Saturday, September 30, 2017

Just when you think you may have seen everything in family history…this happens!


Just when you think you may have seen everything in family history…this happens!
 
Grant and Ella when she married my grandfather Smith, 1904


Thanks to a new genealogy friend for this latest exciting bit of my family history…

Out of the blue, yesterday, in my secondary genealogy email account:

“Mate Kinnick’s daughter (Mabel Jones) married Joe Ballard, the son of Martin Luther Ballard with his first wife.  Martin’s son (by his second wife) was Monty Ballard – your grandmother’s first husband.   It is a small world.” under a simple subject line, “Ballard connection.”

Kinnick is my mother’s side of my family. I’ve done very extensive research there, and Mate is a daughter of Joseph Kinnick, brother of my great-great grandfather, Walter Watson Kinnick. She lived in Wyoming/Montana around 1900, and was always, until recently, a very mysterious person to me, but her name was most familiar.

The mention of “Monty Ballard” - that is my father’s side of my family. He was the first husband of my Dad’s mother…he died in 1900, very young - climbing on a ladder doing Christmas Tree lights, it is said, fell off, hit it head, and died - their first son was only a few months old. She married my grandfather a few years later and they had several children. They raised that first son, Grant, of course. We never knew a lot about his family, except they had lived in Nebraska.

It turns out that Monty’s father was Martin Luther Ballard, and he had two families. Monty was a son of the second family. In Montana, in 1913, a grandson of the first marriage married the daughter of Mate Kinnick. Note that Joe was a grandson, not a son of Martin Luther Ballard…that made confirmation of this information a fun exercise!! Ha! Small world, for sure.

Just had to share. Have you had an experience like this? A first for me. Always something new coming up. What fun!! ;-)


P.S. There is always 'more to the story' of course. Monty's younger sister was an active suffragette.
Both she and their father were life-long active lawyers. Here are their stories...

Grace: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=113937265

Her father: Martin Luther: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=113937434

Her brother: Monte: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=113937474


Families are Forever! ;-)



Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Happy 8th Blogiversary to me!


Happy 8th Blogiversary to me!




As is typical, I let this important date slip by last week. Thanks to a reader for the reminder.

I have older blogs, but this is one started in Sept of 2009.

[Here was my first ever blog post, 12 years ago last Saturday...
https://flinthillsofkansas.blogspot.com/2005/09/flint-hills-scenic-byway-named-u-s.html ]

I've slowed a bit, but still going strong!!

Families are Forever!! ;-)

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Sunday Obituary - First Cousin passes


Sunday Obituary
First Cousin passes


Connie Irene Pierce, age 63, of Coon Rapids passed away on Sunday, September 17, at Thomas Rest Haven Nursing Home in Coon Rapids.
A Celebration of Connie’s Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 25, at the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids with Rev. Joyce Webb officiating. Organist for the service will be Lula Garnes and soloist will be Cindy Seastrom.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Coon Rapids Public Library and may be left at the funeral home or the church.
Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids from 5 – 7 p.m. on Sunday. Visitation will resume at First United Methodist Church at 10:00 a.m. on Monday until the time of service. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for Connie’s Family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Connie Irene Pierce

Born on February 18, 1954 in Carroll, she was the daughter of Warren and Bethene (Smith) Pierce. She grew up on her family’s farm south of Coon Rapids and graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 1972. She graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1976 with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education and special education. She earned her master’s degree in education psychology with an emphasis in learning disabilities from Wichita State University. Connie taught K-12 special education in Bartlett and Erickson, NE; K-12 special education in Polk, NE; fourth-sixth grade special education for several years at Kingman, KS; K-six grade in a behavior disorders classroom in Leota, KS; and K-third special education in Lakin, KS.
After 18 years of teaching special education, she moved back to her hometown of Coon Rapids. She enjoyed going to water aerobics and water walking at the Carroll Rec Center. She cherished her cats Toby and Tina. Connie also enjoyed reading, watching television, crafts and crocheting.
Connie did volunteer work at the New Hope Bargain Shoppe in Coon Rapids. She also did volunteer work for the Primary Title I Reading Program at Deal Elementary. Connie was a member of First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids. Connie had recently made her home at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids where she received tender loving care.
Connie is survived by her sister Rebecca Tribby (Mike) of Stoughton, WI; her brother Darwin Pierce (Liz Garst) of Coon Rapids; her sister-in-law Pam Pierce of Sheldon; her niece Gretchen Swadley (Ryan) and their children Blake and Quinn of Green Bay, WI; two nephews Nick Pierce (Anna) of Waukee and Sam Tribby of Stoughton, WI; and many other extended family members and good friends.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents Warren and Bethene Pierce; two brothers Raymonnd and Dwight Pierce; her aunt Irene Smith and many other aunts and uncles.

Source: Coon Rapids Enterprise - Thursday, September 21, 2017 Page 3