Jan 26 - Josh Smith

Happy birthday to first cousin Josh Smith!

Jan 24 - Willard Rogers

Jan 24, 1869 was the birthday of Willard Rogers, son of Milton and Margaret Rogers and my great-grandpa. Willard married Mattie Best in 1889 and they raised twelve children - Finis, Lon, Clarence, Charlie, Fred, Clara, Edna, Walter, Della, Hubert, Emma Jane and Leone. Willard was accidently killed ina hunting accident in 1934 and is buried at the Brown Cemetery.

Jan 21 - Elver Bunnell

Jan 21, 1890 was the birthday of Elver Bunnell, son of Harvey and May Bunnell. This picture was taken about 1901. Elver died in 1971.

Jan 21 - Karen Watson

Happy birthday to Karen (Shelton) Watson, seen here in the center with grandparents Wayne and Bertha Shelton, brother Larry and sisiter Kathy. See you at the reunion in June, Karen!

Shawn Shelton - Jan 20

Happy 22nd birthday to Shawn Shelton (Jan 20). He and older bro Robbie are pictured below in early 1985. That was about the last time I saw them.

A visit from some Rogers cousins

We in Wayne county were treate4d this week with a visit from some Rogers cousins from up north. This photo was taken and Bill and Janis Shelton's on the evening of January 16, 2007. Janis made some delicious lasagne and we all had a great visit. L - R are Helen Burk, Anna Richards, Dorothy Lane, Janet Shelton, Leone Shelton, Harlan Rogers, Raymond Shelton and Janis Shelton. Also present were Floyd Rogers, Bill Shelton and yours truly. Later Janis brought out a blackberry cobbler (my favorite!) with a birthday candle in it for me, then we looked at some old photos that I have saved to the computer.

Jan 19 - Robert Shelton

Happy 24th birthday to Robert Shelton. I took this picture on June 17, 1984. Gosh has it been that long? I can remember the night he was born - very snowy - I think school was cancelled.

40th birthday

Well, 40 is here. I was going to post pictures of OTHER people at forty, but thought better. HA! I had a great meal at one of my favorite places to eat with three good friends on Monday night, Tuesday I was serenaded over the phone by my family - (thank you Dad, Grandma, Raymond and Janet, Bill and Janis, Harlan, Helen, Dorothy, Floyd and Anna Mae. That was about the extent of my b-day excitement - well except my new 30g IPod - luv it - thank you Ichiban! And a new 50" plasma TV - Whoopee! I had inteded on going to Mexico, but that fell through, but had a super birthday nonetheless!

Jan 13 - Wayne Shelton

Happy birthday to cousin Wayne Shelton - sitting her at his dad's desk. I think this pictrue was taken in Germany around 1966.

Jan 12 - Clara (Rogers) Mathes

Jan 12, 1900 was the birthday of Clara (Rogers) Mathes, seen here looking at her sister Leone. Clara was the sixth child and oldest girl of Willard and Mattie Rogers. She married Jake Mathes in 1919 and they had six children. She died in May, 1980.

Happy Birthday Shari

Happy 37th birthday to my sisters Shari. These pictures were taken Jan 06, 1971.

Dec 31 - Diane Smith

Happy Birthday Aunt Diane!

One Year Anniversary

Today marks one year that I haver been posting photos for you on this website. I hope there are actually people reading it - I never know unless someone leavers a note here or tells me. Was tempted to close up shop until I got an Email the other day from one of my distant cousins who really gave me a nice pat on the back. In any event I enjoy it and will keep on. In the past year I have posted 372 posts and 690 pictures. If I missede anyone's birthday, I apologize - let me know whos photos you are looking for and I will see what I can come up with. Best to all!

Dec 29 - Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary Uncl;e Raymond and Aunt Janet!

Dec 28, 1895 - Charles Rogers

Uncle Charlie was the fourth son of Willard and MattieRogers. He was born on Dec 28, 1895 in Wayne County. This picture was taken in April, 1978 at the Mt. Vernon airport. He was returning to Denver after a brief visit to the Farifield area.

Dec 27 - Jennifer

Happy birthday to cousin Jennifer - not sure if she checks in on this site, but hope she is nice and warm down in Florida! Jennifer and I were born 20 days apart, she on December 27 and me on January 16. This year is a mile stone birthday - hope she is dealing with it better than me - haha! Happy birthday sweetheart - drop me a line sometime - miss you.

Dec 27 - Keegan

Happy birthday to nephew Keegan Walsh. Keegan is seven years old today. I hope he has a great birthday.

Dec 26 - Leone Shelton

A Happy 92nd birthday to Grandma (Leone) Shelton!

William R. and Margaret Shelton

Christmas Day is the 121st anniversary of the death of William R. Shelton, my great-great grandpa. Dec 20 is the 166th anniversary of the birth of Margaret (Losh) Shelton. I stopped by the Brown Cemetery yesterday and left some Christmas flowers on their graves. Uncle Bryon Shelton used to tell a story about William, who had been laid up in bed, being visited by the spirits of his little girls, Viola and Magnolia, who had died some years earleir. They appeared as young ladies and told him that they would be back in 10 days for him. He called Mag to the bed and told him that he had "seen the girls, and they were in the flower of youth." William, a veteran of the Civil War, knew the day he would die and, I am told, that word spread around the community. Onthe day he died there was a large group of friends and relatives on the lawn to check in on the ailing William, who was only 51. Mag lived another 45 years after the death of William.

Christmas 2006

Here aer some pictures I took yesterday, December 25, 2006. the first is dinner at Bob and Doris Bozarth's house - Christmas day tradition for me. L-R is Katlyn and Barbara Bozarth, Grandma (Edith) Smith, Doris, Jared, Bob, Brandon, Mike and Tyler Bozarth and Wanda Loveless.
Doris and Wanda had prepared a GREAT dinner - I had seconds before moving on to Aunt Wanda's famous sugar cookies
Before I left, Katlyn snapped a picture of me and Grandma.

Next was a stop at Dad's place, where Grandma Shelton wzas visiting for Christmas dinner. Linda is a great cook, so I missed out on a wonderful meal, I guess. Grandma was going on about how great the yams were.

Grandma hitched a ride back to Fairfield with me. It had been raining all day and the water was rising in the bottoms, so we went the scenic route - if you consider Mt. Erie scenic. Grandma recently moved to Brookstone Estates in Fairfield, so visited a bit with her when we got there before continuing to Bill and Janis Shelton's place where I had some great snacks, coffee and I gave them a guided tour of my external drive, looking at dozens of old pictures and picking out a few old songs to play, too. Hope Santa was good to everyone and your Christmas was the best ever!

25 years ago - Christmas Day

Christmas dinner was always spent at Granddad and Grandma Smith's house. These pictures were taken 25 years ago on Dec 25, 1981.
Doris and Bob Bozarth

Me, age 14
Mike and Barbara Bozarth

Wanda Loveless

Mom, Granddad, Wanda, Mike and Barbara

Shari and I and Bob and Doris watch as Grandma unwraps a present.

Christmas Eve 1975

Our family's Christmas Eve tradition was seeing family at Grandma Shelton's house. These pictures were taken Christmas Eve, 1975. Great memories.

Aunt Janis looks a little burned up.

Janie
Raymond and Janet Shelton
Jill, JR and Janie
Disco Dan