I am very impressed with their work for several reasons:

• Their pottery shapes are classic
• I really enjoy their glazes
• They make a very wide variety of pieces
• Their personalized logo pottery is a very creative and cost effective way to combine computer graphics with functional pottery. They can run small or large batches of various pieces with your custom artwork / logo.
• Like my other favorite potters, they are down to earth and very interesting people

Below the photos are links to their web site, along with several YouTube videos of Monica throwing pots.  If you’ve never seen pots thrown before, you might find it very interesting.  Monica makes it look easy (trust me, that only comes from years of experience)

Workshop and Showroom

Great Doorbell!

Some of their pieces

Custom Mugs

Custom Cheese Boards

Custom Trivets

Sommerville Pottery’s Web Site

Video of Monica throwing pots at Artizann’s in Naples, NY

Part 2 of Monica throwing pottery

Part 3 – Monica throws a honey pot

Part 4 – Throwing a large pot for a surprise wedding gift

Doctor John was much better educated than most of those of his day. He was a stone mason and helped build the Pike through Salem. He practiced medicine without any special preparation, so was called Doctor John. He was reported to have had a very keen mind, but was very self-willed.

One anecdote about him – he went to a revival meeting in Bristol. A girl who had worked for him for years went down the aisle shouting her best, and he called to her, “Where are you going, Bet?” She replied, “To heaven, I hope.” Just then she reached a young man who had been going with her and threw herself into his arms. Doctor John said, “You have got there now, Bet!”

Salem College was built partly on his old farm.  The SDB Cemetery at Salem was on land given by him, and he carved some of the tombstones there.  He was a lifelong member of the Salem Seventh Day Baptist Church.

Children of John LaForge Fitz Randolph and Experience Brown, all born in Salem, WV:

1.          Lewis Fitz Randolph, born March 12, 1830, died July 6, 1839 of scarlet fever

2.          Delilah Ann Fitz Randolph, born December 11, 1830, first marriage to Sylvester Hughes in 1846

3.          Asa Fitz Randolph, born Feb 15, 1833, first marriage to Marvel Maxson in 1851

4.          Tacy Jane Fitz Randolph, born 1838, married Jeremiah Bee

5.          child who died young

6.          child who died young

Asa was my ancestor.

Children of John LaForge Fitz Randolph and Annette Maxson, all born in Salem, WV:

7.          James Fitz Randolph, born April 10, 1850, first marriage to Emily J. Sutton in 1870

8.          Mary Jane Fitz Randolph, born February 4, 1852, died July 30, 1925

9.          Nancy Cornelia Fitz Randolph, died age 3 months

10.      Rev. Guideon Henry Fitz Randolph, born August 5, 1855 and married Lucy Jane Green in 1884.  He was a Missionary to China about 1890.  Two of his sons were Seventh Day Baptist ministers: John was pastor at Berea, West Virginia around 1950; and Wardner was a missionary in Jamaica, British West Indies around 1950.

11.      Cecelian Annette Fitz Randolph, born October 23, 1859, died October 24, 1950 in Harrisonville, WV and buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Berea, WV

Children of John LaForge Fitz Randolph and Bathseba Skinner, all born in Salem, WV:

12.      Joel Fitz Randolph, born August 16, 1861, first marriage to Ella Davis in 1861.  Chief of Police of Salem, WV for many years.

13.      Thomas Burns Fitz Randolph, born January 26, 1863, married Estelle Garrett in 1890

14.      Stephen Davis Fitz Randolph, born July 29, 1864, married Mary Elendor Hurst in 1889

15.      Ruth Fitz Randolph, born April 6, 1872, married John S. Hurst in 1893

The first kids came in February when it was very cold. One evening I found a litter. One of them was so cold that it couldn’t get up; so I took it to the house, warmed it up, and finally got it to take a little milk. This got it on its feet, and I took it to its mother. In the morning it was again frozen. After warming it up and giving it some milk, I took it to its mother. It was all right then. There were five kids. I gave the two billies away, which left me five nannies.

We kept the goats staked out when we first got them. In the spring of 1942 I hired a woven wire fence put around a five-acre field for my goats, where we kept them and their progeny for over three years. I also kept the cows in this field part of the time. I let the doe kids run with their mothers, but the billies I gave to the neighbor children for the first two years. Then I began to charge a small price for them. I sold a few doe kids while they were small and some grown goats.

When I had had the goats about four years, I decided to sell them and get a couple pure-bred does of a fine milking strain. I found I had nine does to sell. I paid $20 for the two does and $15 for a buck. While we raised the goats, we ate three bucks (they were fine), sold a pair for $2, one doe and her two young does for $10, and two old goats for $15. I got $55 for the last nine does. Altogether I got $82 for the initial $35 investment. The goats cleaned up a five-acre field of filth, and we had all the milk and butter we needed so we could give the milk from the cows to the hogs and sell the cream. This gave us a cash income from the farm for Mamma, and we could raise two or three fine hogs a year.

I was very much interested in raising goats, but Elmo was very anxious for us to come to Wisconsin for a while. We decided to go there for the winter, then come back to the farm, buy our goats, and farm for ten more years. But as so often happens when you postpone anything, we never got our goats.

Another thing I liked very much about the goats, especially the kids, was to see them play. They would chase each other all over the field. One would jump on a tall stump. Then another one would jump up and butt it off. Then two more would butt that one off, and so it would go. They would climb onto a stump five or six feet high and then jump as far as they could. They sure are lively little animals.

A billy sometimes learns to butt if he is teased and can be very unpleasant if he makes a square hit when you are thinking of some other things. You must learn to take the bitter with the sweet (this is up-to-date philosophy and should be taken with a little water, if handy, but taken any way).

I think every one can see that I only gave up the goats to get better ones, and old age got me. I just got the farm 10 years (or 20) too late. Why should I worry about that? I have had a very good life and enjoyed the 17 years I was on the farm- every bit of it. If we could have remained able to have worked on the farm for ten more years, it would have been so nice; we would have enjoyed it very much.

Cows We Owned: About 1942 I had three cows. They did not give the milk they should, and one of them was an awful kicker-in fact, she was a killer. I sold her and bought a two-year-old of Ed Davis for $40-which proved to be a fine cow and a good bargain. I had to sell the others as they got garget.

In the spring of 1944 I went to a sale to buy a good cow. The dairy I had hoped to buy from had been sold. We met a man from Lewis County who said he had two good cows for sale. We went there as we came back, and I bought a three-year-old jersey cow with a heifer calf sired by a pure-bred Guernsey for $100. This was about as good a buy as I ever made.

I kept the calf till it was a cow and sold it for $150. The cow was a very fine milker and more than paid her way. After we left the farm we sold her to Olta for $125. I also sold another of her calves for $15. I sold the Ed Davis cow for $100 and three of her calves (one when it was two years old) for $80. So you see I did very well with her as she was a fine milker and her milk was very rich.

Olta and Ira took my stock to market, eggs and produce to town, and brought our feed and groceries (of course, we paid them). This was a great help to us and helped them, too.

Friends on Bug Ridge

Charley Watts and his father moved back to the farm in 1942. Two of his boys, Zeno and Freddie, came to me for three years till Zeno went to high school. Freddie went to me four years. I was very glad to see Mr. Watts, but I could see that he was getting feeble. He was out to see us two or three times. Charley brought him and the family out in his car, and we went out to see them several times. In the late winter of 1943 the old man took a severe cold, from which he didn’t seem to rally very well. Then one night he had a stroke, from which he never rallied.

So passed a very hard working man and a good friend of mine. So passed the third good old friend of mine on Bug Ridge-Uncle Daniel Huffman, Mr. Garrison, and Mr. Watts. Mr. Watts was the oldest, being 90 years old. The others were past 80. Uncle Daniel was my nearest neighbor and one of the best friends on the Ridge.

In our younger days we make friends; as we grow older they pass away one by one. In our old age, there are few left. And if, as I have done, you move when you are old, you have no friends at all. I am glad that I can be with some of my children and see the others every once in a while. I should not complain. I have had many friends and some close ones in several places. My rule has been: “Be true to a friend always.”

Ellis grew up on the farm near Stonefort, and entered Milton College in Milton, WI.  He served in the US Army in WW I.  He married Nellie Grace Mulvey June 25, 1905 in Stonefort.  They operated a grocery store in Stonefort, but soon switched to farming.  He farmed with large Percheron horses, raising hogs and chickens.

Children of Ellis and Nelly:

1. J.R. (Alfred) born 3/6/1906, died 4/8/1908, buried Joyner cemetery
2. Lillian Bess born 5/4/1907 is deceased, date unknown
3. Harold born 10/1/1908, died 7/12/1920, buried Joyner cemetery
4. Dorothy Olive, born 6/12/1910, died 3/6/1979, buried Bluff cemetery, Springdale, Arkansas
5. Nellie Grace, born 5/27/1912, died 11/7/1947, buried Thornberry cemetery, Gentry, Arkansas
6. William Baugh, born 4/30/1914, died date unknown in Riverside, CA

Ellis studied for ministry, and became pastor of the Stonefort Seventh Day Baptist Church and later the SDB Church in Gentry, Arkansas.  Following a divorce, he remarried Grace Maxon Ratliff.  He died June 29, 1950, following an accidental fall from his barn, and is buried in Gentry, Arkansas.  Nelly Grace Mulvey Lewis died July 3, 1962 in Riverside, CA.

(Robert) Ira Lewis

Robert Ira Lewis was born on the family farm on Sept 24, 1879.  He attended school in Stonefort, IL and the Milton College Academy, Milton Wisconsin.  He entered the Army, and was honorably discharged Jan 5, 1909 from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  He returned to his father’s farm where he worked, and married Joanna (Dollie) Martin on June 3, 1912  Dollie’s mother was Eugenia Gibbs (Deaney) Martin, who later married Rev Robert Lewis, father of Robert Ira Lewis.

Robert Ira and Dollie began agricultural farming, raising hay and grains for livestock feeding.  They had Jersey cattle, hogs and a large flock of white leghorn chickens.  They also did truck farming and gardening.

They later moved to Gentry, Arkansas and then to Riverside, California.

Dollie and Ira in Riverside

Ira died March 15, 1953 and Dollie died May 24, 1980.  They are buried in the Evergreen cemetery in Riverside.

Ira and Dollie had seven sons:

1. Edwin Paul  b Feb 27, 1913 died date unk
2. James Ford b Oct 14, 1914 died date unk
3. Robert Samuel b Sept 16, 1916  died date unk
4. Norman b Mar 14, 1918 died date unk
5. Phillip b Dec 25, 1919 died date unk
6. Alfred b Aug 10, 1921 – d date unknown
7. son b Jan 11, 1923  – is still living,

Cora went to school in Stonefort and later at Milton College in Milton, Wisconsin.  She taught school in rural schools around Stonefort.  Cora was a deeply religious person.  She was an astute student of the Bible, and was believed to have been gifted with spiritual powers.

She met her husband, Milo Green, at a Seventh Day Baptist Church Conference.  He was a farmer, and they were both very active in church affairs.  Cora married Milo Green on March 14, 1914.

Cora and Milo

She died Jan 30, 1966 and is buried at Joyner Cemetery beside Milo.  They had no children.

Oliver and his twin brother Oscar (who died in infancy) were born March 11, 1873 in Stonefort, IL

Here is a portrait of  Oliver Lewis as a relatively young man.

Oliver’s first wife was Anna Jones, born Dec 5, 1972, died Jan 5, 1903.

Anna Jones Lewis

They had two children:

1. Beaulah (Aunt Bea) born 9/30/1898,  married Carl DeVard who predeceased her.  Aunt Bea lived over 100 years.
2. Herbert born 1/22/1900, died a child 2/21/1901

Oliver was the only son who decided early in life that he did not want farming to be his principal occupation, and prepared himself to be a pharmacist.  He lived in Stonefort, IL his entire life, his home being only two blocks away from the drugstore he operated six days a week.

Oliver’s second wife was Katie Crank, born 10/21/ 1893 in Golconda, IL, married 9/6/1915 in Golconda, IL.

Oliver and Kate Wedding Portrait

Grandma Kate died 12/14/1956 and was buried in Sulphur Springs cemetery, Pope Co, IL, beside her parents.

Oliver and Kate had 10 children:

1. Ray Maxwell Lewis born 7/1/1916, now deceased
2. Charles Edward Lewis, born 10/7/1918, died 11/1/1969
3. Lester Howard Lewis, born 2/29/1920, died 2/11/1973, buried Sulphur Springs cemetery, Pope Co, IL
4. living daughter
5. living daughter
6. Harry Vernon Lewis, born 12/28/1925, died 4/9/1961, wife living
7. living son
8. living daughter
9. living son
10. living son

Oliver was also a printer, and had the honor of owning and operating the first printing machine in Saline County.  That same pres is on display at the Saline County Museum in Harrisburg, IL.  It is still used by the museum for printing, and several of his original cards advertising weddings, etc, are on display with it.

For many years while operating the store, he still found time to study for the ministry for which he had received a calling.  He was licensed to preach, and received a call from the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Stonefort where he served for many years before retiring.  Two of his sons, Charles Edward and Harry, also preached there.

Oliver passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on March 22, 1966 at the age of 93.

Sources of information on Oliver Lewis include:

• Marriage Certificate of Oliver Lewis & Kate Crank
• Oliver’s Illinois Death Certificate
• Obituary of Oliver Lewis
• Obituary of Katie Crank Lewis

(Seth) Albert Lewis

He married Mary Lulu (Lou) Jones May 31, 1896.

Mary Lulu "Lou" Jones Lewis

She was born to John Wesley and Mary (Johnson) Jones on June 11, 1872 in Raleigh, IL.

Albert and Lou had 12 children

1. Ruth born 11/18/1896, died 10/20/1912
2. Hugh born 2/21/1899, died an infant 8/11/1900
3. Florence born 4/28/1900, died 11/3/1979,  married Earl Hancock.  They both are buried in Sunset Lawn cemetery at Harrisburg, IL
4. Mildred born 6/25/1902, died 6/7/1935
5. Evelyn b 3/13/1905m married Romeo Todd, both buried in Joyner Cemetery.  I remember riding ponies they kept – lots of fun for a young boy!
6. Frank born 1/11/1907, died an infant 5/7/1907
7. Leland 4/22/1908.  Graduate of Salem College, West Virginia.  A teacher, and dedicated family historian.
8. Joseph born/ 8/2/1910,  died 11/21/1973, buried in Joyner Cemetery.  He always introduced himself as “Joe Lewis from Saint Louis”
9. Benjamin born6/18/1929, died 8/26/1965, buried in Joyner Cemetery

Joseph, Albert, Benjamin and Leland - 1924

Seth Albert Lewis was the second son born to Robert and Minerva Oshel Lewis.  He grew up helping his father in all phases of agricultural farming and livestock raising, and it was said that he was depended upon to a very great extent in this.

He secured all possible education available at that time through the elementary schools, and took courses at the high school level.  On May 31, 1896 he was married to Mary Lulu (Lou) Jones in Stonefort, IL.  They had nine children, and spent their married life on their farm near Stonefort.  Albert was a farmer, always raising enough hay, grain and other livestock feed for horses, cattle, higs, chicken, etc.  He also did a considerable amount of truck farming, raising vegetables for home use.  On December 7, 1919, Lou died, and Albert moved to the nearby town of Carrier Mills where his daughters could go to high school.  He worked in the coal mines, and his sons took jobs after school and in the summers.

Albert was killed by an out of control motorist on Dec 4, 1927.  He, Lou, and most of their children are laid to rest at the Joyner cemetery.