taken 35 years ago today - February 06, 1972. The address was 5 Tar Springs Drive, Carmi, IL. The little blue bookcase matched a little bed. I still have the bed, but gave the two bookcases to my nephew Cameron - hope he still has them. I still have the little blue vase, Mom has the old cash register. I remember the Peanuts drum, the phone but they and the other toys have all since disappeared. The third picture is my father's police jacket and cap. Don't know if he stil has them or had to turn them in when he left the force.

Music Making

Here are a few pictures of peolpe making music. The first is my father, David, with his baritone. It was taken in Fairfield about 1955. Dad played cornet and baritone and won some medals in state contests.
Next is Paul, Harry, Raymond and Bill Shelton standing around a piano as Aunt Lorita plays. Not sure where this was taken,but believe it was about 1965.

The final picture was taken at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver last November. I am singing "Danny Boy" with John Kite at piano. Miss the crowd at the Palace - lots of great memories there. When I was there a year ago I got to sing for Bernadette Peters. Hope to get back again this year.