Denver 1967 & 1994

I like finding pictures taken inthe same place, years apart. These first two pictures are from Grandpa dn Grandma's trip to Denver in May or June, 1967. Uncle Charlie Rogers is pictured with both in front of the state capital. The third picture is Uncle Raymond and myself on the front stairs (seen in the background of the first two pictures) of the state capitol in Denver in about 1994.
I have lots of memories about Charlie and Pearl and glad I got to know them a little as a teenager. They were both good to me.

Rogers Reunion 1971

This picture was taken around June 1971 - perhaps it was Memorial day Weekend. It is Ada and Lon Rogers, Leone and Harry Shelton at the Leo French Park in Fairfield. I can remember that little chapel in the background - not sure what it was used for or if it is still there. I lightened the slide as best I could with out distorting too much.
I can remember a couple of big picnics or reunions at the park in the 70s. I guess the last big event was the Rogers Reunion of 2003. Seems so many of our reunions are indoors anymore (Cisne Community Center). the Shelton, Block and conard Reunions are all there. Wish we could get back to the outdoors - maybe reserve the community center incase of rain. Just a thought.

Recent Pictures

Here are three recent pictures, taken March 16, 2006 out at Camp David. The subject matter leaves a lot to be desired, but I do what I can with what I have to work with. BTW, I recently learned taht in Illinois, plaid is the state color - : ) .

Rogers Sisters 1968

This picture was taken in 1968. Not sure what the occasion was - perhaps Easter? From L- R are Emma Jane, Leone, Della and Clara.

Finis Rogers and Pirl Shelton

This photo was taken int the mid to late 1920s. It is Finis Rogers(1890 - 1978) and Pirl Shelton (1913 - 1964). The Sheltons and the Rogers families just lived about 1/2 mile apart. I'm thinking that is Wayne and Bertha's house, but maybe Raymond will recognize for sure.

Willard and Mattie Rogers home

I took this picture in July, 1984. This was the house that Willard and Mattie Rogers and familywere living in when Cl;ara was born - 1900. I'm not sure how many of the kids were born here - I'll have to check with grandma on that one. The house, which is no longer standing, was located on the East side of the Enterprise Road, about half way between 161 extention and Farifield. The family later moved up to just near the Brown Cemetery and church. The last time I was by the site of the old home, all that was left were a couple of trees and an old pump.

Granddad

This post is in memory of my Granddad, Isaac Smith, who died a year ago today. I miss him all the time. I will remember him for many things; his greast sense of humor, his yearly crop of apples and helping him run the cider mill and press, watching him mow as long as his health and the daylight held out, and some memorable Sunday dinners in Mt. Vernon and Effingham. I can hardly drive from Cisne to Flora and not see seomthing that reminds me of him. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=105135&GRid=12887303&

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...