November 15, 2009, Early Picture

As yesterday was my birthday, this photo seems appropriate. My brother David sent it to me. It is me and my father on Dec. 5, 1945, just after I was born on Nov. 14, 1945. I was only three weeks old. Amazing photo. Thanks to David for sending it.

November 14, 2009-My Collections

Now that I have had another birthday, I think I should tell you about all my "collections", as they are vast. First of all, I collect books. Mostly old but also some new books. I have books in every room of the house. Children's books are in Madi's room, rare collectible books are in the family room, medical books are in the book room. I have so many books that some are in boxes in the garage. I actually have an inventory, so I know what books I have.

I also collect sea shells. At one time, I wanted to be a marine biologist, but lived no where near the ocean. So everytime I visited the ocean, I gathered shells. The best shelling I have ever done was on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We lived there for a while and I gathered some great shells there. I have shells throughout the house and I have a shell display table with the most prized shells. I also have shells in my garden.

I collect dolls. Mostly "Story Book Dolls" from my childhood. But I also have some newer dolls and one special handmade doll whose name is Nodie Wall. I named her after Don's 3rd cousin, Nodie Wall in Fannin, Texas.

I collect greeting cards. For a number of years, I have kept every card for every occasion that I have received. I now have four big boxes of cards.

I also collect quilts. I have several quilts made by my grandmother, Mary Harris. I have some quilts made by the mother of my step mother, Lou Bonner. And I have some handmade quilts I have bought.

I collect old documents and souvenier booklets from centennial celebrations. I have lots of those.

I also collect clocks. I have a wonderful collection I inherited from my step-mother. And then I have added my own clocks to the collection.

I collect Native American pottery and baskets. Don and I have purchased a number of wonderful items that have added to our collection. Some pottery and some baskets, all displayed in the family room.

All in all, my collections over run my house. But, I love them and take pride in them.

November 14, 2009-Today Is My Birthday

Well, another year has come and gone. Today is my birthday and I am very glad. As always, I can't remember how old I am. My given name is Sharon Kay Bonner. I got lots of greetings today. Don and Rusty gave me two great birthday cards. Kristin and all the Smedley/Spadaro kids called and sang Happy Birthday with an added Cha-Cha-Cha. My Aunt Poppy and Uncle Joe called with wishes. My Mom who is 85 called this morning. I received cards from Brad, Alison and a great one from Henry. Chris and Kim sent me Facebook wishes and Keaton wished me Happy Birthday on a video. My insurance man sent a greeting. Nina and Harold sent me a birthday card. My sister Charisse sent me a birthday wish. It was all fun. I wonder if they know how old I really am? Well, just so you'll know I was once a young person, you can see this picture of me.

P.S.-November 15-There are at least two people who know how old I really am. One is my friend Shirley and the other my brother David. Today they both sent me an audio of the Beatles song, "When I'm 64".

November 10, 2009- Health Care and The Mannings

I know you will be convinced that I have gone off the deep end when you read this. I just love genealogy research because I never know where it will take me. For a number of years now the hospitals at the OU Health Sciences Center have been owned by HCA, the Hospital Corporation of America. Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr was one of the founders of HCA. He is the father of US Senator from Tennessee, Dr.Bill Frist. Now here goes our connection.

Jane Stewart Manning, our great, great, great grandmother had a sister named Polly Stewart. Polly married Mr. Wells and one of their children was Dr. William Boyden Wells (Nephew of Jane Stewart). One of Dr. Wells children was Mary Wells (Grand Niece of Jane Stewart). Mary married Mr. Landress and they had a daughter named Anna Marie Landress (2nd Grand Niece of Jane Stewart). Anna Marie married Dr. William Robert Cates (2nd grand nephew in law of Jane Stewart). Dr. Cates had a sister named Dorothy Cates and Dorothy Cates married Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr. Dr. William Robert Cates and Dr. Thomas Frist were in medical practice together for a while.

That does somehow make us related to Dr. Thomas First Sr. and his son, Senator Bill Frist, doesn't it? So, we should have a lot more political clout than we have plus access to the best health care available. Don't you agree? Thought you would find this amusing. Just wait and see who I find next that is one of our distant relatives.

November 1, 2009- Jane Stewart Manning's Nephews

While researching the Stewart Family, I noticed that several of the children of John Stewart and Sarah Mullinax named their children after Presidents of the United States. Jane's brother Jonathan Stewart named one of his sons, Andrew Jackson Stewart. Andrew was born in 1832 and died in 1911. Jonathan had a brother also named Andrew. It's possible that he might also have been Andrew Jackson Stewart. Jane's sister, Elizabeth Stewart married David Skates. Elizabeth and David Skates named one of their children, Andrew Jackson Skates.
Andrew Jackson Skates was born in 1832 in South Carolina and died September 20, 1863 at the Battle of Chicamauga in Tennessee.

Jonathan Stewart named another of his sons, James K. Polk Stewart. James was born November 18, 1844 in South Carolina and died August 16, 1864 in a battle near Petersburg, Virginia. Jane Stewart Manning and Thomas Manning also named a son, James K. Polk Manning. James was born June 16, 1844, just five months before his cousin James K. Polk Stewart. James, the son of Jane and Thomas, died at age 10 on April 19, 1854 from the bite of a water moccasin. Jane Stewart Manning and Thomas Manning named my Great great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Manning. Thomas Jefferson was born September 24, 1832 and died February 10, 1891. Thomas Jefferson Manning named one of his children, Thomas Jefferson Manning, Jr.

Polly Stewart Wells and John Wells named one of their sons Benjamin Franklin Wells. Benjamin was born in 1841 in Georgia. I don't know the date of his death. I found his name listed on a monument in Walker county Georgia, "Wall of Honor". It lists Walker county residents who were Veterans of the Civil War.

Andrew Jackson Stewart, the son of Jonathan Stewart, named one of his sons Ulysses Grant Stewart. Ulysses was born in 1870 and died in 1942. Apparently Andrew Jackson Stewart and his wife named another son Ulysses Grant Stewart. This son died very young and was born before their second Ulysses.

It was not unusual in the 1800's to see children named after Presidents of the United States, but I found it interesting to see eight in the immediate Stewart family.