Thanks for stopping by the home page of SmithDRay's Web Pages. Please use the Site Index to quickly find the pages that interest you. Here you will find links to and summary information about many of the pages such as: Nancy Ward, Dragging Canoe, Sarcoidosis, Writers, History, Historic Trails, Parenting, Books, Bible and Humor. Other pages such as Holidays, Inspires and Smiley pages are being added regularly and many of the pages are updated frequently. Please consider signing the Mailing List to be notified of new pages and updates.
Old, unique and unusual books for sell, swap, or buy. History, Tennessee, Cherokee, and past presidents (especially Jefferson) are areas of special interest.
We collect Riverside ESTHER pattern early American pattern glass. We have several pieces of the green and gold ESTHER pattern and one piece of the clear ESTHER pattern. Links to other Early American Pattern Glass sites.
Several years ago a coal miner with a vision to place simple messages about God where people could read them and be caused to think about their relationship with God did much the same thing. However, his resources were limited yet he managed to place signs in many locations. Check out the following link:
Fanny's memories of conversations with a special grandmother while laying on a featherbed...you may find this will bring back memories of your special grandmother's featherbed as well.
INSPIRE Pages!
Special INSPIRE Pages resulting from the terrorist attack on America of September 11, 2001
Read the thoughts of a person who has seen death and devastation, but nothing to compare with what he observed after the terrorist attack on America where two airplanes were deliberatly crashed into the World Trade Center towers.
Simple messages with a powerful impact to make us think about our relationship with God
While these billboards are thought to be the efforts of one individual, they are not the first time this has been done. Several years earlier a coal miner with a vision to place simple messages about God where people could read them and be caused to think about their relationship with God did much the same thing. However, his resources were limited yet he managed to place signs in many locations. Check out the following link:
SmithDRay is the name chosen for a group of web pages developed to communicate about some areas of interest and establish contacts with others sharing common interests.
WRITERS: An interest in writing, both creative and nonfiction, has grown over the years and I have had three historical subjects published. The History of Nancy Ward has been published in both the Encyclopedia of East Tennessee and the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. The earliest road from East Tennessee to Middle Tennessee is described in the "Trails, Historic" segment of the Tennessee Encyclopedia of Tennessee History and Culture. I am currently writing the history of a statue of Nancy Ward that was placed on a white woman's grave and later removed from a small East Tennessee cemetery. The local's want it back. I am looking for it and hope to see its return some day. I am also editing and rewriting a book on the History of Delina, a small farming settlement in southern middle Tennessee where I grew up. And last, I am working on the history of Dragging Canoe, the most feared Cherokee warrior who fought the white settlers who came to Tennessee.
NANCY WARD: My special interest in the last Beloved Woman of the Cherokee has been the source of much research and resulted in much enjoyment over the years. This page includes the full text of the article published in the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 1998. I continue to collect any and all information about Nancy Ward that I can locate. Research on her life has led me to many other discoveries concerning the history of the late 1700's.
DRAGGING CANOE: History of this most feared Cherokee War Chief. His common staying was "We are not yet conquered!" as he led the Chickamauga's in battle against the white settlers. At one point when Richard Henderson pushed for more land by attempting to buy a "road to Kaintuckee", Dragging Canoe could stand it no longer, he said "We have given you this, why do you ask for more? You have bought a fair land. When you have this you have all. There is no more game left between the Watauga and the Cumberland. There is a cloud hanging over it. You will find its settlement dark and bloody." This prophecy was to be fulfilled by Dragging Canoe as he continually attacked the white settlers until his death March 1, 1792. This page is a work in progress and I update it as time permits me to work on the history and legend of the "dragon", Dragging Canoe!
SARCOIDOSIS: My wife's history of over twelve years of suffering with Sarcoidosis is also a primary reason for the initial interest in web pages. We have contacted people from all over the world and have provided help from just letting them know that someone else in the world has the same symptoms to sharing the frustration of not being able to get any medical help or understanding for this little known health problem. Her story continues to unfold as we learn to live with the effects of Sarcoidosis and the side effects of its primary steriod treatment, prednisone. Fanny has recently started a new approach to treating Sarcoidosis. If you have Sarcoidosis related questions e-mail her at:Fanny's Sarcoidosis Questions
HISTORY: Early Tennessee history, Cherokee history (especially Nancy Ward and Dragging Canoe), and early US history are areas of interest.
HISTORIC TRAILS: Published article on the Emery Road and the Walton Road, earliest road system from East Tennessee to Middle Tennessee. Published in the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 1998.
PARENTING: We are grandparents who have been involved in youth related efforts since the early 1970's when we began working with the youth group at our church. I have been involved in Scouting for over 25 years as a Cubmaster, Pellissippi District Committee Activities Chairman, Boy Scout Troop Committee, and Instutional Representative. I am now chairman of the steering board for Anderson County's Promise, a local effort associated with the national America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth.
HUMOR: Clean fun, e-cards, quotes, links to humor sites.
BOOKS: An interest in old, unique and unusual books to buy, sell or swap.
EARLY AMERICAN PATTERN GLASS: We collect antique glass, especially Riverside ESTHER pattern glass. We have several pieces of the green and gold ESTHER pattern made in 1896 and a few pieces of the clear ESTHER pattern.
Nancy Ward Page
Dragging Canoe Page
Sarcoidosis Page
