Saturday, May 4, 2024

Sunbonnet Rock 50 Years Later

 In November of 2022, I posted the following question about an old family photo I had received -

Martin Family abt 1934
Elmer, Wilbur, Maymie, and LeRoy in front

The location of the photo was a mystery to me. The photo was of my paternal grandparents and their two young sons, Wilbur and LeRoy, sitting on an interesting rock formation.  Judging from the ages of the boys, the photo would have been taken around 1933-1934.  In response to my question, several comments were left and I was able to pin-point the exact location of the photo and also find a postcard of the location. 

Recently several more family photos of the Navajo Twins and Sunbonnet Rock have surfaced.  It seems that when someone in the family was traveling through Bluff, Utah, Sunbonnet Rock was popular spot to stop and take a  photos.  

Below is a vintage black and white photo probably taken in the late 1940s.  The photo was taken before a commemorative plaque was placed on Sunbonnet Rock in the 1950s.  The Navajo Twins are standing in the top center and Sunbonnet Rock is on the bottom right.  The photo was most likely taken by Elmer Martin, but there was no identification or date on the back.  

Navajo Twins and Sunbonnet Rock - circa 1940s


50 Years Later

The next photo is from the 1980's and shows LeRoy Martin and four of his grandsons sitting on Sunbonnet Rock.  LeRoy who was a young 4 year old in the top photo from 1934, is 50 years older in this newer photo.  
The Sons of the Utah Pioneers attached a historic marker to Sunbonnet Rock in the 1950's. The square bronze plaque can be seen in the middle of the rock just below the top rock.  The plaque commemorates the San Juan Mission and the pioneers who settled Bluff.

LeRoy again sitting on Sunbonnet Rock 50 years later.
About 1984

Previous posts:
Where is this? 
Sunbonnet Rock 


Friday, May 3, 2024

Medlin-Cowley-Stewart Relationships

 Trying to figure out the relationships between the Medlin, Cowley, Leaver, and Stewart families (Tennessee) was more than a little confusing.  The diagram below helps while working on these families and their relationships to each other.  Harrison Stewart and Samuel Medlin are direct ancestors in our family.  Both the Medlin and Stewart families were originally from the Putnam County, Tennessee area.  Our branch of the Medlin family moved to the Nashville area in the 1840s.


 Corrections and additions welcomed. 🙂

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Putnam County Cemeteries

 In August 2013, my husband and I visited Putnam County, Tennessee.  In addition to researching at the local library, Putnam County Court House, and Putnam County Archives, I was able to visit most of the cemeteries my Putnam County ancestors were buried in.  Betty Stewart Stark, a 4th cousin on my Stewart line, met us and took us around to the cemeteries where our Stewart ancestors were buried in.  In addition, Betty was able to show us exactly where the graves were located in the cemeteries.  

Stewart Cemetery
Cookeville, Putnam, Tennessee 

Preston Stewart
1815-1875

Nancy J Brown Stewart
wife of Preston

Family burials in Stewart Cemetery:

Several of the cemeteries visited were in the Boma community.


Smellage Cemetery
Boma, Putnam, Tennessee

Cathy and Betty Stewart Stark
2013 Smellage Cemetery

Betty and I are standing next to the headstones for Harrison and Sarah (Brown) Stewart.  Harrison and Sarah are my 3rd great-grandparents. The headstones are somewhat smaller that I imaged them.  

Headstones for Sarah and Harrison Stewart
Sarah on left and Harrison on right.
Close-ups of Stewart headstones
Sarah on left and Harrison on right.

Family burials in Smellage Cemetery:


New Home Baptist Cemetery
Boma, Putnam, Tennessee

Harrison Stewart's son, Elder Jacob Mattison Stewart, was buried in the New Home Baptist Cemetery in Boma.
Mary Lee Stewart and Elder JM Stewart

Emeline Brown & W.A. Brown


Family burials in New Home Baptist Cemetery, Boma, Putnam, Tennessee