Treasure Chest Thursday - PHK 1913 Notebook

Treasure Chest Thursday - PHK 1913 Notebook

Thanks again to my cousin Ellen, in Colorado - they are moving, so going through things! She recently sent me this notebook from my maternal grandfather, Paul Harold Kinnick, PHK, from when he attended Capital City Commercial College, in Des Moines, Iowa, in about 1911-13. He had beautiful, very distinctive, cursive writing, as you will see.

The back cover was interesting, as well, to me:

Looking very closely, you can see, in red ink, upper right: C C C College
And, in the middle:
Property of P H Kinnick
Guthrie Center

Now, this is curious, of course, because he was from Coon Rapids, Iowa. He had graduated from high school in 1909, but it seems his father has sent him to operate a farm he owned near Guthrie Center. It was apparently from there that he went on to Des Moines to attend CCCC to learn to become a bank cashier.

The two positives were that, while working the farm near Guthrie Center, he met Dorothy Sorensen, of nearly Stuart. They married in 1914.

In today's (2-28-2013) The Coon Rapids Enterprise, the follow statement was in the 100 years ago column (2-28-1913):

"Leo Williams has resigned his position at the Bank of Coon Rapids. He is taking up some work in Omaha, in preparation for attending a school of commerce in Chicago this fall. Mr. Paul Kinnick of Des Moines takes his place. He comes well recommended."

They moved to Coon Rapids where he was a bank cashier for many years.

Now, for the rest of the story:

Here are the first inside pages of the notebook:

He only wrote the two sentences on the first page:
Get started right.
Play safe.

Good advice. But, the booklet obviously got into his younger sister's hands, and into her children's hands, as scratch paper. Boys and Girls are being counted in the left columns. A youngster obviously was also 'parroting' what he had written: Eat slowly, Be neat, etc. Funny!

The next pages are shown here:

He had written, on the left: Help Mother & Dad, and Be polite, as well as Drink lots of water.

A youngster added: Be Happy, and Keep off the grass

At the top of the right page, we identify the 'culprit' - Roberta. Roberta was the young daughter of Paul's youngest sister - and, Ellen's mother!!  ;-)

The rest of the 'aphorisms' are also very good... Much like George Washington wrote and read to himself each day as he was growing up. Neat! The rest of the notebook is blank.

A true Treasure Chest artifact!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Royal Gorge 1974

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Royal Gorge 1974

This past week I began a systematic program of scanning color slides I took from 1952 to 1976 or thereabouts. Among the first few hundred, this one caught my eye. My (almost) five year old daughter, who was the one who encouraged me to get at this scanning, in the cage headed to the bottom of the Royal Gorge, in Colorado - I'm looking back up at the suspension bridge across the Gorge. Neat photo, if I do say so! Thanks, Arrion!  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Tuesday Tips - Top Ten Characteristics of a Top Genealogist

Tuesday Tips:

Top Ten Characteristics of a Top Genealogist

Thanks for Randy Seaver to referring this Olive Tree Genealogy post:

Top Ten Characteristics of a Top Genealogist

Be sure to also see the comments...

What would you add?

Which do need to work on, a little more?

Looking forward to your comments!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Call for Book Blog Tour Participation

Call for Book Blog Tour Participation

The Book Blog Tour for this new, revised and updated Second Edition of the popular "13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories" (the companion Workbook to this blog) is planned for the end of March/early April time period.

'Primary audience' for this Workbook (77 pages in print and e-formats) is beginner and hobby family history and genealogy researchers who want to share what they are finding. More advanced and professional genealogists most likely already have all this information.

If you have a blog with readers in the 'Primary audience' category, and are willing to host the tour with:

1. A review of the Workbook, or

2. An author guest blog post, or

3. An author interview, and/or

4. A giveaway (one pdf copy of the Workbook per blog host)

I urge you to submit an email query, Subject: Book Blog Tour

to me at 'billsmith2003 at gmail.com' with the following information:

a. Blog name

b. Blog URL

c. Your name

d. Your contact email address

Eligible bloggers will be sent an Advance Reader PDF of the Workbook and additional Tour participant information. A tentative Tour Schedule will be developed. Questions are welcomed.

Thank you, in advance, for your interest in participating.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Treasure Chest Thursday - Slide, slides, slides everywhere

Treasure Chest Thursday

Slide, slides, slides everywhere

This is the Kodak Signet 35mm camera that I got in 8th grade in 1952... and I have accumulated slides, slides and more slides - well into 1976, as near as I can tell. They are wonderful to have - the extended family has enjoyed them for years, of course. When I started scanning them, years ago, of course, I only scanned "the good ones" because digital storage space was so precious. Now, of course, storage is "no problem" - well, at least, less of an issue. 

Two or three major challenges lie ahead - that most of you reading this recognize all too well! First, wouldn't it now be highly desirable to systematically scan and digitally preserve ALL of the slides? My youngest daughter, the next generation's primary family historian, has encouraged this - I think a blood commitment was involved, actually - by getting me a new color slide scanner (it is amazing how few of these are now available...) for Father's Day and my next birthday. THANKS!

Second, now that I've begun to process the first couple of small batches of ALL the slides, comes the challenge of nomenclature and systematic storage of the digital images. Not to mention, what do I now do (sometime in the future) with the actual slides, themselves - many, many boxes.

Third, this relates to the "slides" scan, above, did you realize how many different styles of 'slide' processing were used in those 25+ years? It is a real challenge, even with a good quality scanner and good editing software, to get these images preserved well. And, mostly, it takes time and care. Horizontal orientation is a constant issue - every batch has to be laid in the scanner carefully or you end up with images that are 'backwards' - and it is not always 'easy' to remember which was correct.

The most important issue, however, right now is, I have started the process. Thanks, Arrion... now we get to see how it actually goes...  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)    


 

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Lyman Smith Nebr Cousins Sum 1955

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday

Lyman Smith Nebraska Cousins Summer 1955

Last Fall, I shared a couple of posts about our Nebraska Smith cousins, sharing photos from another cousin. The first post included a full family photo... I was a bit frustrated (I tried not to show it in my writing) at the time, because I knew I had an excellent photo of our four visitors. 

Today, I get to share it. I've begun a new effort to scan my slides, and it showed up in a random batch that I'd obviously pulled out at one time.

From left, Sharon, Laura, Lyman, and Sharon Smith

Pat and Sharon are my Second Cousins - great-grandchildren of Michael and Maggie Smith

Families are Forever!  ;-)

See 'Going In-Depth' - the free digital genealogy magazine today

See 'Going In-Depth' - the free digital genealogy magazine today


Prepared by the team at The In-Depth Genealogist, the premier issue of 'Going In-Depth' was introduced to subscribers earlier today. Filled with over 70 pages of guest articles, regular columns and free resources it is a high-value publication for every genealogist, no matter the age, stage or focus of your research. Enjoy a new issue on 15th of each month.

I am very proud to have my regular column, The Heritage Tourist, appear on Page 20 of this premier issue, sharing information on the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area in that straddles the Kansas-Missouri border. I hope you will take the opportunity to read it, along with many of the other outstanding articles.


I am also very pleased to have, on Page 32, my first joint promotion advertisement of my first two novels, "Back to the Homeplace," and "The Homeplace Revisited." I have promoted them each, individually, but I have never before actually promoted them together - they are a continuing family saga story, except on The Homeplace Series blog.

Here is a preview:

 Author William Leverne Smith, is known to the IDG community as "Dr. Bill," The Heritage Tourist.

These first two novels in The Homeplace Series are based on his family history research and growing up in a small Iowa town and farm family setting. "Back to the Homeplace" is set in 1987 in a fictional community in the southern Missouri Ozarks. The story revolves around a family dilemma following the death of their matriarch and the unusual video will she left to insure the continuity of the farm, which has been in her family for over 150 years. The varied backgrounds and viewpoints of the adult children coming back to the Homeplace ignite controversy and expose long kept secrets as each family member searches for his or her share of the family legacy. While the older family members stake their claims on land and fortunes, the younger ones search for love and acceptance.

The second novel, "The Homeplace Revisited" continues the family saga in 1996. Two of the next generation return from college and a third from the East Coast to stake out their places in the community as young professionals with strong minds of their own. Old enmities reappear as two romances emerge in this ongoing family saga.

Go to: http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/ to learn more and to order print and kindle copies of the books.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Treasure Chest Thursday - 1948-49-50 Radio Distance Ed

Treasure Chest Thursday

1948-49-50 Radio Distance Ed

The two booklets shared here in scanned format are remarkable, to me, on several levels.

These booklets were prepared by Iowa State Teachers College (later Northern Iowa University) for the 1948-49 and 1949-1950 elementary school years for the purpose of assisting teachers in teaching their students the twenty-four songs during the year.

My wife and I were students in one-room country schools in western Iowa in these years. These were among my wife, Nancy's, music materials. A stamp on the first inside indicates we would have gotten the radio broadcast over Station WOI, in Ames, 640 on the Dial, the station was part of Iowa State University.

This was an early form of "Distance Education." You will see that the music is the melody line. The radio broadcast would, apparently, play the music, and the teacher and students would learn to sing along. The letter reminds teachers to practice the songs between weekly broadcast, and a review session of the prior week was part of each following week. Lots of good feedback was received.

Truly Amazing!  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday: Buzz and Colleen - Great-Grandparents again...

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday:

Buzz and Colleen - Great-Grandparents again...

Front Page Story from the:

Coon Rapids Enterprise, Thursday, February 7, 2013:


Great-grandchildren are starting to arrive at a rapid rate for Colleen and August “Buzz” Kinnick of rural Bayard with the arrival of two great-granddaughters in January. They now have a total of ten great-grandchildren. Kayel Marie Sanden arrived on January 8 followed by McKenna Masako lewis on January 16. Parents are Cory and Keely Sanden of rural Coon Rapids and Michael and Natalie
Lewis of rural Bayard. The Kinnicks had the opportunity to visit their new great granddaughters on Tuesday afternoon for a few photos. The session was uneventful for the young girls and, in fact, they slept peacefully through it all.

*Birth*
Cory and Keely Kinnick Sanden of Coon Rapids proudly announce the birth of their daughter, Kayel Marie Sanden. Kayel was born on Tuesday, January 8 at 6:40 PM at Mercy Medical
Center in Des Moines. She weighed 8 lbs and measured 20 inches.
Grandparents are Lon and Donna Kinnick of Glidden; Claudette and Rick Smith of Manson; and Bert Sanden of Manson.
Great-grandparents are August (Buzz) and Colleen Kinnick of Coon Rapids and LaVonne Langenwalter of Manson.
Kayelis also welcomed by her aunt, Kami Kinnick of Glidden and her aunt, uncle and cousins, Crystal, Frank, Layton and Ashley Sousa of Manson.

*Birth*
Natalie and Michael Lewis of rural Bayard announce the birth of their first daughter, McKenna Masako, born January 16 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. The little girl weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and stretched the tape measure to 20 inches.
McKenna joins older brothers, Bryce, 3, and Tucker, 2, at home.
Grandparents are Marcia and Neil Lewis of rural Bayard; and Neal and Nancy Hirota of Osage.
Great-grandparents are August (Buzz) and Colleen Kinnick of rural Bayard and Dean Nuehring of Osage, and Masaru and Tokiko Hirota of Honokaa, HI.

Comment: Being accustomed to working with relationships in the past, it is a bit curious to think of my relationship to these babies (all ten!). They would be my first cousins twice (2 gen) removed. To my daughters, they would be second cousins once (1 gen) removed. To my two grandchildren, these babies would be third cousins. I assume this to be correct (Buzz and Colleen are my aunt and uncle). If I'm not correct, I'd appreciate clarification.



Families are Forever!  ;-)

FHWC - Feb 2013 - Entry 3

The Family History Writing Challenge - Feb 2013 - Entry 3


You can read my Entry 1 here and Entry 2 here...

Lynn's "Inspiration" quote for Day 10 (in her daily email messages to each of us) really resonated with me. The heart of this quote has always been one of my favorites - but I had not known the attribution. Nice to see the whole thing, in context. THANKS, Lynn!

 "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, 'press on' has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race."
                                     Calvin Coolidge

I suppose the quote is so meaningful because that tends to be how I work … I slug along, but keep at it. "Persistence and determination are omnipotent" were my hallmarks in my work life - I had this posted wherever I worked. I still believe in it.

Thanks, again, Lynn, for the continued encouragement!!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - RBS Express near Yellowstone

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - RBS Express near Yellowstone


Back in February, I wrote two posts about my memories of the RBS Express (62-63) while I was in the Air Force, here and here.

The sunrise was in Hysham, Montana. On a weekend, while I was there, three of us took a drive over to Yellowstone National Park, Bob Cary, Ronald Hellman, and Bill Smith. A few days ago, I got an email from Ronald, he had seen the post. Small world, 50 years later. I shared with him that I was sure I had a photo of the three of us there… I did find it, with Yellowstone Falls in the background! He shared stories of revisiting Yellowstone with his family and RBS reunions he had attended. Neat! ;-)

 I also found this one of me, at that big sign.

What great memories! Thanks for the reminders, Ronald.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sunday Obituaries - Sarah Williams, from 1938

Sunday Obituaries - Sarah Williams, from 1938

From the recent Coon Rapids Enterprise - Thursday, January 31, 2013/Page 4:


75 Years Ago
January 28, 1938


Mrs. Sarah Williams, 85, who came here from Ireland 55 years ago, died Sunday at the home of her nephew, Edward Reid. She had been in her normal health until only a week ago. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Coder Funeral home with the Rev. O.E. Cooley conducting. Interment was made in the Coon Rapids Cemetery. Sarah Armstrong, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Armstrong, was born in Northern Ireland Nov. 10, 1852 and passed away in Coon Rapids, Iowa Jan. 23, 1938.
Her age was 85 years, 2 months, and 13 days. In the year 1833, she came to America and began making her home in and near Coon Rapids. In July 1886, she was united in marriage to Elias Williams. Mr. Williams preceded her in death in Dec. 1920. Since that time, she has made her home in the James Reid home and later in the Edward Reid home. Mrs. Williams was in normal health for one of her age. For several years she was afflicted with deafness which handicapped her in getting out and mingling with her friends. In disposition, she was very kind and always sympathetic. When she married Elias Williams, there were stepchildren in the home and her true character was revealed through the motherly care bestowed upon these children. Her nearest living relatives consist of a step-daughter, Mrs. Josephine Brock of Spirit Lake, Iowa, also nephews, William and Edward Reid of Coon Rapids, and Mary Buchanan of Washington State.
There are also other relatives and friends. Mrs. Williams was a member of the local Methodist
Church. She was received into full membership on June 24, 1888 under the ministry of Rev. J.H. Elliot.
*********
She was my Step-Great-Great Grandmother.
My maternal grandfather, was Paul Kinnick
His mother, Nettie Williams Kinnick was my great grandmother.
Her father was Elias Williams, as above, my great-great grandfather.

In my mother's diary entries of 75 years ago, she spoke of 'Grandma Williams' - this was her.

An interesting side note, to me, is to see that she lived, in her later years, with Edward Reid, her nephew. My Mom and Dad, as I was growing up, always noted activities of "Eddie Reid" like he was something special, but I never knew of him as anything but a person who lived in town. This explains a bit of a reason for that. One more of those interesting "small town" relationships...  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

FHWC - Feb 2013 - Entry 2

The Family History Writing Challenge - Feb 2013 - Entry 2


Entry 1 read…

So, I met my pledge of 250 words a day on the first two days on my non-fiction work: "The World of Sergeant Major William Kinnick, Revolutionary Soldier" (working title).

I must say though, again this year, the prompts and helps I read, and other bloggers reporting on their progress, are reminding me of so many other things I could be writing…

So, I'm confident I'll keep up the 250 new words a day,… but they won't all be on the one project. We'll see how it goes… this is Super Bowl Sunday, after all… we do not know what will actually happen.

Thanks, Lynn, for the continued encouragement!!


Families are Forever!  ;-)