Family Stories and History

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Roy Conard - Apr 18

Roy Charles Conard,

born April 18, 1900,

son of Charles and Ollie Conard.

Married Callie Tenny May 10, 1919.

Died Sep 1, 1978.

Hubert Rogers - Apr 17

Hubert Leslie Rogers

born April 17, 1910

to Willard and Mattie Rogers.

Married Genevieve McMemony,

Jul 10, 1934.

Died Jun 15, 1994.

Smith Girls

This picture was taken April 12 in Cisne. From L- R are Harold's daughter, Jennine; Isaac's daughter, Elaine; Robert's daughter Peggy and Rollie's daughter Pam.

Kids

Here are three recent pics of Cameron, Cailey and Keegan. I'm guessing they were taken late 2005 - maybe Shari can give me a date. Ages 14, 11 and 6

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Here are two images taken from slides (which I really need to lighten) of a baptism in Granddad Smith's pond. The photos were taken in 1966. I can see Grandma Smith with the group at the edge of the pond, bible in hand. I assume David Shores in doing the dunking, but would like someone else to verify this. Any other guesses to who is inthe picture??? BTW, I introduced myself to David Shores after Rollie's funeral this week - hadn't seen him for 30 years.

Easter 2002

Here is an Easter photo from Easter 2002 (Apr 25) of Bill and Janis' kin. I had an exceptional Easter meal there this past Sunday!

Smoke Tree 1971

Here is a picture of Grandpa Shelton and Shari next to the old smoke tree - taken Summer 1971. One of these days I will get a collection of photos pn here that were taken next to this tree.

C&C

Here is a photo I have dated as 1997 of Cameron and Cailey. Keegan wasn't yet on the scene. Cailey has a birthday coming up in a few days. Hope it will be a great #12 for her. Come see me, kids!

Autographs

Some of you probably know that I have hung framed autographs/pictures in restaurants and gift shops in both Denver and St. Louis. Here are a few of them that I took the summer of 2003. This first picture has autographs of (among others) Elizabeth Montgomery, Henry Fonda, Lillian Gish, Elizabeth Taylor and Al Jolson.

This are autographs of Rita Hayorth (l) and Laverne, Patty and Maxene Andrews)

Next is a great presentation of sigatures of Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable - Got quite a bit of $$ for this one.

Here is a good one of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. The autographs were originally on the same page of paper - almost hated to seperate them, but was better for framing.

These last two pictures have photos of Irene Dunne, Shirley temple, Lauren BacallJimmy Stewart, Charlton Heston, Milton Berle, Julie Andrews, Carol Chaning.

This is one I still have of Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour.

I still have hundreds of Autographed (many framed) - I probably should find another outlet for them. Everything I ever made from them I spent on (what else) MORE AUTOGRAPHS! Everything from Thomas Edison to Leonardo DiCaprio, Al Jolson to Michael Jackson, Walter Winchell to Mae West.

Childhood home

My family lived in the house in the background around 1969 - 70. It is across the street from the First Christian Church in Carmi, IL, where we attended services. Actualy, I think the church was built about that time and we were going to the old building downtown. this picture was taken Jul 31, 2002. The color of the house hadn't changed since I wa a baby. I was about 3 when we lived here and this was the first house that Shari lived in. I can remember a little about it - there was a very deep water-way on the north side of the house. I can remember playing out in the yard (you could still levae a kid in the yard unattended in those days). I can recall taking a Fischer -Price Camera down into the creek and "taking pictures." Also remember watching "The Monkees," "Superman" and "Dick Tracy" on the television. Also remember my mother watching "Dark Shadows" - which fascinating me bacause of the vampire. I can remember some older girls next door which I liked to talk to, but can't remember who they were. Their family had a basketball hoop -which seemed very high to me and couldn;'t imagine being tall enough to reach it. I can also remember using a Spirograph here - remember those? That is about all that comes to mind now.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Whatever Became of Samuel Wilson?

This is a photograph of my great great great grandfather, Samuel Wilson. He was born March 5, 1846. I do not know who his parents were - yet. On January 10, 1867, he married Jane Senter, daughter of Sandy and Mary Senter. They had two children, Annie and Mary. Mary, or May as she was called, married Harvey T. Bunnell. On September 26, 1873, Samuel's wife, Jane died. I am not sure if he remained in Wayne County after his two girls left home, or when he passed away. From this photo we knw he lived to be an old man, but that's about it. If anyone has any additional info - let me know.

Fred and Gracie

Here are a couple of pictures of Fred and Gracie Smith, taken on the occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Oct 1955

. In the first and last pictures, you can see Gracie's Grape vine in the background. IT was still there when we lived inj the hosue in 1974.

The picture of Gracie was taken on the North side of the house. I painted [part of that little shed in the background when we lived there - only up about five feet or so - Dad never gave me a ladder so the shed had kind of an incomplete look.

Dad's New Toy

Well, I dropped by Dad's Monday evening and was surprised to learn that he got a new toy. I don't want to hear anymore cracks from him that I am too old to still be roller-blading. Not sure what he wants with a four-wheeler - they don't cut grass. I rode it once around the barn-lot - little scary for my taste - I'll stick to the Moto-Guzzi, thank-you...

Fred Rogers Apr 9

Fred Rogers born Apr 9, 1898 to Willard and Mattie Rogers. Fred died in 1974.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Harry and Nellie Stine

Here is an old photo of Harry Stine (1879 - 1936) and his wife Nellie (Block) Stine. Nellie (1884 - 1962 was the daughter of John and Margaret Block.

Shari 1974

Here is another picture that Shari that she Emailed top me this morning. It was taken inour dining room at the house in East Carmi about 1974.

The second I took this past February out in Colorado. Still all smiles!

Toothless

Shari just sent me these two picturs of Keegan. The first is his first attempt at riding a bike without training wheels. The second documents the loss of two teeth. I'm not sure, but were the lost teeth were a direct result of the loss of the training wheels? Hmmmm....

Happy Easter (1971)

I can remember this day - Easter 1971 - mainly becasue I found a huge chocolate rabbit behind Grandpa's garage. Remember the big piles of rocks (behind my shoulder in the second picture)? Our folks used to yell at us for climbing them.
I'm not sure how all of you are spending your Easter Sunday - I'll be at the Gast Haus - if you don't have a baked ham to enjoy after church, you can stop by and have some Rouladen and Jagerschnitzel! - Ha Ha...