Treasure Chest Thursday - Missing GGrandmother Obit

Treasure Chest Thursday

Missing GGrandmother Obit

As I was doing the Saturday Night Fun exercise last feel on 'matrilineal' lines last week, I realized I did not have recorded the birthplace of one of my Great-Grandmothers. I mentioned it to my wife one day, and within a hour or so, here in my email shows up an Obit for her from a nearby town's newspaper. Neat! My wife works in Newspaper Archives all the time in her own research. I think I may have seen the obit before, years ago, but somehow had not recorded it in a handy place.

So, for me, this was a 'treasure' - I've spent most of my recent research times on hundreds of years ago, not 75 years ago. And, by the way, this obit was just 75 years ago this summer. The same summer that my Mother, Eileen, wrote the diary entries I've been sharing on Tuesdays, since mid-year. Looking back, on June 21, Week 25, she said: "Grandma to hospital. Have to operate." In Week 26, June 23, "Grandma failing all the time. Dad went up to Carroll in morning for the operation. No better at all." June 24 tells the final chapter.

Here is the Obituary:

Bayard News (online) Thursday, July 9, 1936, Page 1:

Margaret Jeanette Kinnick - obituary

    Margaret Jeannette Williams, daughter of Elias and Ann Duncan Williams was born near Rock Island, Ill., September 20, 1898 (sic - actually 1869) and died June 24, 1936, at the age of 66 years, 9 months, and 4 days.
    She moved with her parents to Scranton, Iowa, when six years old. A year or so later they moved to Coon Rapids, Iowa, where the remainder of her life was spent. Her mother died when she was ten years old and left six children. As she was the eldest daughter, the responsibility of mothering them fell upon her shoulders and how well and honorably she fulfilled that task.
    Her father was married to Sarah Armstrong, July 4, 1887. This marriage, which proved such a blessing to the motherless children freed her from much of the responsibility of the family and she was privileged to go on with her education.
    She taught school for several years.
    She was married to Alonzo P. Kinnick, July 6, 1891. To this union five children were born, two sons and three daughters.
    Her husband died in 1923 and once again the responsibility of the home fell wholly upon her shoulders.
    When the last of her children were married, she took up practical nursing and made a decided success of it. Her happy and jovial disposition made her a favorite in the sick room and her services were always in demand.
    She joined the Methodist church in early childhood and remained a faithful and devoted member to the end. She has been a member of this church for 49 years and the life which she led speaks better than any words we can utter. Her devotion to her family, whose interested always came first and her friendliness and loyalty to her neighbors was proverbial. She has set an example what we would do well to emulate. Wherever she knew that want and suffering existed found here there with her kindly ministrations.
    Mrs. Kinnick seemed to love everybody and everyone seems to love her. The one word on the lips of all is what a pity that such a good and useful woman should be taken. She occupied a place in the community that will be hard to fill.
    She was stricken about a month ago with infection in her ear and was taken to the Carroll hospital for an operation. It seemed to be successful and she left the hospital after a week or more. Last Saturday she suffered a relapse and on Sunday taken back to the hospital. Tuesday morning  a mastoid operation was performed from which she never rallied. She passed away at 8:10 Wednesday morning.
    She is survived by her five children, Paul H. Kinnick of Coon Rapids, Robert H. of Glidden, Lucille H. Herron of Coon Rapids, Gertrude Brideson  and Lillian R. Ford of Baryard. Twenty one grand-children, and one great grand-child. One sister, Mrs. Josephine Brock of Spirit Lake, Iowa. A step-mother, Mrs. Sarah Williams of Coon Rapids; two nephews, L.W. Williams of Sac City, and Dwight Williams of Coon Rapids; two nieces, Mrs. Helen Schauf of Bayard, and Mrs. Frances Keck of Montgomery, besides other relatives and a host of friends.
    Funeral services were held at the Coon Rapids Methodist church, conducted by Rev. Frank W. Clayburg of Villasca (sic), assisted by Rev. O. E. Cooley. Interment was made in Coon Rapids Cemetery.

Families are Forever!  ;-)