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Sharp Family Reunion

Back (l-r): Mae Poppleton, Ernest Sharp, Nelda Miller, Ed Howard, Ed Poppleton, Martha Howard, Violet Sharp, Vic Maw, ? (behind Vic), Mary Richardson, Mary Kley, ?, ?, Emma Howard, Eli Howard, ?, Vic Hunt, Ray Sharp, ?, Os Richardson.  Middle: Opal Stolberg, Carma Mercer, Lilly Sharp, Aus Sharp, Lewis Kley, Martha Howard, Del Sharp, Fred Hunt.  Front: ?, ?, Ruby Sharp, ?, Harold Ross, Howard Kley, Ruth Kley, Verla Kley, Elda Kley, ?, ?.

Here is a photo from a Sharp/Howard family reunion in about 1933.  If anyone can name more, I would be happy to update the names and information.

Back (l-r):

Evelyn Mae Sharp (1911-1977), wife of Ed Poppleton, daughter of Del and Violet Sharp.

Ernest Sharp (1886-1967), son of Milo and Lilly Sharp.

Nelda Sharp (1914-1985), daughter of Austin and Martha Sharp.

Ed Howard,

Edward Castle Poppleton (1904 – 1975), husband of Evelyn May Sharp.

Martha Hazel Howard (1886-1965), wife of Austin Sharp, daughter of John and Martha Howard.

Violet Grieve (1891-1964), wife of Delwin Sharp.

Victorine Mary Sharp (1862-1945), sister to Milo Riley Sharp.

? (behind Vic),

Mary Irene Sharp (1892-1990), wife of Oscar Richardson, daughter of Milo and Lilly Sharp.

Mary Susan Howard (1896-1964), wife of Lewis Kley, daughter of John and Martha Howard.

Melva Ladean Howard (1926-2009), daughter of Eli and Emma Howard.

?,

Emma Dean Allred (1902-1992), wife of Eli Howard.

Jesse Eli Howard (1902-1985), wife of Emma Allred, son of John and Martha Howard.

?,

Victorine Sharp (1889-1987), wife of Fred Hunt, daughter of Milo and Lilly Sharp.

Milo Ray Sharp(1880-1946), son of Milo and Lilly Sharp.

?,

Oscar Child Richardson (1889-1971), husband of Mary Sharp.

Middle:

Opal Adaline Sharp (1909-1995), daughter of Austin and Martha Sharp.

Carma Lillian Sharp (1912-1981), daughter of Austin and Martha Sharp.

Lillian “Lilly” Musgrave or Mary Ann Stoker (1861-1935), husband of Milo Riley Sharp, I have written of them previously.

Austin Sharp (1886-1956), son of Milo and Lilly Sharp.

Lewis William Kley (1891-1963), husband of Mary Susan Howard.

Martha Adaline Graviet (1869-1941), wife of John George Howard.

Delwin Sharp (1884-1969), son of Milo and Lilly Sharp.

Fredrick Lawrence Hunt (1887-1967), husband of Vic Sharp.

Front:

?,

?,

Ruby A Sharp (1922-Alive), daughter of Edward and Lilly Sharp.

?,

John Harold Ross (1923-2004), raised by Del and Violet Sharp, their nephew.

Howard John Kley (1920-2001), son of Lewis and Mary Kley.

Ruth Delone Kley (1926-2004), daughter of Lewis and Mary Kley.

Verla Adaline Kley (1919-1989), daughter of Lewis and Mary Kley.

Elda Mary Kley (1924-2005), daughter of Lewis and Mary Kley.

?,

?.

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Mrs. Matthews’ Class

Back(l-r): Bret Sever, Steven McDaniels, Becky Kolman, Kim Maier, Gina Richardson, Leslie Easton, Keith Barns, Jeff Holland, Rodney Hansen.  Third Row: Mrs. Matthews, Steven Devers, John Matthews, Trudy Mills, Rachell Harris, Lisa Thompson, Jenny Ford, Toye Kopkins, David Lynn, Val Paterson.  Second Row: Mark Bonner, Greg Morten, Katherine Ringell, Debbie Hatt, Wendy Muir, Cory Parish, Robert Miller.  Front: Jackie Jonas, Mike Larson, Kathy Larson, Douglas Brown.

Here is another class picture of my Aunt Jackie.  As the sign tells, this picture is from Southwest School in Burley, Cassia, Idaho taken in March 1971.  The names were written on a piece of paper inside.  If they are incorrect, please let me know.  I would be happy to update the information.

Bret Sever

Steven McDaniels

Becky Kolman

Kim Maier

Gina Richardson

Leslie Easton

Keith Barns

Jeff Holland

Rodney Hansen

Mrs. Matthews

Steven Devers

John Matthews

Trudy Mills

Rachell Harris

Lisa Thompson

Jenny Ford

Toye Kopkins

David Lynn

Val Paterson

Mark Bonner

Greg Morten

Katherine Ringell

Debbie Hatt

Wendy Muir

Cory Parish

Robert Miller

Jackie Jonas

Mike Larson

Kathy Larson

Douglas Brown

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Home Coming

This is a poem by Lilly M. Sharp.

Sharp Family Reunion in 1931. Lilly M. Sharp is in the back seated row, third from the left.

“Home Coming”

–

I’m feeling quite elated

With the prospect in view;

For a real good time for everyone,

That will come and join our crew.

–

There’ll be lots of nice singing

and recitation with a vim,

It will be a joyful day,

For those that will join in.

–

There’s always plenty cooked

For the crowd that always comes

And every one enjoys it,

From Grandma to the sons.

–

There you meet old friends

That you haven’t seen for years;

There’ll be joy and laughter,

Mingled with your tears.

–

How we enjoy old comrads,

Coming many miles to see;

Their chums they loved in childhood

That means all you and me.

–

We know not how long,

The privilege we will have;

To meet our dear old Playmates,

Or shake hands with dear old Dad.

–

But we must make the best of it

And try to do whats right;

Have a smile for every-one

Try and make their troubles light.

–

This big time I’ve been speaking of

I’d like you all to know;

Is on the 17th of March

And I hope that you’ll all go.

–

Now that all must know

That its taken lots of work;

To get this big time up

And there has been no shirk.

–

I think the least that we can do

Is to give to all three cheers;

That has helped to make it a success

For so many many years.

–

This is another poem, unnamed, written by Lilly.

–

Oh be not the first to discover,

A blog on the fame of a friend

A flaw in the case of another;

Whose heart may prove true to the end

A smile or a sigh may awaken,

Suspicion most false and undue,

And thus our belief may be shaken

In hearts that are honest and true.

–

How often the bright smile of gladness

Is worn by the friends that we meet,

To cover a heart full of sadness,

To proud to acknowledge defeat,

How often the sign of dejection

Is heaved from the hypocrites breast;

To parody truth and affection,

A lull a suspicion to rest.

–

Chorus

We none of us know one another

And oft into error my fall;

So let us speak well of our brother,

Or speak not about him at all.

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My Darling Mother

For my Mother’s birthday, I thought I would share a few thoughts about her.  I know she is pretty maligned by some, praised by others, and many more just do not know what to be in relation to her.  Therefore, I thought I would talk about her with that title, Mother.

The above photo came to me in 2010.  This photo was given to my Great Grandmother, Lillian Coley Jonas Bowcutt (1898-1987), probably not long after it was taken.  I am guessing before 1960.  From my understanding, it hung on the wall of my Great Grandmother in Richmond, Cache, Utah until she had to move in with her daughter, Lillian Jonas Talbot (1930-2009), in Layton, Davis, Utah the mid 1980’s.  It still has its original heavy paper frame and original glass.  I took the picture out of the frame to scan it and imagined that it was the photographer who placed it there in the late 1950’s, or more likely, one of my grandparents.  I can imagine the photo carefully located on Great Grandma’s wall and the love that swelled in her breast as she viewed my Mother and my Uncle Doug.  I am sure the scores of other grandchildren hung on the same wall, but these were grandchildren that also lived in Richmond and paid regular visits so there was a personal love as well as that motherly love.

When Great Grandma Lillian moved to Layton, all her photo albums and pictures went with her.  When she passed away in 1987, they fell into the possession of her daughter, Lillian.  It was almost 20 years later when I knocked on the door and wanted to see photographs.  I found the goldmine when she pulled out these albums.  I scanned the photo above in 2006, but after Aunt Lillian passed away in 2009, the family thought to give me this actual photograph.

A copy of this same photograph hung in my Grandmother’s house in Paul, Minidoka, Idaho.  It sat on a cedar chest in one of the bedrooms.  I do not know what happened to that photo when my Grandmother died, but I have this image in my mind of that photo being in my Grandparent’s possession from the late 1950’s as well.  Tended, loved, and on the wall overlooking the family as they grew through the years.  I know I probably romanticize it as any child does to ignore the pain of their childhood for the faults and inadequacies of their parents.  I know my mother romanticizes her childhood and the relationship with her parents.  I see in this picture a happy smirk and a couple of contented children.  What did my Grandparent’s see in their children?  What did my Great Grandmother see in this picture?  I will not likely know while I am alive.

As I now have a child of my own and feel great love in the features and form of the child, not to mention the personality, I know how I feel looking at pictures of my daughter.  I assume my Grandparents felt the same for their children.  I look at this photo with new eyes, especially where I can sense so many similar features between my daughter Aliza and her Grandmother Sandy (and even a few with her Grand Uncle Doug).

Here is another picture of Mom and Uncle Doug outside their home in Richmond.  Again, I see two cold, but happy, kids playing in the snow outside the home my Grandpa Jonas lovingly built for the family in the late 1940’s.

Here is another photo of Doug and Mom outside the Richmond home near the front sidewalk.

This photo does not look quite so happy.  Mom looks like she is in the same sweater as she was in the first picture above.  My Mom had a pretty mangled right-handed ring finger that had not been removed by this point.  I imagine  she is holding her right hand to hide the the bandages and injury to that finger.  That seems to expand my sympathy for her and the somber look she has on her face.  No three- year-old should have that type of injury and then keep a mangled finger for 5 years when it finally has to be removed due to doctor negligence and improper care.  I think she would have lost it anyway, but the doctor certainly sped things up.

How did my Grandparents view this little girl who was injured?  I am sure they loved her dearly.  I remember one time after asking my Grandma how she felt about my Mom as a little girl and she referred to her as “her little darling girl.”  I am sure it was with heartbreak that this little darling girl now had to live with the pain of a lawnmower almost removing a finger.  I am sure a sigh of relief that only one finger was lost rather than all of them.

Here is another picture.  This was also taken in 1957, the same year that Mom would suffer the severe trauma to her finger.  She still has it in full glory at this point.  This picture was from the Andra Reunion which I believe was held in Preston, Franklin, Idaho.

Again, I feel for the family.  I sense a contented nature in this picture.  Grandpa did not have his life increasingly taken over by alcohol by this point.  He looks like a good healthy, strong man.  I love the classic late 1950’s clothing they all sport.  Doug’s ironed shorts, the patterns in Grandma’s pants, the shirt Grandpa wears with the sleeves rolled, and the one piece jumper Mom wears with its pattern.

(l-r): Sandy Jonas, Lola Bruderer, Jane Robinson

Here is a picture of Mom playing with some friends.  This picture was taken or developed in August 1958, at least that is what the side of the photograph said.  Classic wallpaper, carpet, and clothes of the late 1950’s.  I especially love the Crayola crayons box on the table.  I wonder where these other two ladies are now and what their impressions of the photo and others are?

Last picture of the childhood of my Mom.  This one is probably my favorite.

This photo is also classic of the time with its painted colors.  This is obviously a couple of years later, probably even into the 1960’s.  Too bad it is slightly blurred, but at least I have it.  Oddly enough, the same photo appeared in black in white just this year with this accompanying side shot.

A happy child lovingly tended to and cared for.  The years fly by until we hit about 1966.  The family’s time in Richmond was slowly drawing to a close.

Although by this time a younger sibling, Jackie, has joined the children.  Here is another picture from about 1968, probably shortly before the move to Burley, Cassia, Idaho.  Sally (1955-2010) was Mom’s best friend growing up.  Dee is Mom’s first cousin.

Dee Jonas, Sally Johnson, and Sandy Jonas

The family moved to Burley in 1968 when Grandpa secured work on the construction of the new Del Monte plant.  I know Mom was not at all excited about the move.  At this point, I think I will leave Mom’s time in Idaho for another time.  But I have at least documented some of her life from 1954 through 1968.  One last picture of Mom and me around 1980.

Mom with me on Jack

Happy Birthday Mom.

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Tricycle 1947

Mary Donaldson (left), Dena Donaldson, and Milo Ross in 1947

This is a fun photo of my father, Milo Paul Ross, in 1947.  Since I often see a similar facial expression in my own daughter and nephew, I thought I would post this picture now.  I have already written of Mary Williams Donaldson Stoker and Dena Donaldson previously.  I have also written of Dad’s parents.  This picture was taken in Ogden, Weber, Utah.

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“The Moon,” by Elizabeth Donaldson

I thought I might share a post by a Donaldson cousin.  Mary Elizabeth Connell Donaldson is my 2nd Great Grand Aunt.  She went by the name of Elizabeth.  I have written previously about her father and mother-in-law.  Some others are attempting to get some of her poems published.  Here is one of them you can find on another blog.

“The Moon,” by Elizabeth Donaldson.

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Mr. Heward’s Class

Back Row(l-r): Debbie Kay, Tammie Beason, Bruce Harper, Mike Hansen, Jack Jones, Dawnette Jolley, Cris Davis, Tamara Quast, Cindy Church, Mr. Heward. Third row: Kim Maier, Kerry Hines, Jeff Holland, Jody Anderson, Marilyn Baumgartner, Steven McDaniel, Chip Jones, Rodney Hansen, Keith Barnes, Robert Murphy. Second Row: Curtis Holmes, Norman Dayley, Janie Harris, Katherine Ringel, Wendy Lambert, Jackie Jonas, Delia Castilla. Front Row: Charles Elliott, Ruben Soto, Mark Bonner, David Hill, Gary Miller, Daniel Green.

This class photo is one of several in my Aunt’s photos that she gave to me so I could scan them.  Since there is not really a great way to keep all the names on the photo with it, I thought this would be the best way.  This picture was taken at the old Miller School located in Burley, Cassia, Idaho.  I believe this photo was taken in March 1972.  Jackie has written on it that she was age 11, and the broader photo has St. Patrick’s Day items on the walls. If anyone has more information about people in the picture, please let me know.

Debbie Kay

Tammie Beason

Bruce Harper (1959 – 1975)

Mike Hansen

Jack Jones

Dawnette Jolley

Cris Davis

Tamara Quast

Cindy Church

Gerald Heward (?-?)

Kim Maier

Kerry Hines

Jeff Holland

Jody Anderson

Marilyn Baumgartner

Steven McDaniel

Chip Jones

Rodney Hansen

Keith Barnes

Robert Murphy

Curtis Holmes

Norman Dayley

Janie Harris

Katherine Ringel

Wendy Lambert

Jackie Jonas

Delia Castilla

Charles Elliott

Ruben Soto

Mark Bonner

David Hill

Gary Miller

Daniel Green

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Old Folks Day

This is a poem by Lilly M. Sharp.

Couple in Haughton Green, Cheshire, England in 1999.

“Old Folks Day”

–

My dear friends and comrades;

One year has passed away

Since we met here before

To celebrate Old Folks Day.

–

There has been lots of changes

All around we know;

But this day comes to cheer us,

As the years come and go.

–

The days and hours seem to drag;

But the years go swiftly by

And time goes on just the same,

Whether we live or die.

–

The friends we knew in childhood;

Are the ones we hold most dear,

For we’ve grown old together;

Which makes us all so near.

–

There seems to be real comfort

In meeting old friends so dear;

And hear their joyous laughter,

Mingled with their fears.

–

This old folks day brings sunshine

Into our hearts once more,

As we all get together,

As we did in days of yore.

–

So come happy old folks day

And fetch us lots of cheer;

For you don’t know how we’d miss you,

If you didn’t come once a year.