Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories

Sharing Memories - Lois Tiffany - ISU Professor

2012-01-29T05:30:00.000-06:00

Sharing Memories - Lois Tiffany - ISU Professor

What a pleasant surprise! Among my genealogy blogs I read regularly is a somewhat unusual one: Special Collections Department Blog, Iowa State University Library. The current post is:
"Iowa's Own Mushroom Expert: Lois Tiffany" She was my Botany Professor; Spring 1958, I believe - looked just like the first photo! ;-)

As is so often the case, I do remember her because she made the subject, which I had not previously paid much attention to, really interesting - and, I learned a lot. So nice to see her, again!

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 4

2012-01-27T05:30:00.000-06:00

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 4

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy 2012 prompts suggested by Amy Coffin; thanks, Amy!

• Week 4 – Free Offline Genealogy Tools: For which free offline genealogy tool are you most grateful? How did you find this tool and how has it benefitted your genealogy? Describe to others how to access this tool and spread the genealogy love.

This week’s prompt runs from Sunday, January 22 through Saturday, January 28, 2012.

File cases, file drawers, book binders and bookcases - in public libraries, in local and regional societies (genealogical and historical) and family history centers around the country. These are the tools, the repositories, where (literally) millions of volunteers, over many years, have collected the distinctive endangered records that still hold the vast majority of the details we as story-tellers and story-preservers need to carry on our work into the next generations.

These are local records of local families, generated contemporaneously with the acts of our ancestors, that we need to continue to assist to preserve. Many of them can eventually be brought online; most of them cannot. We must each do everything we can, in our local communities and states, to support maintenance of these "informal" repositories, so that we and our child and grand-children (and theirs!) can continue to receive their benefits.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Kinnick Family Gathering in 1928

2012-01-25T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Kinnick Family Gathering in 1928

A Kinnick family gathering, it appears, in Stuart, IA, where Uncle Robert lived at the time, in honor of a visit by a Kinnick cousin, from Illinois, the gentleman on the right, in the photo.

[Click on photo to see bigger image]

Robert was younger brother to my Grandpa, Paul Kinnick. In the photo, Paul is the taller one in the middle, back. To his right in the photo is Everett Brideson, husband of Paul's sister, Gertrude (she is far left lady). From the left, the ladies are: Gertrude, Dorothy (my Grandma, Paul's wife), Nettie (Paul's mother), then Edna, Robert's wife. Robert is the other flat hat, second from the right! ;-)

Kids are, from left: Eileen Kinnick (my mother, Paul's daughter, not quite 10), and four of the five children of Robert and Edna (likely the oldest, Lyle (11), is taking the photo); Ila Jean (also not quite 10), Burdette (3-4), Gretchen (8), Betty (6).

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 3 - Jan 18-24, 1937

2012-01-24T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs agoWeek 3 - Jan 18-24, 1937

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school. During the latter half of 2011, commented weekly on these entries.
For 1937, I am transcribing the daily entries, currently, at The KINNICK Project surname blog.
http://thekinnickproject.blogspot.com/
In this weekly blog post, I will make summary comments and observations, and perhaps add a photo, from time to time.
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 9 years old. Pete Smith is her 'boy friend' - fourth month starting Jan 1 (they do marry, in Mar 1938).

Week 3 (Jan 18-24):

When was the last time you received two hand written letters in the same week? I got one from Uncle Buzzy, that I reported last week. Today (Monday), I got one from 94 year old Uncle Leo. They were both young men in the home 75 years ago, during Eileen's diary entries. Leo and Ida married in Oct 1937, and continued to live on the farm with the family for a short period of time, he mentions in the letter.

I had asked about the dead red mule, named Eileen, from the diaries. He said: "I did have a team of mules, but I don't remember an Eileen. However, I did have one drop dead as I was driving them west up the road to get a piece of machinery I had just bought on a farm sale. That was quite an event for me. I had to get the live one unhitched from the dead one & went back home & got a horse & hitched it up with the mule & got the piece of machinery home. I farmed the next year with a horse & a mule." I have read that mules did that. Work so hard, for so long; then, one day, just drop dead. Appears that happened a couple of different time, over two or three year period, in this case.

I also asked about the two cars: the Ford V8 and the Chevy they had then. His reply: "When Dad bought that Ford V8 I thought it was wonderful. It had more power & ran so quiet compared to that 29 chevy [first I had picked up it was a 29!] we had been driving. The only trouble we had with it was if you hit a bump in the road too hard the rear shock (cannot read the word) would open too far & would stay that way. Then I had to jack it up & push it back where it belongs. Those were our 2 cars for a long time & Dad gave me the 29 Chev when I got married. Changing a tire on it was a real job. The spare was just the rubber tire & a rim you had to take apart, slip the tire on & put the two together & then pump it up with a hand pump. I had to do that several times."

What fun! From Buzzy I learned the V8 was a Ford; from Leo I learned the Chevy was a 1929. Do you suppose the 1929 Chevy looked anything like this one, below?

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sharing Memories - Cuban Missile Crisis - October 1962

2012-01-22T05:30:00.000-06:00

Sharing Memories - Cuban Missile Crisis - October 1962

Last Sunday, I shared a few memories of the "Bay of Pigs" event of 50 years ago during my first year on active duty in the U. S. Air Force. On Thursday, I shared a photo of my working environment and a little about the mission of our SAC Detachment on the mesa west of Winslow, Arizona.

Today, I want to move forward to October 1962 when we were on the brink of a real potential national and military turning point: "The Cuban Missile Crisis." You can read the story at the link, but today I want to share a few of the specific memories I still carry with me from those couple of weeks:

1) Probably the most common story I tell (have told) about this time period was that for several days (a week or more) there was never a moment, day or night, when there were not military aircraft in the air, moving east and west, flying over our mesa and house in Winslow, Arizona, in preparation for eventualities 'if' the Cuban missile crisis was not settled peacefully.

2) As the third ranking of the three officers in our Detachment, when we went on 24-hour alert, I got the 'graveyard' shift. I also was responsible to carry (wear) 'the sidearm.' Guns and I have never had a positive relationship. I did fine in handgun training in my summer camp experience, but I was still scared I'd 'shoot my toe off,' wearing that sidearm each night. Fortunately, President Kennedy had learned a lot, by that time, and 'solved' the crisis with a cool head and calm diplomacy that limited the crisis period to a couple of weeks.

3) How did we 'really feel' out there on the mesa? Were Cubans really going to attack us from Mexico or otherwise? Probably not, but, we really didn't know. The uncertainty is actually the tough part, of course.

It wasn't until 1984 when the movie, "Red Dawn," came out that all those feeling REALLY came back. That was exactly our fear. It was very well portrayed. I still rewatch that movie with trepidation - although, knowing it is only fiction, I do like the movie.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Surname Saturday - King Hiram C. Preston

2012-01-21T05:30:00.000-06:00

Surname Saturday - King Hiram C. Preston

I was pleased this week to have received a note from my Preston researching cousin/partner about the latest on this gentleman with the interesting name. For many years, he was an enigma to me. Not a close relative, but one who kept showing up in the research I was doing, many years ago. Over the years, my cousin/partner did more research on that family line than I did, but we kept in touch. She identified most of his family, but had left a note on an ancestry board to contact her, if anyone had more information.

Well, this week, she got a note back. A non-related researchers was 'loading' information from the Oakwood cemetery in Syracuse, New York, and much of it was for this family! Not only are there now about four generations of the family on Find-A-Grave, but most entries have at least one obituary, each full of family information. How neat, for a volunteer to do all that. Very nice.

So, this is just a note of thanks and recognition to all those folks out there doing useful genealogical Acts of Kindness for the general good. It is a big reason I am so pleased to be a part of this community!

Families are Forever! ;-)

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 3

2012-01-20T05:30:00.000-06:00

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 3

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy 2012 prompts suggested by Amy Coffin; thanks, Amy!

• Week 3 – Free Online Genealogy Tools: Free online genealogy tools are like gifts from above. Which ones are you most thankful for? How has it helped your family history experience?

This week’s prompt runs from Sunday, January 15 through Saturday, January 21, 2012.

I am going to talk, a bit, about RootsWeb as a free, online genealogy tool. RootsWeb was an early, entirely free genealogy website with Message Boards, Mailing Lists, Free Web Sites, many Volunteer Projects and, perhaps my favorite, WorldConnect. WorldConnect was where you could load your family tree and share with interested others. I was a new phenomena at the time it started. Eventually, RootsWeb was became a part of Ancestry.com; with good and not-so-good results. I'm still generally happy with the site and fully support it; I continue to participate extensively, partially because it continues to be free. I do not appreciate my family tree being incorporated into Ancestry.com; however, as long it is still available to the general public, free, in the current format, I continue to support it. I've used it from the beginning in the early mid-1990s/

Based on a reminder from Marian, at Marian's Roots and Rambles blog, I will 'second' her recommendation of two non-online free resources: Your Public Library and your local Family History Center.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Those Places Thursday - My Air Force Desk - Aug 1962

2012-01-19T05:30:00.000-06:00

Those Places Thursday - My Air Force Desk - Aug 1962

Here I am, 2nd Lieutenant William L. Smith, United State Air Force, sitting at my military issue desk in a semi-trailer van, part of the Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron Detachment (SAC), on a mesa, west of Winslow, Arizona, in August 1962. How about that two-toned green color scheme?

This would have been at the beginning of my second year (of three) on active duty. The first half of the first year was spend in Biloxi, MS, at Ground Electronics School; the second half was spent here at the Detachment. I was the third ranking Officer (of three Officers in the Detachment). The Major and the Captain were both pilots, who took tours of duty flying the B-47 and B-52 bombers flying over that our Detachment was 'scoring' as they made their simulated bomb runs.

[The B-52s started flying in 1952, and these same planes, the very same planes, were used to bomb Baghdad, Iraq, just a few years ago (85 in active service, 9 in reserve).]

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Kinnick Family Gathering 1939

2012-01-18T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Kinnick Family Gathering 1939

I am posting this photo today, because it is only about two and a half years after the events being posted in Eileen KINNICK daily diary entries on The KINNICK Project blog.

Leo would be taking the photo… likely his white hat on the ground!
From left: My Dad, Pete Smith and his wife, Eileen, holding me, just a few months old (perhaps an early fall 1939 day). Next are Ida Marie holding Karen and Everett Brideson, with John and Jeanette in front of him, I assume. Delbert appears to be behind him, holding Dennis, perhaps (less than a year old). Then comes Gertrude, with Buzzy in front of her. Behind is my Grandpa, Paul, then Robert's wife, Edna, then Lillian, and finally, on the right, is my Grandma, Dorothy (Sorenson) Kinnick. The little girl in front would be Roberta Ford.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 2 - Jan 11-17, 1937

2012-01-17T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 2 - Jan 11-17, 1937

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school. During the latter half of 2011, commented weekly on these entries.

For 1937, I am transcribing the daily entries, currently, at The KINNICK Project surname blog.

In this weekly blog post, I will make summary comments and observations, and perhaps add a photo, from time to time.

Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 9 years old. Pete Smith is her 'boy friend' - fourth month starting Jan 1 (they do marry, in Mar 1938).

Week 2 (Jan 11-17):

On January 13, there was a note "Eileen, the red mule, died." I sent Buzzy, now 83, a note asking about it. He called on Monday (16th) saying he was too young, at the time. Had no memory of a red mule named Eileen. I also asked about the V-8 and Chevy, their two cars. He did recall that the V-8 Eileen mentions regularly was a Ford. The Chevy was a straight 6-cylinder. Guys remember cars. [See a 1937 Chevy photo on Jan 16 post]

On January 12, Eileen mentioned "3 games" when they had gone to Bayard to see the high school Basketball games. Buzzy said he would assume one was a "Junior Varsity" type of game… the '2nd stringers" for both school, most likely the guys.

As we talked, I mentioned I had seen on his grandkids' Facebook pages that they had had quite a house full for their Christmas celebration. He said, yes they had, and it reminded him of a saying his Dad (my Grandpa, Paul) used to say when all family were together: "My God, what did I create?!"

Finally, since it was milder week than some, they were back to going to the movies. I came across this quote, recently: "During the 1930s, eighty million Americans - 65 percent of the entire population - attended movies weekly." This came from Al Smith section of the book: "Almost President" by Scott Farris. The Kinnick family did more than their share of movie watching.

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

My Hometown on Monday - Sesquicentennial Book Story Preparation

2012-01-16T05:30:00.000-06:00

My Hometown on Monday
Sesquicentennial Book Story Preparation

Coon Rapids, Iowa, my hometown, will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding, the Sesquicentennial, in July of 2013. Recently, in an insert in the local newspaper, The Coon Rapids Enterprise, there was a call for submissions of stories for a Sesquicentennial Book. It calls for stories up to 300 words with a photo for a variety of categories. See the actual brochure for details and examples.

Here are the categories:

All households, both old and new families, both previous and present residents.
Schools
Churches
All social, civic and fraternal organizations
Cemeteries
Businesses
Agriculture
Military
Celebrations

We have started working on our family stories; I've done a draft on my Mom and Dad's family, and each of their parents families, Smiths and Kinnicks. We've been asked to work on Bolger and Thomas stories, for my wife's side, since we have the information. All entries are due by 1 Feb 2012, in Coon Rapids, at the Library or the City Clerk's office. Seems like a short deadline, but we'll work hard this week to meet it.

I posted a scan of all three pages of the brochure on Facebook. Here is the front page only. Let me know if you need the other pages. [email: billsmith2003 at gmail.com]

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sharing Memories - Bay of Pigs - April 1961

2012-01-15T12:55:00.000-06:00

Sharing Memories - Bay of Pigs - April 1961

This is Part 1 of memories from Air Force service in Winslow, Arizona, where we arrived in January, 1961. I had hardly gotten settled into my new duties in the Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron unit on the mesa west of Winslow when a national crisis arose. Known as the Bay of Pigs, President Kennedy authorized an attempt by Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. It only lasted three days, with the defeat of the invading forces. But we were on high alert, and wondering if the results would lead to Cuba invading the U.S. or some such activity.

Part of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), our mission was to "score" simulated bombing runs in the area by B-47 and B-52 aircraft SAC aircraft. Our unit consisted of semi-trailer vans, perhaps a dozen of them, connected together with radar units on top that tracked the SAC aircraft. We received a radio signal from the plane as they approached their targets (simulating 'enemy' locations) - the signal stopped when the bombs 'would have been released.' The job of our unit was to track the 'bomb' using speed and trajectory, to determine how close it would have come to the target… and transmit that information back to the crew of the SAC aircraft and their command structure. There were a dozen or so (we didn't know, for sure) other units like this, around the country.

We operated with three officers (I was the junior of the three) and a couple dozen enlisted men and airmen. We lived on the civilian economy; our nearest military installation was a small army supply facility west of Flagstaff. The next closest was an Air Force Base in the Phoenix valley.

Good relations with the local community were important. One of the activities I became involved with was the formation of a newly forming Toastmaster Club. I was a charter member. It was a good experience for a young officer as well as for the business folks in the organization.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Social Saturday - Open Thread Thursday - What's in a Name?

2012-01-14T05:30:00.000-06:00

Social Saturday - Open Thread Thursday - What's in a Name?

Perhaps I should head this post Social Media Saturday because it feels right for me to respond to the Open Thread Thursday on Saturday… that is just the way I am, I guess. Anyway, What's in a Name?

I already posted an Examiner.com article that states I subscribe to Bart Brenner's Manifesto. Today, however, I want to take the theme of "What's in a Name?" one step further. As many of you know, over the past twenty-some years or so I have not only gotten into the family history and genealogy 'game' but I earned my Ph.D in Management at the University of Arizona (UA), had a successful fifteen years as a college professor and administrator, and, caught the 'writing bug'* as well as the 'genealogy bug,' so to speak. In our GeneaBlogging world, that is really not so unusual… many of us have and have had two or three careers going as we work our family history and genealogy passion. But it does tend to complicate the "What's in a Name?" question.

You may have noticed I've adopted an approach picked up in my Marketing studies (that was my minor at UA) - branding. At Emporia State University, where I taught for 15 years, we had at one time three "Dr. Smith's" in our Department. To distinguish us, the students began to call me "Dr. Bill" along with Dr. Faye and others. I kind of liked it, Googled it and found it was actually distinctive, if not unique, and have adopted it in my 'after-life' writing process.

I do write novels, short stories, book reviews, non-fiction, and trade journal publications articles as well as family history and genealogical stories. The "Dr. Bill" branding has been very useful, to date, and I plan to continue it. I've even considered writing a memoir of the experience with a "Becoming Dr. Bill" working title.

More than you probably wanted to hear - but this is my reply to "What's in a Name?" A lot, it seems to me. ;-) I look forward to reading your replies to the question as well.

Families are Forever! ;-)

[*The Author's Resource Center (TARC) in Tuscon, Arizona, in 1987.]

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Follow Friday - Week 2

2012-01-13T05:30:00.000-06:00

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy

Follow Friday

Week 2

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy 2012 prompts suggested by Amy Coffin; thanks, Amy!

• Week 2 – Paid Genealogy Tools: Which paid genealogy tool do you appreciate the most? What special features put it at the top of your list? How can it help others with their genealogy research?
This week’s prompt runs from Sunday, January 8 through Saturday, January 14, 2012.

My wife and I use four subscriptions. Ancestry.com is the most used - We generally start our searches there - census data is very useful, including state as well as U.S. Occasionally there will be other records that are useful. We are still frustrated by the excess search results that have nothing to do with what we requested. We do use the Family Trees, but recognize them as only clues, not expecting them to be well researched or complete - though it is nice when they are!

Footnotes/Fold3 is especially good for military records searches.

Newspaper Archives.com is useful for much narrower searches, of course. Especially if you are looking for information for the first half or so of the 20th Century, if you find anything, it can be really neat details to add to your family history, such as: obituaries; anniversary, birth, death, graduation, workplace change announcements; social news; community news, etc. This information is rarely available from any other source.

I won't comment on the other one… or the others we have had, and no longer have. Hope these thoughts and comments are useful to someone. It was interesting to have a current discussion with my wife about current usage preparing to write this. That was useful. ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Winslow, Arizona

2012-01-12T05:30:00.000-06:00

Those Places Thursday - Winslow, Arizona

After leaving Coon Rapids and the snow we drove to Winslow to complete our three year active duty Air Force commitment. When we arrived in Winslow, we were greeted by several days of heavy fog. A memorable experience. Here is a photo of the nice little cement brick two-bedroom we rented (and our dirty car!). It was "in the backyard" of the landlord (to the left, above), a nice young couple with a couple of young kids. We have many pleasant memories of this home, including a number of family groups who visited us there.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Smith men (Spr 57)

2012-01-11T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday

Smith men (Spr 57)

Jim, Tom, Pete, Bill

A fun photo - Spring 1957 (I would have been graduating high school) - I don't recall the specific occasion, but a bit unusually to all be so dressed up. How about those Bow Ties! And the white jacket!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK 75 yrs ago Week 1 - Jan 4-10, 1937

2012-01-10T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 1 - Jan 4-10, 1937

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school. During the latter half of 2011, commented weekly on these entries.

For 1937, I am transcribing the daily entries, currently, at The KINNICK Project surname blog.

In this weekly blog post, I will make summary comments and observations, and perhaps add a photo, from time to time.

Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 9 years old. Pete Smith is her 'boy friend' - fourth month starting Jan 1 (they do marry, in Mar 1938).

Week 1 (Jan 4-10):

There was no entry I could find for Jan 2 & 3. This week, 4-10, was very cold and snowy. It is interesting to see how her reactions to this situation are reflected in her diary comments.

Their daily activities, of course, were somewhat restricted this week due to the weather.

In the back of the diary for the year, she appears to be entering her 'expenditures' for personal items. Here is a scan of the three entries for January and February:

Black Silk Shirt - 1.00
Print Silk Dress (made) - 2.80
Black Sandals - 2.45

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sharing Memories - Ground Electronics School, Keesler AFB

2012-01-08T05:30:00.000-06:00

Sharing Memories

Ground Electronics School, Keesler AFB

Biloxi, MS

I have recently written about our first few months of active duty in the Air Force in 1961, at Ground Electronics School at Keesler AFB, in Biloxi, MS.

This followed our six weeks in Southern California where I was working at Space Technology Labs as a computer Programmer. The set of 1961 photos I posted, toward the end, are in Biloxi and returning back through Iowa.

Observations and memories:

1) I mostly remember the challenge of learning to read electronic drawings. It was totally new to me, but, as a new college graduate I was certain I could learn anything they thru at me. And, I believe I did quite well.

2) We had some 'military' duties related to a barracks of enlisted men, on base, but they were minimal. Very few vivid memories, at all.

3) Gary Hoover was also attending Communications Officer training on base at the same time I was there. We were in high school together, roomed together at Iowa State our first year, and were in ROTC together. We didn't spend a lot of time together, but, it was nice to know a good friend was nearby, if needed. Another high school classmate was actually an enlisted man on the base, Larry Patrick. Small world, huh?

4) I mostly remember 'having my hands full' with wife, daughter, school, military stuff, and correspondence courses. I was anxious to get to my full-time duty station. This was a necessary part of getting to there.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Social Saturday - Smith gathering, September 1955

2012-01-07T05:30:00.000-06:00

Social Saturday

Smith gathering

September 1955

I've recently posted photos of the early years of my Dad's Smith family. Here are two photos from Sep 1955 of the family - older folks and younger folks. Not the greatest photos, but, better to have these than nothing. I do not recall the event for the gathering... someone visiting, most likely.

Standing, in back, from left: Orrin and Max Hilgenberg, Jim Smith, ??, ??, ?Rita Ballard?, Warren Pierce, John Thomas (in front), Verle and LVene Thomas, Bill Smith, Eileen Smith, Pete Smith (holding Barry)
Sitting in chairs: Gary Hilgenberg and Betty Pierce; Tom Smith (looking down)
On floor: Dan Smith, Margaret Smith, ??, Dave Thomas

Young men in back: Dave Thomas, Bill Smith (holding brother Barry), Gary Hilgenberg (holding ? Becki?); Tom Smith in front of Barry
Young lady on left - cousin from Nebraska???
On floor: John Thomas, Dan Smith, Margaret Smith, Jim Smith

Perhaps Becki, Judi, or someone else will help my old eyes and mind to identify my own family! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Follow Friday - Week 1

2012-01-06T05:30:00.000-06:00

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy

Follow Friday

Week 1

If I understand what Amy Coffin is suggesting in her 2012 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy, I believe I can follow these prompts and use them much as I have been posting of Fridays, the past years. Let's give it a try.

After much consideration, I cannot do one blog in response to the prompt, but I can do two. I read probably more than a dozen blogs, but beyond these two, which I read everyday, but the others are not consistently posted every day, so they vary from day to day, week to week.

The first of the two is Geneabloggers.com. I don't read every post every day, but I do look to see what every post is, every day - and certain ones that particularly interest me, I never miss. One of these is the New Blogs each week. I look forward to the opportunity to welcome new bloggers, and, I leave a comment on every one that allows comments. I always look to see what the 52 Weeks prompt is and I always look to see what the Open Thread Thursday is. I may not participate, but I do want to know the subject for the week. It makes be feel 'part of our community!' ;-)

The second blog where I check every post, every day is Genea-Musings by Randy Seaver. I really enjoy Randy's writing style, and, I really appreciate what he chooses to share with us. It is simply my favorite read, week in and week out. I would really miss it if I could not read it. I also really like his "Best of…" post each week. By checking it, and the other "Best of…" links he provides, I cover a huge amount of weekly genealogy information. That means a lot, to me. ;-)

Because of the way I introduced these two, I need to mention a third that I do check everyday, and that is Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter feed - Dick is very regular and full of information. For me, though, I probably read less than one of three because a lot of what he writes is simply not what I am interested it… but you may be, so… I highly recommend it, as well. ;-)

And (added yesterday!), to bookend, I'm adding The Legal Genealogist, a blog that just began on January 1st (thanks Marian - on Google+, just moments ago, as I write this!)...instant updates! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Maytag Store in Coon

2012-01-05T05:30:00.000-06:00

Those Places Thursday

Maytag Store in Coon Rapids, Iowa

Sometime in the 1940s

Photo in the 19 Mar 2009 Coon Rapids Enterprise, page 4

We are taking a break in our Those Places series of our homes, to share this photo with you that shows the Maytag Store in Coon Rapids, where my Mom, Eileen, worked in 1936-1937. She mentioned the snow and cold in her diary entries (see Fri, Dec 18, as one example). This represents it very well. Who remembers this street! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Spring 1961 Smith family

2012-01-04T11:53:00.002-06:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Spring 1961 Smith family

Spring 1961 - Annette's Baptism

Star United Methodist Church

Back row: Bill, Eileen, Pete, Jim

Middle row: Nancy, Annette, Barry, Tom

Paul in front

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 52/53 - Dec 21-Jan 1, 1937

2012-01-03T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 52/53 - Dec 21-Jan 1, 1937

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 52 (Dec 21-27). Embroidering yellow scarf - couldn't listen to radio because the battery was down. Notice, no electricity. Aladdin lamb was a clue, last week, as well!

Got off from work early, and shopped, on Christmas eve. Goose dinner on Christmas. Turned into an adventurous afternoon and evening with friends.

To church on Sunday. Out-of-town family and friends there. Couple of interesting things to note, here. "Evline and Merle" reference is actually Pete's sister, Pauline, and her husband, Merl… they had already been married a year or so, lived out of town. Eileen didn't really know them yet - confused with Pete's older sister, LVene (name). Interesting; feels right for a young lady in a new family situation.

"Francis and Roger" reference is important. They were at the Kinnick house in the afternoon, and stayed for supper, along with two young sons, John and Robert. Francis would have been Paul's first cousin on his mother's side (Williams). (Frances had taught Eileen to play the piano when she was younger.) Even in 1936, they were already 'rich relatives.' Roger become a prosperous Des Moines (IA) business man, along with son, John (and Bill, yet to be born). John was an NFL Umpire (1972-1996) for many years, including a Super Bowl (1996). Robert became a minister and writer.

Here are Eileen (left) and Pete (right) in 1957, at Keck's house in Des Moines, with Roger (far end) and Francis (near), with her mother. I was there, as I was working for Roger that summer after I graduated from high school at Keck Motor Services.

Week 53 (Dec 28-Jan 1). She was studying her penmanship. Her Dad had an excellent, distinctive hand. She developed it, as well.

Pete appears to have caught her cold… see Thursday. Thursday night she writes "Our third Anniversary,' but January 1 is circled in red. They started 'going together' or 'going steady' - whatever they called it then, on October 1. November and December were marked as 'anniversaries' as well.

This ends the 1936 diary entries on the website. For 1937, I have copies of the diary pages and will be posting them, daily, on The KINNICK Project blog, beginning tomorrow, January 4. Weekly summaries will continue, here, starting next Tuesday, January 10.

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-02T05:30:00.000-06:00

Reading and Writing Plans for 2012

I just finished The Year in Review - 2011, and promised to write this for January 2, so I guess I'll give it a try, while I'm in the mood. I hope it is not all redundant between the two pieces. I'll try to keep it simple.

1. I put 'reading and writing' in the title this year because, to me, I must continue to read in order to be able to write… at least the way I want to. I'm getting more books as Christmas gifts, both print and Kindle, so that will keep me going; plus, online reading never ends.

2. I will continue to write, currently five, articles each week for Examiner.com on my two topic areas: Springfield Genealogy Examiner and Ozarks Cultural Heritage Examiner.

3. It seems I need to have each of my five blogs to have the necessary outlets for what I want to write. Each has its own content and focus, and I've noticed the priority among them shifts a bit, month by month. That is fine, must keep from getting bored.
Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories
Dr. Bill on Retirement
Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar
The Homeplace Series Blog
The KINNICK Project

4. One addition this year, as a daily priority is transcribing my mother's 1937 diary entries onto The KINNICK Project blog - 75 Years Ago. Eileen KINNICK had just turned 18 years old in December 1936, is three months into her relationship with Pete Smith, and is a devoted 'Coon Rapids' girl - giving us some insight into this small Iowa town, as well. They will get married in the Spring of 1938; I'll come along on 1 Jul 1939. So, it should make some interesting reading. The transcriptions begin on 4 Jan 2012; my weekly commentaries on Tuesday will continue on the Ancestor Stories blog starting on 10 Jan 2012.

5. During the year I hope to finish the research and writing of the non-fiction family history on our Revolutionary War ancestor, Sergeant Major William KINNICK. He is my 5th great-grandfather as well as the 3rd great-grandfather of 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile KINNICK, for whom KINNICK Stadium at the University of Iowa is named. There is surely some promotion value there to exploit. Wish me well! ;-)

6. I will continue to research and write on issues related to a non-fiction family history book on my great-grandfather Michael Smith. I am still developing alternative approaches to making this project most effective.

7. Finally, I will continue to pursue "The Homeplace" series fiction work. A lot of additional ground work was done during the last half of 2011, and I do not yet know just where that will take us. Come along for the journey, and see where we are at the end of another year! ;-)

8. From Arrion: For 2012, assist your youngest daughter Arrion with her research on the Smith family in Europe (Colmar, France area.) Also, interested in the Stauffer line on Mom's side - Ibershiem, Germany area. This is for my October 2012 European Road Trip. That is, if you have the time! P.S. We will find time. ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

Note: This will be posted to both the Ancestor Stores blog and the Book Bazaar blog.

Sharing Memories Sunday - Work at Space Technology Laboratories

2012-01-01T05:30:00.000-06:00

Sharing Memories Sunday

Work at Space Technology Laboratories

In my Those Places Thursday post this week, we had moved to Redondo Beach, California, in late May 1961; which lasted about six weeks before we went off to three years in the Air Force.

In case you missed it, I also posted some 1961 photo highlights on Saturday.

Here are my thoughts about that Southern California work experience:

Space Technology Laboratories, at One Space Park, in Manhattan Beach, eventually a part of TRW, Thompson Ramo Wooldridge, was my employer. I was one of about 200 'computer programmers' in this huge, new facility. My job was to work with parameters, on paper and on the big 'main frame' computer, for one of the Atlas Missiles they were building/developing (whether that was actually the project or not, I have no idea - reading, now, it may have been another project). I was one little cog in a very big operation - I had no idea what the were really doing, just did what they told me, and loved it.

As I recall it, it was an iterative process. I would choose (or was given) a 'payload' figure, for the top of the rocket. This was punched into 'punch cards' and verified - you remember punched card, right - 80 columns of data - one digit at a time. I would turn these in one day, the following day, I got back the green-lined paper report. Did the rocket, with that payload, go into orbit, or plunge back to earth. I would read the results from the prior day, and enter a new payload amount - and run it again. I don't remember what I did the rest of the day… that is what I remember doing.

Perhaps, I was thinking about going to Disneyland with Nancy and Annette on the weekend, or, to the beach, or down to San Diego to the zoo. But, most important, I was an ISU college graduate, working in southern California, that paid a nice paycheck.

I think it is probably also safe to say I wasn't too impressed with the prospect of being a 'computer programmer' for the rest of my career… just saying… ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

Social Saturday - 1961 in Photos

2011-12-31T05:30:00.000-06:00

Social Saturday

1961 in Photos

50 Years Ago

As we finish 2011, let's take a look back 50 years, and look at some photos that highlight 1961. I recently posted a Those Thursday Places on our move to California after graduation from ISU. This photos related to before and after that! ;-)

Here is a fairly special photo from early in May 1961. Grandpa and Grandma Kinnick with Annette and Nancy in the park in Bayard.

A few photos related to graduation day at Iowa State University, in Ames. It was a family affair.

Here is from my ROTC graduation, with Nancy; also my Mom and Dad, left, Nancy's Mom and Dad, right. Pete and Eileen Smith, Ruth and Glenn Bolger. [I'm sure I have it in color, but this is the one on hand...]

At the Pammel Court front yard, some of the young folks.

My brother, Paul, on left, Nancy's brother and sister, Joel and Janice.

Then, a few in California. Here are Annette and Nancy in front of our apartment:

Here I am with Annette - she seems to show up in a lot of these... ;-)

Annette having her first 'beer' - A&W Root Beer:

Here Annette is walking on Hollywood Hall of Fame - Diana Shore's star.

Annette in her playpen/bed, that she rode in from Iowa to California. This is in the California apartment.

After the 'California adventure' - we went to Biloxi, MS, where I started active duty with the Air Force. In uniform:

With my Ground Electronics School class at Keeler AFB, in Biloxi:

Here is another photo of us in the house in Biloxi, just back from church:

We went back to Iowa, in December, to visit, before moving to Winslow, Arizona, starting in January. We recall it as the "Winter of 1961 Snow Storm."

Family gatherings, when we could, during Christmas visit; here are kids at Bolger's gathering:

Here are all the Kinnicks gathered at the Smith house:

It was a full year! ;-)

Follower Friday - 30 Dec 2011

2011-12-30T05:30:00.000-06:00

Follower Friday

30 Dec 2011

I have mostly stayed out of the discussions of the last week or so regarding the 'genealogy community' and the respective roles of genealogy bloggers and genealogy societies therein. You've probably been reading some of them, but if you have not, and are interested, Randy Seaver, in his weekly "Best of the Blogs" post this week provides the links to most of the series posts.

Personally, I support an inclusive definition of 'genealogy community,' believe genealogy bloggers play a generally supportive and communications role, and that genealogy societies have an important role, but need to adapt their missions to the future needs of genealogists and family historians; many already have, of course.

I am mostly concerned that the distinctive resources that have been collected through the efforts of millions of individual society members in their local communities be preserved and made more widely available to families and researchers. I believe this mission deserves more discussion and attention. There are many alternatives available; I'm mostly concerned that many of these endangered distinctive resources will be lost to future researchers and families before adequate solutions are agreed upon and acted upon.

What do you think? What suggestions do you have? What have you personally done to help some of these endangered distinctive resources? I'd love to hear about them.

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Six weeks in So. Calif.

2011-12-29T05:30:00.000-06:00

Those Places Thursday

Six weeks in So. California

Nancy and Annette in front of our apartment in Redondo Beach, California

(I'm sure that was not originally black and white??)

In the afternoon of my graduation from Iowa State in the morning, one day in late May, 1961, the three of us loaded in the car (the gull-winged Chevrolet) and took off into the west for our new life in southern California. It was a very hot trip - air conditioning was not normal yet… Annette laid in the 'bed' in the back seat in her diaper, and was still sweating, along with us. Quite an experience.

We were pleased to have a nice apartment, not far from my work, not far from the ocean beach. What a life!

Within the first few days of our arrival, I got my orders to report to my first duty assignment in the Air Force, the 8th of August, as I recall. I was to report then to Ground Electronics School at Keesler Air Force Base, in Biloxi, Mississippi, as temporary duty for the rest of the year of 1961.

So, in addition to my work experience at Space Technology Labs, as a computer programmer, we got an 'all-expenses paid' (that is, I was getting a pay check!) six weeks vacation in Southern California. We did take advantage of it with many trips and vacation activities on the few weekends we had available.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Eileen artifact - 1929 Calendar

2011-12-28T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Scan of Eileen artifact

1929 Calendar

The Boy Mozart playing for Royalty

Christmas greeting from

Frances Williams

Piano Studio

1929 Calendar

A gift from Frances Williams to Eileen Kinnick (my mother) when she was 11 years old, as a piano student. Mom taught piano herself, for many of her adult years. This was in her 'precious things.'

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 51 - Dec 14-20

2011-12-27T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 51 - Dec 14-20

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 51. On Monday, it was Eileen's 18th birthday. Birthdays and holidays were not big deals in her Dad's house. She was sick, too, which really made the day special! ;-(
Note the very utilitarian gifts: pajamas & Aladdin lamp - see photo.

She was making a jacket for her plaid dress; even worked on it at the store. She seemed to handle cold sore well, on Tuesday evening out with Pete! ;-)

The big event of the week, of course, was the wedding, on Wednesday, Dec 16, of Max (Pete's younger sister) and Orrin Hilgenberg. "Max made the sweetest bride." Here is a photo of them taken not long after they were married. [Each still alive and together to celebrate 75th anniversary in Arizona!]

Assume the book she read, Laddie, was: Laddie boy: the autobiography of a dog, Harper & Bros., 1936.

Don, Norma, and Pete

in Phoenix, perhaps, 1965

They got very domestic with friends, Don and Norma, on Sunday. Eileen took a change of clothes. Girls fixed nice meal, together. Across the road to Smith's for supper. How nice! ;-)

*****
Next week ends the 1936 diary entries on the website. For 1937, I have copies of the diary pages and will be posting them, daily, on The KINNICK Project blog, beginning January 4. Weekly summaries will continue, here, starting Tuesday, January 10.

*****

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Hometown on Monday - Rural School Teachers, 1933

2011-12-26T05:30:00.000-06:00

My Hometown on Monday

Rural School Teachers, 1933

From time to time, we get into discussions of which of our family and friends, in the old days, were teachers at which rural school around Coon Rapids (IA) where we grew up. Cleaning out some old Coon Rapids Enterprise copies of the Years Ago page, I came across one from 25 Dec 2008, in the 75 Years Ago column for 22 Dec 1933, the following entry:

To hasten the activities of the holiday season and to close the old year of school, many rural schools are entertaining at socials and presenting programs this afternoon and evening. Union No. 2, under the direction of Mildred Middleton, will be hosts at a social at the school house this evening. A program in which all the students will participate, will be given preceding the social and refreshments.

Pupils of the Star school will present a Christmas program at the school at the same time. They will be under the direction of L'Vene Smith, teacher of the school.

Elma Johnston, teacher at the Jack Jergens school, will direct a program to be given by the pupils of the school this afternoon.

A Christmas program will be presented at the Oak Hill school tonight under the direction of Inez Grohe, teacher.

*************

Comments and observations:
1) Mildred Middleton was a life-long teacher and school administrator. Union #2 would have been the school two miles west of the Star school, which was Union #1.
2) L'Vene Smith, later L'Vene Thomas, was my Dad's older sister. She continued to teach, earned her degree, and taught in Coon Rapids schools though out her lifetime, as well.
3) I'm not familiar with either Elma Johnston nor the Jack Jergens school. Comments welcomed.
4) The Oak Hill cemetery was northwest of town… should not have been a school there, so it was somewhere else. Anyone know where? Inez Grohe, later Shirbroun (Speedy, the radio/later tv repairman), was my teacher for a couple of years later, around 1950 or so, at Willow #3, in Greene County, northeast of Coon Rapids.

Mrs. Inez Shirbroun, approx 1950

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sharing Memories Sunday - Senior Year at ISU - Thoughts on Work

2011-12-25T05:30:00.000-06:00

Sharing Memories Sunday

Senior Year at ISU - Thoughts on Work

In my 'Those Places Thursday' post this week, I spoke about our year in Pammel Court during my Senior Year at Iowa State University (ISU), in Ames, Iowa. During that year, I worked part-time as a student worker (from the position of a physics major at the beginning of the year) for a Ph.D. student in physics at the Ames Laboratories of the Atomic Energy Commission, on campus.

First, the Ph.D.-level research I was involved with related to determining the electrical properties of a material (as compared to silicon, it turned out) for possible use in making 'computer chips' - as they would eventually be called. In processing the data, I got my first exposure to using the 'computer' of the day [the first electronic digital computer was officially invented at ISU, of course - see ABC at link] - writing initially in 'machine language' - before compilers. My first strong memory of the experience was writing code on a spreadsheet that took into account the rate of turn of the computer drum as it read the code in order to 'optimize' the processing time. My second strong memory was when, during that year, we were taught, and allowed to use, the new 'Bell Lab Language' which was a first level 'computer programming language' - a forerunner to Fortran, etc., much later on.

The memory is so strong because of the following event, for me. It was the first time in my life, working through an early program, that I was so involved in the process itself, that I completely lost my sense of 'time and place.' I was so engrossed in the project, I forgot to leave work and go home to supper, or whatever was next in my life at that time. Two or three additional hours had passed by, and I did not even realize it. It was the first time that had ever happened to me. It has happened a handful of times since, but not often.

Second, as I alluded to last Sunday, it was during this work experience that I realized I actually had much more interest in administrative work, very likely, than in the specifics of science. My boss, the scientist, sat with his pipe, conjuring how and why those electrons were whirling around in those atoms - and was completely into that. I was not. He disdained the meetings and paperwork involved in the projects - I thought they were the more interesting part.

Third, and finally, I guess, for now, I had my first brush with the opportunity to consider 'computing' as a career option. In fact, in the very short term, I chose: "Yes." I faced a three-year Air Force commitment following graduation; but it might begin anytime during the 12 months following graduation. Space Technology Laboratories in southern California offered me the position of Computer Programmer with the understanding I might be there a month, or 12 months. (More, next Sunday)

Families are Forever! ;-)

The Year in Review - 2011

2011-12-24T05:30:00.000-06:00

The Year in Review - 2011

I began this year with a set of Writing plans for 2011. I was actually quite successful in completing the plans as presented:

1. Yes, I published my second novel, "The Homplace Revisited," in June. Both books continue to sell, both in print and in Kindle editions. I am blessed, and happy. I also successfully taught my on-line course in the Spring. It appears that was my last time doing that. It was good, it is now gone.

2. I have continued to be an active Examiner.com writer - between my two topics I publish five articles each and every week.

3. I have made good progress on the non-fiction family history book on Sergeant Major William Kinnick. This work will continue into 2012. It would be nice to finish it in the coming year.

4. The Smith book is still on the back burner, but I've been doing more research on my Dad's family in the 1st half of the 20th Century. In the last six months, I have also made contact with three Sorensen/Neilsen cousins in Denmark, on my Mom's side of the family. This allowed me to complete my "round of 16" great-great grandparents. This work continues, as well.

5. The five blogs continue. I'm doing more Daily Theme writing on the Ancestor Stories blog. While I put the book blog on hiatus for a couple of months, it is now active again. During the last half of the year, I picked up on my Mom's 75 Years Ago diary entries that I had transcribed, on line, in 2005, and started following and commenting on them on the Ancestor Stories blog. In 2012, I will continue the weekly Tuesday comments, but will also be transcribing the 1937 daily entries on The KINNICK Project blog - she was Eileen KINNICK.

6. During the last six months of the year I continued to research and write about the place, times, and characters of "The Homeplace" series of fiction, including developing their family history back to 1833 when the homeplace was first settled. The earliest chapter, I adapted as a short story, "The Trek to the Homeplace," which was recently published in the Annual Anthology of the Ozarks Writers League: Echoes of the Ozarks, Volume VII. I will continue to research, develop and write "Homeplace" stories; but make no promises on specifics or timing… they will come when they come. ;-)

7. Much of my writing, of course, is informed by my reading. I read on-line, on my Kindle, and books in print form - yes, I still read books in print form, a lot! A theme that ran through my recent readings has been both the upcoming and past presidential years. During the year, I read (on the Kindle) the Jimmie Carter White House Diaries, then the (old) print book, The 'Unfinished Presidency' about Carter after the White House years. I am now finishing Ronald Reagan's White House Presidential diaries (single book form) on the Kindle… continuing the saga; two very different perspectives on history. It has been most interesting to 'relive those years.' I've read very little on the post WWII era ('because I lived them') - but, these recent readings now remind me how much I really missed. Guess that sets up some future reading, yes?! ;-)

Reading and Writing Plans for 2012 will be published on January 2.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Follow Friday - 23 Dec 2011

2011-12-23T05:30:00.000-06:00

Follow Friday

23 Dec 2011

Sometimes you just know a good referral the minute you see it. I do face one challenge, when I see one, though. I write for several different reasons, different venues (see the notes in the header for some of them). When I find a good referral, I have to stop and think: "Which audience do I want to write about this for?" This time, it was actually pretty easy - this is a Follow Friday referral:

"You're Researching but Are You Reading?" by Marian Pierre-Louise (one of my favorite bloggers, you've probably noticed) is especially good for my new readers, but should be reviewed by each of us doing any amount of family history or genealogy research. And, as always, do not fail to read the excellent comments. They are very good here, as usual.

What do you think? What have you read lately that has helped you with your research? I'd love to hear about them.

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Pammel Court at ISU

2011-12-22T05:30:00.000-06:00

Those Places Thursday

Pammel Court at ISU

Nancy and Annette in front of our Pammel Court home (May 1961).

Last week, I shared our first home as a married couple in the 1959-1960 year, where Nancy was teaching in State Center, Iowa (where we lived), and I was in my junior year at Iowa State University (ISU), in Ames, a few miles to the west.

At the end of the school year in State Center, we moved to 103 Pammel Court, in Ames, just north of campus, along and just east of the main road, just north of the railroad tracks running east and west - yes, it was loud, sometimes.

We were living there, of course, when Annette was born at the Mary Greeley hospital, in Ames, in August 1960. Fall classes had started, and I was carrying and reading my Genetics textbook. Fathers didn't participate in deliveries, back then. We sat in the waiting room; so, I was making good use of my time. That is what I remember. Nancy probably has a different set of memories… ;-) It was a comfortable small home, build for the G.I.'s coming back from World War II in the late 1940s - but still serviceable nearing 20 years later.

We lived in Pammel Court (1960-1961) until I graduated in the Spring; then moved to California. More on that to follow, of course.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Merl and Pauline (Smith) Bower

2011-12-21T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Merl and Pauline (Smith) Bower

Merl and Pauline (Smith) Bower - married 1 Jun 1935.
[Pauline is my Dad's older sister.]
I don't know if this is a wedding photo, or later.
They will appear in Eileen's 75 Years Ago diary in Week 52, on a Christmas Sunday (Jan 3 post).
They obviously live out of town (not Coon Rapids, IA).
I suddenly realized I don't really know very much about their early years, before the had their two daughters, before the moved to California. And, I've forgotten, or can't find, when they moved west.
Their daughters were born in 1941 and 1945.
Hope some cousins will answer some of these questions! Thanks!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 50 - Dec 7-13

2011-12-20T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 50 - Dec 7-13

Jeanette and her husband, Richard (Dick) Shapley and their clan in Sept 1992.

Finished Sunday with: "Pete really looked swellegant!"

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sharing Memories - 50 Years Ago - Keesler

2011-12-18T05:30:00.000-06:00

COON RAPIDS ENTERPRISE - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011/PAGE 4

50 Years Ago
December 14, 1961
Second lieutenant William L. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leverne Smith, Route 1, Coon Rapids, successfully completed a course in Introduction to Accounting I through the United States Armed Forces Institute, Madison, Wisc. He graduated from Coon Rapids Community High School in 1957 and graduated from Iowa State University in 1961. Before entering the Air Force, the lieutenant was a computer programmer with the Space Technology Labs, Inc. Los Angeles, Calif. He and his wife, the former Nancy Bolger, are now residing in Biloxi, Miss., where he is a student in ground elections with the 3401st School Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

***************
Observations and memories:

1) Since I chose a science major at ISU, and graduated with my B.S. in Math, I had taken now business courses in college. As a student worker at the Ames Atomic Energy Commission Physics lab during my Junior and Senior year, I realized I was actually more interested in the business side, the paper work side, of science research than in the science/physics research itself. With my three-year Air Force commitment already in place, it made the decision easy to begin taking business related courses through the U.S. Armed Forces Institute (in this case, actually, the University of Wyoming!) as soon as I went on active duty, even while attending 'ground electronics' school at work. These were correspondence courses, at that time, of course.

2) Curiously, just a couple of days ago, Nancy and I were talking about the 'architectural drawing' course I also took through USAFI... that was a 'fun' course - but I've used what I learned there, many times, through the years, as we bought and sold homes. Interesting side issues to being in the military.

3) That first accounting course, above, that I completed eventually led to a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), from Drake University, with an emphasis in accounting, that led me to qualify for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate, in about 1974, which I held for 26 years. For various reasons, I never obtained my license to practice public accounting, but I spent nearly 20 in private accounting. A great early decision in life, that paid dividends for many years that followed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Note: See label, Sharing Memories, below in the left sidebar, for earlier Sharing Memories posts.

Follow Friday - 16 Dec 2011

2011-12-16T05:30:00.000-06:00

Follow Friday

16 Dec 2011

I am always on the lookout for good ideas for involving young people (including kids) in their family history, especially in interesting group activities. My grandson has been involved in three such activities in the past year, at scouts, at school and at a school-related outside activity.

Joan Miller's report, "Kids climb their family tree at the library," provides good insights, both opportunities and some of the possible shortcomings,

What do you think? Have you been involved in a youth related family history activity? I'd love to hear about them.

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Those Places Thursday - First Married Home

2011-12-15T05:30:00.000-06:00

Those Places Thursday

First Married Home

When we first got married, in August 1959, Nancy and I lived in the upstairs apartment, with outdoor stairs, of the house, above, in State Center, Iowa, where Nancy had a school teaching contract for the 1959-1960 school year, third grade. I was a junior at Iowa State University that year, a few miles to the west. We were able to buy a simple new bedroom set, but the rest of our furniture was all left over from our parents farm homes. But, it was our place, and we were working hard to make it a home.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Maxine (Smith) and Orrin Hilgenberg

2011-12-14T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Maxine (Smith) and Orrin Hilgenberg

Maxine (Max) (Smith) and Orrin Hilgenberg

Married December 16, 1936

75 Years Ago - Celebrating in Arizona, this month!

[I cannot help but comment on the car and license place 37- (Greene Co, Iowa) cannot read year, most likely 1936 or 37]

{They look very much like their two oldest children, Judi and Gary, at same age!!!}

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 49 - Nov 30-Dec 6

2011-12-13T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 49 - Nov 30-Dec 6

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 49. On Monday, "Came in to Globe Trotter game at nite." This was at the gym in our little home town school. I saw them in the 1950s, as well. Just saw an ad for their appearance in Springfield, MO, here in Dec 2011, too!

Nice photo of Eileen and Pete, at the Homeplace (his Dad's farm, north of town).

Wednesday night was Hit Parade nite - I listed to it in the 50s, as well. It was just new in 1935; I'm sure she hardly ever missed it on the radio.

Thursday radio was "Maxwell House & Bob Burns - see details.

Finally, on Sunday, Eileen mentions '13 stayed at Smith's for dinner' and 'Betty and I did the chores.
Here is a photo of the folks likely at the gathering.

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sentimental Sunday - Reflections on my Dad's Family

2011-12-11T05:30:00.000-06:00

Sentimental Sunday

Reflections on my Dad's Family

Posting the 1938 Smith Family Christmas photo on Wednesday got me to thinking about this group. My Grandpa, Bill, holding my cousin, Gary, in 1938, is already 69 years old and just holding his first grandchild - with all those children. They all married late, by standards of the day, it seems. I had not really considered that, and decided to see what their ages were at marriage and when the first child was born to each couple. [Grandpa Bill, "Pop" to his children, died before the next Christmas, 3 months after I was born (his second grandchild), the next summer. No, not my fault. ;-)]

Let's take a look at the numbers:
Willard (Toots) was born 1906, did not marry until 1945, age 49, first child at age 41.
Irene, born, 1909, did not marry; no children
LVene, born 1910, married Verle May 1938, age 28, first child at age 31.
Pauline, born 1912, married Merl in Jun 1935, age 23, first child at age 29.
Leverne (Pete-my Dad) was born 1915, married Eileen in Mar 1938, age 22, first child at age 23 (me)
Max, born 1917, married Orrin 16 Dec 1936 [75 years ago this coming Friday - they still live in Arizona], age 19, first child (Gary), age nearly 21.
Betty, born 1919, married Warren Dec 1950, age 31, first child, age nearly 33

Four of the middle siblings married between Jun 1935 and May 1938; oldest and youngest married the latest. They all lost their mother in 1923 when Betty was only 4, my Dad was not yet 8; Irene, 14, LVene, 13. And, the Great Depression fell in-between there… Many other factors, I'm sure, as well.

On Tuesdays, I am writing about my Mom's diary entries, 75 Years Ago, … much about the days and times of those four marriages in there. Join us in weekly episodes, if you are interested.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Surname Saturday - Nielsen in Denmark to Nelson in USA

2011-12-10T05:30:00.000-06:00

Surname Saturday

Nielsen in Denmark to Nelson in USA

A few months ago I was fortunate to hear from a 'new to me' cousin in Denmark kind enough to share a couple of generations worth of my family history with me, on my 'shortest' family line. I am one quarter Dane (maternal grandmother born in Denmark), so this was wonderful news, and I made a couple of posts, here and here.

Well, as the Internet would have it, another 'new to me' cousin, Trine, in Denmark, was surfing the web, as we all do from time to time, these days, it seems, and what does she find: "Nielsen home in Denmark" - my blog post. And her email says: That is the house my husband and children and I live in now!

Obviously, this started a new round of emails, exchanges of photos, and family history discussions. She also, early on, mentioned she had a uncle who had come to the USA about 1900 and really didn't know much about him… but she thought he had taken the name of Nelson when he came, rather than Nielsen that he had been born into. His given name was Christian, but from scans of postcards he had sent, it was clear he used Christ Nelson over here. To her, she thought of him as 'her rich American uncle!' - though he really wasn't, of course. So, my research began, with many false starts - that is a really common name, even restricted to one state! And, of course, it turned out to be the wrong state, as well! [I did actually locate him in the 1930 census, before I confirmed it was his family with Flemming, below - but there was much, much more to the story; much still unknown.]

Before long, she mentioned 'her cousin' who did the family history work in the family. We have now caught up with him, and many things become clearer… for each of us. Flemming, the cousin knew more about the 'rich American uncle' than Trine realized; she just hadn't asked. So, now, it turns out, I know 2 third-cousins in Denmark, and there are a 'flock of them' near St. Paul, Minnesota - that Flemming has visited. Small world, huh? Common great-great grandparents. By the way, Flemming did not realize that my great-grand mother (his great aunt) and my grandmother had emigrated to America, also, in the first decade of the 1900s, only a few years after their Christ Nelson. That was nice to be able to share with him.

So, for one more story. Christ Nelson was one of five brothers - who would have been first cousins of my grandmother, Dorothy Sorensen Kinnick. Here they are, in about 1896:

Sons of Morten (brother of my great-grandmother, Jensene Nielsen Sorensen):

Niels b. 19 May 1877
Peder b. 20 Sep 1878
M. Christian b. 14 Oct 1879
Marius b. 28 Mar 1881
Anders b. 1 Jun 1882

Christian - Marius
Anders
Niels - Peder

Finally, Flemming is in regular communication with Orla and Bente that I communicated with a few months ago, that got this cycle started. Much of their detailed family information actually came from him. Small world, all over again. And, it will continue.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Follow Friday - 9 Dec 2011

2011-12-09T05:30:00.000-06:00

Follow Friday - 9 Dec 2011

Most of you are likely to have read this post, but, if you missed it, you'll want to catch it… and/or go back to read the many, many good comments added.

Greta Koehl's post, "Why I Want to Remain an Amateur," discusses as completely and eloquently as I have seen what many of us have been thinking seriously in recent times: How/where do I fit on the professional/amatuer genealogist spectrum?

What do you think? Does this article speak to you, as well? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Farm Home

2011-12-08T05:30:00.000-06:00

Those Places Thursday

Farm Home

As I continue this occasional 'Those Places' Thursday theme, today I will focus on 'where I grew up.'

The aerial photo is of the farm in Willow Township, Greene County, Iowa, in 1947, where I lived from about 2 until about 18 (or until I got married, at 20, depending how you count, I suppose). It is just a mile to the east of the Map I shared on a recent Mappy Monday. It was technically my third home, as explained there.

This view is generally north, and a bit east. The road you can see at the bottom of the photo, running east and west, had an intersection with the north and south road right at the lower left corner, above, behind the trees. That road, paralleled the Carroll-Greene County road a mile to the west, ran one mile to the north to the corner where Willow #3 school sat (north and east of the corner). Two miles directly west of that corner was the location of the Star School-Star Church corner described earlier.

The clump of trees, lower left, beyond the house was 'The Grove' - I built an infamous playhouse there where many stories were told (mostly by me to my cousins, mostly girls; wonder what, if anything they recall about that?) - my younger brothers took it over after I moved on... no telling what went on there, after that.

The buildings are, from the left: House, Wash House, Cob House, Chicken House, Barn (red, of course), Corn Crib, Hog House (north side of road) and the Cattle Shed - all white, on the south side of the road. There was a very large garden west of the grove, north of the house.

Those two years between High School graduation and getting married were taken up with:

1. Summer working in Des Moines with Keck Motors, owned and operated by Mom's uncle and his family.

2. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa - dormitory, fall, winter and spring

3. Second summer, lived in Des Moines for awhile working (unsuccessful Vita Craft sales job), then returned home for a while (working at gas station in Coon Rapids, as I had done in high school), before,

4. Iowa State University - dormitory, fall, winter and spring.

5. Summer in apartment with friends near campus, until wedding first week of August.

These are my memories. It was a long time ago, and I now realize these memories don't come as easily as they did years ago. Anyone else have that problem? Comments welcomed.

First married 'home' next...

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Smith Family Christmas 1938

2011-12-07T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Smith Family Christmas 1938

[From left: Verle Thomas, LVene (Smith)Thomas, Pauline (Smith) Bower, Rita Ballard -

in back, Willard Smith, Merle Bower, Grant Ballard; in front of them: Betty Smith, Irene Smith

Bill Smith, in front row, holding baby (Gary Hilgenberg)

Four on right, Pete Smith, Eileen (Kinnick) Smith, Maxine (Smith) and Orrin Hilgenberg

I am posting this photo, which is also from LVene's 1991 Smith book, because it relates very well to the '75 Year Ago' post next Tuesday - although this photo is 1938, and the '75 Years Ago' reference is 1936 - it is virtually all the same people, and same time of year, in the same location (the Homeplace)! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 48 - Nov 22-29

2011-12-06T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 48 - Nov 22-29

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 48. Thanksgiving on Thursday - was the last Thursday of month in 1936.

Very interesting to see Pete (my Dad) referred to, on Monday, as the "red headed boy" - his hair had a red tinge to the black… was it even more reddish just out of high school???

Noted boys and girls high school basketball scores: 22-25 & 18-19! ;-)

Curious the way the family divided for Thanksgiving day dinner: Older brother went to his Kinnick uncle's for dinner, while their Mom and Dad went to their Mom's sister's place. Eileen stayed home during day, but went out in the evening, with Pete! Stayed out late, it appears.

Her father was regularly attending a divorce trial - curious, as well.

Interesting that she worked at the appliance store, on Saturday night, since the owner was out of town! ;-)

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Discount on Lulu.com Books - Great shopping opportunity

2011-12-04T17:36:00.001-06:00

Discount on Lulu.com Books

Great shopping opportunity

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/drbillshares

[Home of 13 Ways... and Kinnick and Schwyhart Family History books]

From Lulu.com:
Enter coupon code BUY2GETONE305 at checkout and receive a free book when you buy two. You need to have 3 books in your shopping cart for this coupon to work. The maximum savings for this offer is $25. Sorry, but this offer is only valid in US Dollars and cannot be applied to previous orders. You can only use this code once per account, and unfortunately you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer expires on December 7, 2011 at 11:59 PM, so don't miss out! While very unlikely, we do reserve the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer thiscoupon where it is against the law to do so.

Check out the many genealogy authors also publishing via Lulu.com!

Families are Forever!

Follow Friday - 2 Dec 2011

2011-12-02T05:30:00.000-06:00

Follow Friday

2 Dec 2011

Heather Wilkinson Rojo at her Nutfield Genealogy blog post: "Flip-Pal Project #2" has provided a nice summary of not only her use of the Flip-Pal scanner but also using the photos and her blog posts to create books for her family.

My wife loves her Flip-Pal, and I've been thinking seriously about creating some books from my blogs, so this article is very valuable, to me. I hope you find it useful, as well.

What do you think? What have your experiences been? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Bill and Baritone Horn

2011-11-30T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Bill and Baritone Horn

There was a blog about playing trombone, the other day. Shortly, I came across this photo.

I believe I was a High School freshman - going to band contest, I think.

I enjoyed the Baritone in Concert and Marching Band - didn't work to well for Jazz Band! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK 75 yrs ago - Week 47 - Nov15-22

2011-11-29T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 47 - Nov15-22

Follow Friday - 25 Nov 2011

2011-11-25T05:30:00.000-06:00

Follow Friday

25 Nov 2011

Each of us hope not to face the questions Marian (and her many, many commenters) discuss in today's recommended blog post: "My Genealogy Software Upheaval." However, we each almost inevitably will. Enjoy the read.

There are a number of great issues raised in this discussion beyond simply software issues.

What do you think? What have your experiences been? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Treasure Chest Thursday - LVene's Smith Book

2011-11-24T22:47:00.001-06:00

Treasure Chest Thursday

LVene's Smith Book

This is a scan of the bottom of one page of the 'Treasure Chest' that is the family history prepared with great effort (and cost) by my Dad's sister, LVene, with help of many others, of their Smith family 'genealogy' in 1991. There were no more than 10 copies made, for the siblings, and each was made by hand.

I have benefited greatly from this work, in my personal research. I am pleased to have the copy LVene gave to my Mom (Dad had already passed away, of course).

Yesterday, I posted a poor 'old' scan of the above photo; I had forgotten it was in this book. Thanks to cousin, Becki, for reminding me. I appreciate your support a great deal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - 1923 Smith Family Photo

2011-11-23T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

1923 Smith Family Photo

This is a scan of an old little black and white family photo that I've had for a long time but have never really ever done much with. I now realize, this is likely the last photo ever of my grandmother Ella, center back, white apron. She died in June 1923, and this photo is labeled 1923. I believe it is the only photo I have of my dad earlier than high school. He is the boy in the middle, just in front of and to the side of his mother, surrounded by all of his sisters. He would have been been 7 and a half, about the same age as my grandson, Alex, now. Pete would become 8 in early August 1923, a couple of months after his mother passed away.

Oldest living son, Willard (17) - known to all as Toots - is on the far left, next to Grandpa Bill (53). To the right of Ella (43) are the three oldest daughters, Irene (14), LVene (13) and Pauline (11). Daughter, Maxine (6) (center) and Bethene (4) are in front.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 46 - Nov 9-15

2011-11-22T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 46 - Nov 9-15

Follow Friday - 18 Nov 2011

2011-11-18T05:30:00.000-06:00

Follow Friday

18 Nov 2011

My friend, Dan Curtis - Professional Personal Historian, just published a great, "Posts That Got You Talking," that I must share with you. I am confident there are 1 or 2, or 8, that you will want to read (again, perhaps) along with the comments. Some are 'commentaries' on life. Enjoy!

Which of the eight caught your eye? Which will be useful to you? Had you seen these before?

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Open Thread Thursday: How would you encourage someone to read genealogy blogs?

2011-11-17T16:29:00.001-06:00

Open Thread Thursday:

How would you encourage someone to read genealogy blogs?

Here is my comment:

I agree with Judy, the first commenter, that it needs to be mentioned regularly - that is, as Thomas says, it is an education issue (one of many we face). Along with several other geneabloggers, I also write the "Springfield Genealogy Examiner" column for Examiner.com, usually two a week. Here are two I've written in the past:

"Reading genealogy blogs is a good way to learn about family history study,"

and, I also wrote: "Have you considered writing a Springfield genealogy blog yourself?"

How do you, my readers, reply to this question? Please respond in the comments!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Eileen KINNICK - 3rd Grade Photo

2011-11-16T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Eileen KINNICK

3rd Grade Photo

Fall 1926

[My Mom]

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 45 - Nov 2-8

2011-11-15T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 45 - Nov 2-8

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week 46 Politics

2011-11-12T22:50:00.001-06:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History

Week 46 Politics

Thanks to GeneaBloggers and Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog for these prompts.

Week 46. Politics. What are your childhood memories of politics? Were your parents active in politics? What political events and elections do you remember from your youth?

Ah! The simpler times….

Two memories to report.

The election of 1952 would have been my first year in 'town school' after one-room country school. I was anxious to 'achieve' - and we had a magazine sales campaign. Yes, we had them 'way back then!' I managed to sell enough to earn a stuffed animal - a six inch ELEPHANT with I LIKE IKE or a DONKEY. I chose the elephant - I thought the I LIKE IKE motto was neat! I kept that thing for over 50 years! ;-)
Sometime during that campaign year, we did see Ike appear, as I recall, out of the back of a train, stopped in a neighboring town. That may have affected my choice, as well! ;-)

As I faced my first actual election to vote in, in 1960, talking to my Dad about it… He said, you vote as you wish, but I'll be voting a straight Republican ticket (there was a lever for the on the machine at the time), except, I vote for the Democrat for Agriculture Secretary (Dad was a farmer). Interesting what you remember, after all these years! I think I followed his example, that year. ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

Follow Friday - 11 Nov 2011

2011-11-11T05:30:00.000-06:00

Follow Friday

11 Nov 2011

Each Michael Hait blog post is worth reading. If you maintain a blog (or more than one, especially), this one is for you, if you haven't seen it yet. Great advice. OK, I'm partially posting it so I can come back and read it, from time to time.

On his Planting the Seeds: Genealogy as a Profession, but you don't have to be a professional to benefit, his post: "5 Ways to Manage Your Blog (or Blogs)." 6 tips, actually, that fit with my plans very well. I think you will benefit from them, as well.

What do you think? Do you do each of these to make your 'blogging life' better? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Orrin and Maxine (Smith) Hilgenberg

2011-11-09T05:30:00.000-06:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Orrin and Maxine (Smith) Hilgenberg

Dad's sister, Max, and Orrin were married 16 Dec 1936.

(See Eileen's diary next Tuesday, as well)

This photo is from their 50th Wedding Annversary in 1986.

As I am writing this, they live in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and are approaching their 75th!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 44 - Oct 26-Nov 1

2011-11-08T05:30:00.000-06:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 44 - Oct 26-Nov 1

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 44. As last week, another cold week as she continued to work at the Maytag store each day, it appears.

On Thursday, this nearly 18 year old is lamenting, “Wedding Bells are Breaking Up that Old Gang of Mine.” We get more comments like this, in weeks ahead. Very interesting.

Friday night dance grouping becoming familiar: Max and Orrin, Harold and Edith, Don and Norma, Pete and Eileen. Ten years later, or more, as a youngster, I often saw these same couples play important roles in our lives.

Homecoming, Church Bazaar, Chivari, "Halloweener's pushed my car into the telephone pole."

Movies, dancing, Cafe, fun. Another good week! ;-)

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Hometown Monday and 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week 45 High School

2011-11-07T05:30:00.000-06:00

Hometown Monday and 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History

Week 45 High School

Thanks to GeneaBloggers and Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog for these prompts.

Week 45. High School. Describe your middle and/or high school. Was it a large or small student body? Is the school still in existence today? How has it changed since you went there?

Coon Rapids (IA) High School has now become Coon Rapids-Bayard High School through consolidation with the nearby town down the highway to the east. It still exists, which is a feat in itself, given the rural Iowa location.

Several separate buildings are no longer used by the school, including the building I attended for high school. The school board recently voted to build a new addition on the existing High School/Middle School to include all K-12 grades for both towns and the surrounding rural community on the one site, for long term sustainability.

I maintain a wiki for the use of all classes, through the years, back to 1888.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Follow Friday - 4 Nov 2011

2011-11-04T05:30:00.000-05:00

Follow Friday

4 Nov 2011

Today I'm recommending an excellent post that speaks directly to the name of my blog. Susan, at Susan's Genealogy Blog, writes this week: "Not Just a Name and Date: Flesh on the Bones."

She even provides some excellent resources from which you may draw the social history surrounding the activities of your ancestors, so that their stories are "fleshed out" with meaningful detail. Understanding the social context of the time and place where your ancestors worked and resided is extremely important in telling their stories. It also helps us better understand who we are.

What do you think? What other resources have you used? I'd love to hear your story.

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Inside Star Church

2011-11-03T18:36:00.001-05:00

Those Places Thursday

Inside Star Church

A while back I reported here, Those Places Thursday, on the rural Star Church of my youth. Today, I want to share three photos from inside the church during the early 1950s.

Looking north, this is the left side of the main part of the church sanctuary. Rev. Joston is preaching. My Mom, Eileen, is at the piano on this day. (Sometimes it was my future wife, Nancy, at the piano.) The choir included several members of our two families, as well. Note the folding door, to the far right. That opened into the 'newly added' Star school building that was added.

Here is a better look at the choir (note: not the same day as above!)

Family in the choir: second from left, Aunt Lillian (Kinnick) Ford; fourth and fifth from left, Nancy's Mom and my Mom; first man on left, in back, Lillian's husband, Delbert Ford; next man, after last lady, Nancy's Dad; tallest, my next younger brother, Jim; next to him, Nancy's brother, Al Bolger. The way it worked out in a small rural church.

Meetings were held in the basement, downstairs. Here is an adult Sunday School class holding a dinner-based social meeting, one evening.

Very typical events of our small church. Great memories.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 43 - Oct 19-25

2011-11-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 43 - Oct 19-25

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 43. Another business and cold week as she continued to work at the Maytag store each day.

I noticed this was two Mondays in a row she "Caught chickens/roasters" - a regular meal fare, for sure.

Being inside more, she was reading more, novel as well keeping up with her lessons, which she could do at work - between customers… ;-) The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I picked up an interesting note, recently, that happened this week - and she was interested in college football as noted back in August: Oct 19, 1936: The first Associated Press college football poll was started - 75 years ago.

On Sunday, the family had the noon meal with Everett and Gertrude (Kinnick) Brideson. Gertrude was a sister of Paul Kinnick, aunt to Eileen. Here is a photo from their wedding.

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sentimental Sunday - Family Friend - Julia Thomas Rees

2011-10-30T05:30:00.000-05:00

Sentimental Sunday

Family Friend

Julia Thomas Rees

Today I honor the memory of a close family friend; a member of the rural Star Community where my wife and I grew up. Julia, my mother, Eileen, and my mother-in-law, Ruth, were active members of several social organization together for many years in the Coon Rapids, Iowa, community.

My Dad's sister, my aunt, married the brother of Julia's first husband, Arnold. Arnold was one of a small group of 'fishing buddies,' of my wife, Nancy's dad, Glenn. Nancy played dolls at their house when she was young, especially with their oldest daughter, Rebecca. Rebecca was a year or so younger, but, she and Nancy and I were in many band, chorus, and other school groups together, in addition to church youth activities. Their youngest daughter, C.J., was in my younger brother's (Tom- T.K) class in school, so she was a frequent visitor at our house in the early years.

Finally, it was from Julia that I first heard the term "Ozarks" as a 'great place to live or visit.' I thought she was talking about 'hill-billies' country, but, for the past 40 plus years my family and I have been annual visitors and we now 'live there' in retirement.

Thank you to Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll, Iowa, for the following online information.

Julia Thomas Rees
(Died October 25, 2011)

Julia Thomas Rees, age 98, of Coon Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids with Rev. Dennis Bailey of the First United Methodist Church in Carroll officiating. Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 5:00 P.M. on Friday evening where there will be a prayer service held at 7:00 P.M. The casket will be moved to the church at 8:30 A.M. on Saturday where visitation will resume until the time of service. Organist for the service will be Lula Garnes and soloist will be Mark Caraher. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery near Coon Rapids. Casket bearers will be Ron Bowman, David Thomas, John Thomas, Wilson Thomas, William Thomas, and Lonny Namanny. The family suggests memorials be made to the Coon Rapids Garden Club and the Iowa CU TTT Society of Coon Rapids.

Born on May 8, 1913 at Scranton, Iowa, she was the daughter of Raymond and Lucy (Essex) Hicks. She was the oldest girl of eight children. Her family moved to Kansas when Julia was a child where her father worked in the oil fields. They later moved to Arkansas where she graduated from high school at Siloam Springs in 1931. Following high school Julia returned to Iowa and worked various jobs until she was married to Arnold Thomas on March 14, 1939 on their cousin’s farm where the couple later made their home and raised their family. Julia loved her farm life. She was a member of the Star Methodist Church of rural Coon Rapids. Upon its closing the couple joined the Pleasant Ridge Friends Church. Mr. Thomas passed away on July 15, 1988 and Julia continued to live on the farm for the next twenty years. She was married to Maynard Rees on May 8, 2002 at Pleasant Ridge Community Church. Julia was a member of the Iowa CU TTT Society of Coon Rapids, the Star Progressive Club, OMC, the Red Hat Ladies, the Birthday Club, the Coffee Group, and H&H Club. Julia enjoyed sewing for her three daughters, quilting, shopping, entertaining, flower gardening, and spending time with her family and friends.

Surviving are her husband Maynard Rees of Swan House in Carroll; three daughters: Rebecca Thomas of Kansas City, Missouri and rural Coon Rapids, Sharon Spotts and her husband Randy of Ida Grove, Iowa, and Claudia C.J. Niles and her husband Wes of Carroll; three grandchildren: Janie Thomas, Laura Thomas, and Amanda Thomas all of Kansas City, Missouri; one great granddaughter Morgan Thomas of Kansas City, Missouri; a sister Virginia January of Tulsa, Oklahoma; a brother Loren Hicks of Birmingham, Alabama; two sisters-in-law: Ginny Hicks of Yakima, Washington, and Dorothy Hicks of Marshall, Missouri; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is also survived by her special friends Gil and Bronwyn Morgan of Scottsdale, Arizona, and their four daughters who thought of Julia as their grandmother. Julia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Arnold, four brothers: Erroll, John, Forest, and Milo Hicks, and a sister Rosa Winder.

Families are Forever! ;-)

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week 44-Elementary School

2011-10-29T20:24:00.001-05:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History

Week 44 - Elementary School

Thanks to GeneaBloggers and Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog for these prompts.

Week 44. Elementary School. Describe your grammar/elementary school (or schools). Were they big or small? Are any of these schools still in existence today? If so, how have they changed since you went there?

A while back I posted a Those Places Thursday about my primary elementary school, Willow #3, the
one-room country school I attended, a mile from my farm home, through 7th grade. There were two others in my class there. [It is no longer there, of course] I have the suspenders, on the right; my classmate, Charlotte, is holding a baby, in the center - it was a family picnic day. My younger brother, Jim, is sitting on the ground by me.

When that rural school closed, I went to the neighboring town, Coon Rapids, Iowa, for eighth grade and also high school. Here is my eighth grade class. [That building is no longer a school, either.]

I am on the right end of the back row, just behind the teacher, Miss Kennedy. My (future) wife, Nancy, is fourth from the right in the front row. {Charlotte, to the right of Nancy (third from the right, front row), was my classmate at Willow #3. The third member of that class went to a different neighboring town for eighth grade and high school.} Interesting note: the girls were mostly much more 'mature' at this stage than the boys, I note!!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Follow Friday - 28 Oct 2011

2011-10-28T05:30:00.000-05:00

Follow Friday

28 Oct 2011

Today, I want to share a post that actually dates back a couple of years but is just as useful today as then. It comes from professional personal historian Dan Curtis, a source I recommend fairly regularly. This one is: "What's the Difference Between Memoirs, Autobiographies, and Life Stories?"

This post describes "an array of life writing approaches," which is what I like. Especially as we get older, we often wonder where we should place our priority in writing about ourselves, our family and/or our ancestors. This post provides a very good context for these considerations. Check it out. I think you will find it useful.

What do you think? Which approach works for you? I'd love to hear your story.

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Lon, Nettie, Lillian

2011-10-26T05:30:00.001-05:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Lon, Nettie, Lillian

Lon, Nettie, and daughter Lillian Kinnick

1912 on the farm

[My maternal great-grandparents and great aunt]

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK 75 yrs ago Week 42 - Oct 12-18

2011-10-25T05:30:00.000-05:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 42 - Oct 12-18

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 42. A very active week for Eileen. Started a new job; seems to go in each day. At the Maytag retail store. Have good photos to go along with the stories this week!

I remember Leo Fest visiting from Idaho in the 50s, as well. Was a good friend of Grandpa Paul Kinnick, Mom's dad. He lived to 101. From ancestry.com:

Social Security Death Index
Name: Leo E. Fest
SSN: 519-28-8632
Last Residence: 91325 Northridge, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Born: 18 Feb 1892
Died: 23 Jul 1993
State (Year) SSN issued: Idaho (Before 1951)

Eileen had a typical Sunday - she went to family dinner at noon, out with friends in the evening: "Went out to Petes with Lund 's. Max's birthday. Pete bro't me home. Whole gang there."
Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Mappy Monday - Revisit 1935 Map

2011-10-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

Mappy Monday

Revisit 1935 Map

Last Monday, I posted a full view of the 1935 Union Township, Carroll County, Iowa Plat Map with notations of my family activities.

This week, look through some image files, I came across this image of a portion of the map, including the town of Coon Rapids, Iowa, with typed and written notations by my Uncle, Leo Kinnick, probably made in the late 1930s or early 1940s. Amazing. He notes the land, as I did, where he and his sister, Eileen, had lived, in Section 21. He also notes where his wife, Ida Marie Bell, lived, and where she rode a horse to the school where she taught. Great details!! {Click to enlarge the image}

Leo and Ida recently celebrated their 74th Wedding Anniversary! ;-)

[On 50th Anniversary, as I recall]

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sharing Memories Sunday - Farm Land to Rent or Buy/Sell

2011-10-23T05:30:00.000-05:00

Sharing Memories Sunday

Farm Land to Rent or Buy/Sell

I tend to very few vivid memories from my youth, but, from time to time, I do have 'recollections' of conversations I overheard, stimulated by my current reading and writing. This is one of those.

This past week on Monday I posted a map of the farm lands where my Dad's family, and he, started in Iowa. On Wednesday I posted a photo of Mom and I on the farm where we lived when I was born. On Thursday, I posted a photo of Mom and Dad on their rented farm. Cousin GeneJ sent a comment about the land and this family history we share that prompted the following 'recollections.'

Iowa farmer, 1939, with load of hay
(likely my Dad or his brother - cannot tell, with certainty)

As March 1 approached each year in our community, in the 1940s and 1950s for sure, other years I'm sure were the same, the conversation among the men-folks always included who would get their rental agreements renewed on their farm lands and who was buying and selling farmland nearby. March 1 was the change-over date. If land was to 'change-hands,' either by sale or for the farmer renting the land, it was always done on March 1 - the start of the new year. If plowing had been done in the fall in anticipation of spring planting, an allowance was always made in the sale/rental agreement for that work that had already been performed. There were often discussion like: I sure wish he had not plowed that 20 acres last fall… I'd like to have done something different with that land, this year, now that I will be in charge. Talk like that was common.

For young farmers, who did not yet own their own land, or who wanted to expand their acreage, the ability to acquire a (or another) farm to rent was crucial. There were not a lot of opportunities because most farmers farmed the land they owned. Most of the land rented out, was already committed to the current renter, and he was depending on it for his family. So, the person just starting out had to really 'scramble' to get their chance - and 'scrambling' was not seen by some as a 'seemly' thing to do… you had to be subtle, you had to boast of your abilities 'without boasting.'

Sometimes a farmer who was renting, if for whatever reason lost his rental for the next year, he might have to go several miles away, or farther, perhaps into another county, in order to obtain a farm to rent, to keep himself and/or is family going, for the coming year. The alternative would be to 'hire yourself out' to a larger farmer for that year - and that was a step back, not forward, for the independent small Iowa farmer.

I can clearly recall the anxiety of some of Dad's close friends who 'lost their lease' and had to make that transition to a new place, if they even could, on March 1. My Dad, Pete, worked very, very hard to make sure that never happened to him, and it didn't. He only moved twice: first, from a family land rental to one on his own; then to land he was able to buy - where he spent the rest of his life as a farmer. Ah, the memories. And there will be more. Stay tuned.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sport Center Saturday - 1907 Football Team

2011-10-22T05:30:00.000-05:00

Sport Center Saturday

1907 Football Team

Coon Rapids, Iowa, High School

Regular readers may recognize the top photo. It is a scan of a postcard in my wife's mother's collection. She was the Ruth Bolger noted on the back of the postcard.

For my wife and I, the importance of this photo, previously shared as a Treasure Chest item, is that the two young men, seated, on the right, are each one of our grandfathers! Lynk Thomas (Class of 1908), father of Ruth (Thomas) Bolger, Nancy's maternal grandfather, is on the far right. Next to him, with the white collar, is Paul Kinnick (Class of 1909), my maternal grandfather. Small world. ;-)

P.S. This note corrects the class years of the two men, from the prior posting.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Follow Friday - 21 Oct 2011

2011-10-21T05:30:00.000-05:00

Follow Friday

21 Oct 2011

This post, at Marian's Roots & Rambles, just made me feel good, so I have to share it: "I Wish There Were More People Like Tony."

The original article was written by my friend, Jen, at Examiner.com. I must acknowledge her and recommend her writing directly.

Do you know a "Tony?" Have you acknowledged them, and said "Thank you!" recently?

We certainly need more of them to promote the pursuit of our family history and genealogy. I'd love to hear your story.

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Treasure Chest Thursday - Mom and Dad

2011-10-20T05:30:00.000-05:00

Treasure Chest Thursday

Mom and Dad

Getting a cold, refreshing drink of water from the pump, on the farm.

I have no way of dating this except their looks and dress, but I'm confident they are newly-weds...

They married in March 1938 - the cultivator on the tractor suggests June or so.

June 1938 - on their farm (rented from his mother's estate, I believe).

I have more photos than 'artifacts' - this one qualifies as a TREASURE, to me!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - First home/farm

2011-10-19T05:30:00.000-05:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

First home/farm

On Monday, I shared a map that had the farm (red circled 4) where we lived when I was born, in 1939.

This is photo of Mom and I, about six months, the winter of 39-40, at that farm, with dog, car, and, I believe, the old tractor in the back. Oh, my! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen Kinnick-75 yrs ago - Week 41 - Oct 5-11

2011-10-18T05:30:00.000-05:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 41 - Oct 4-11

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue

Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 41. "C. E. Work" referred to "Commercial Extension" a business school "correspondence course." She and her dad had decided they could not afford to send her away to business school, so she had begun this course(s) from home. Starting here, we begin to see 'shorthand' notes in the margins. That is one of the courses she was taking.

Note: She regularly listened to the World Series on the radio. ;-)

On Friday: "danced every 3 with Pete." His sister, Max, had graduated in 1935; Pete in 1933.

I'll comment on final entry: "Were going to show but we found Don & Norma. Went to café & ate & cut out paper dolls. Sat in Don's car & listened to radio & ate pop corn. Ollie Betts road."

Don and Norma Williams were close friends for many years. Don had lived right across the road south of the Smith place for many years. When they married, Don and Norma lived just down the road, for many, many years... the moved to Arizona in the 1950s. Mom and Dad visited them a few times. Nancy and I, and Annette at 2, visited them in 1962. Nice folks! One daughter, Marla, a life-long teacher, now retired, of course (same age as my next younger brother).

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Mappy Monday - Northeast of Coon Rapids 1935

2011-10-17T05:30:00.000-05:00

Mappy Monday

Northeast of Coon Rapids 1935

Union Township, Carroll Co, Iowa

[Click on Map to see larger image]

{There are 36 sections, numbered serpentine, starting upper right, making the section below No. 1 be No. 12, No. 13 is below No. 12, and so forth.}

I have marked 6 locations in red (7 and 8 are off screen, a mile to the right-see below) of note:

1) Lower left corner of Sec. No. 12, 160 acres, Wm Smith, my grandfather. This is 'the homeplace' where my Dad, Pete, grew up.

2) A mile north of the homeplace, was the corner where the Star Methodist Church and the Star School sat.

3) A mile north of the Church/School corner, and half a mile west, land of Laura Wilson, is where my wife, Nancy was born and lived through high school.

4) Down toward town, on Sec. No. 23, land of Ella R. Smith, my maternal grandmother, the dot to the left of the red circled 4, beside the river, is the house we lived in when I was born, in 1939.

5) In Sec. No. 21, just northwest of Coon Rapids, land of R.H. & P.H. Kinnick - this is where my mother, Eileen Kinnick, lived from June 1936, while courting Dad, until they got married in March 1938, and started farming at location 4.

6) After a couple of years a location 4, Mom and Dad and I moved to a farm on the county line, a mile east and half a mile south of 'the homeplace.' I need to do more research (find the papers) on the exact timing and place of this move.

7) After another year or two, Dad bought our 'home farm' one mile east of the county line in Greene County, Willow Township; two miles directly east of his 'homeplace.'

8) The Willow #3 one-room school I attended was one mile north of that.

Note that the upper left corner of the map is marked Carrollton.

I will try to refer back to this map, as I continue to write about the area.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sentimental Sunday - 65th Reunion of Class of 1946

2011-10-16T05:30:00.000-05:00

Sentimental Sunday

65th Reunion of Class of 1946

Coon Rapids, Iowa, High School

This photo culminates a series of posts featuring Basketball, my uncle and aunt, Buzz and Colleen and the Class of 1946. This is the official photo in The Coon Rapids Enterprise (6 Oct 2011, p.2) of the Class Reunion.

[Click on photo to see enlarged version]

Buzz is on the right, in the back row. Coleen is second from right, in the front row. Neat group of people that I grew up with! ;-) P.S. Duane Baker, standing next to Buzz is a cousin of my wife, Nancy.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sport Center Saturday - 1909 Girls Basketball Team

2011-10-15T05:30:00.000-05:00

Sport Center Saturday

1909 Girls Basketball Team

Coon Rapids, Iowa, High School

A couple of weeks ago, I featured the 1946 Girls Basketball Team in our home town of Coon Rapids, Iowa, winning the Iowa State Championship. Today, we feature 'where/when it all began.'

This is a clipping from the very first High School Annual in 1917, featuring the First Girl's Basketball Team in Coon Rapid, in 1909. P.S. The young lady on the left became a great-aunt of my wife, Nancy.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Follow Friday - 14 Oct 2011

2011-10-14T05:30:00.000-05:00

Follow Friday

14 Oct 2011

I've not noticed previously a report quite this concise: I must pass it along; even though many of you may have seen it already. [Thanks to Randy Seaver for bringing it to my attention… again!]

Susan Farrell Bankhead, Certified Genealogist, writes in her blog, 'Susan's Genealogy Blog,' the article, "Come On Along: Research the Right Way."

This process is very good for beginners as well as experienced researchers. To the extent we do not follow the entire process, we are likely going to come up short on results. Even though we are not all professional researchers (most of us are not, actually!), we should each aspire to learn this process and follow it. I would urge each of us to especially do more in the 'My preparation:' area. Better preparation leads to better results, as well.

What do you think? How closely do you follow this preparation process? Do you agree we each should?

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Treasure Chest Thursday - Missing GGrandmother Obit

2011-10-13T14:40:00.001-05:00

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! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - a 3rd GGMother

2011-10-12T05:30:00.000-05:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

A 3rd GGMother

Beatrix (Elsie) Fad, born 1805, Alcase-Lorraine, France/Germany

Mother of my father's paternal grandfather, Michael Smith

Photo likely from around 1850-60

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK 75 yrs ago Week 40 - Sep 28-Oct 4

2011-10-11T05:30:00.000-05:00

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 40 - Sep 28-Oct 4

1934 Chevy - when new...
Source: http://www.lonisantiquecars.com/1934%20CHEVY.HTM
Extracted: Feb 2005

Doesn't it help to have an image to relate to?

Note: I still do not know what the last line means: "Wished my ring on till Christmas."

Comments welcomed!

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sport Center Saturday - Edward KINNICK - 1946

2011-10-08T05:30:00.000-05:00

Sport Center Saturday

Edward KINNICK

1946

2011

Small world. Last Saturday, I featured the 1946 Coon Rapids High School Girl's Basketball State Championship Team - with my aunt, Colleen (Davis) KINNICK, - wife of Buzzy, my uncle (my mother's brother) Edward Kinnick, and only mentioned the boy's team.

This week, in the hometown newspaper, The Coon Rapids Enterprise, for September 29, 2011, was this report of the 65th Class Reunion of the 1946 graduating class. They say the BOYS were passing around the above photo of the Boy's Basketball team... the overlooked ones. There is uncle Buzzy - Edward KINNICK - holding the ball in the center of the front row: 1946 Coon Rapids (IA) High School Boy's Basketball Team.

The five at the reunion (2011) are pictured below, with Buzzy again in the middle. Great looking group.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Follow Friday - 7 Oct 2011

2011-10-07T05:30:00.000-05:00

Follow Friday

7 Oct 2011

Thanks to Ginger and Marian on Google+ to get me to Barbara J. Mathews writing at The Demanding Genealogist: "Conflicting Evidence: What Is It?"

This advice is very good for beginner as well as experienced researchers, I believe.

What do you think? How do you handle conflicting evidence?

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Treasure Chest Thursday - Confirmation Class

2011-10-06T05:30:00.000-05:00

Treasure Chest Thursday

Confirmation Class

This is the confirmation class at the Star Methodist Church, a few years ago.

Nancy, now my wife, in white blouse, and I, in suit coat, center, were in 6th grade, as I recall.

She'll let me know if that is in error, of course. That would be spring of 1951.

In the back row, Rev. Pooley, and Don Williams, our teacher.

Charlotte Shirbroun, on left (in my class at Willow #3); the taller boy is my cousin, Dennis Ford, then Kenny Molle, and on the far right is Wayne Grim.

Note: Don Williams was my Dad's life-long friend; more on him in Eileen's Diary, Week 41.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Big Bend

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Big Bend

I just like this photo. Came across it looking at others.

I believe this is Big Ben National Park, in west Texas.
We spend a neat Christmas there...

Ten or twelve years ago.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 39 - Sep 21-27

2011-10-04T05:30:00.000-05:00

Eileen KINNICK

75 yrs ago

Week 39 - Sep 21-27

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue

Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 39. On Wednesday, "Robert and Edna here about supper time" This was Robert Kinnick, her father, Paul's brother and his wife. [This link is to one of the few photos I have of Robert.]

Eileen's mom, my grandma Kinnick, did not drive. So, Eileen did most of the shopping. "Garst's" was the department store in town. I learned from this diary that she worked at this store, from time to time; perhaps just on weekends.

Sunday was of special interest to me. She curled Edith Lund's hair - assume it meant "cut" Pete's hair, while there, as well. Then "town again in Pete's car." - followed by "Pete & I took Helen in to town & then he bro't me out home." They are beginning to look like a couple - even though on 'group dates.' What do you think?

OK, it is a little easier to speculate when we know how it came out! ;-)

Enjoy the read. Comments welcomed.

Families are forever! ;-)

Matrilineal Monday - Saturday Night Fun? ;-)

2011-10-03T05:30:00.000-05:00

Matrilineal Monday

Saturday Night Fun? ;-)

This exercise performed in response to Randy Seiver's Saturday Night (Oct 1, 2011) Genealogy Fun (SNGF)

I have not done my mitochondrial DNA testing or which Haplogroup ID. I have DNA samples at FamilyTreeDNA, so I suppose this could be done for an additional charge. I really don't know what it would mean to me. A reply would be welcome.

My matrilineal line is:

1. William L. Smith
2. Mary Eileen Kinnick (1918 Coon Rapids, Iowa -1999 Coon Rapids, Iowa) married Leverne Smith
3. Dorothy Christine Sorensen (1887 Denmark - 1982 Coon Rapids, Iowa) married Paul Harold Kinnick
4. Jensene Marie Nielsen (1852 Aalborg, Denmark - 1906 Guthrie Co, Iowa) married Lauritz Christian Sorensen
5. Maren Kristine Mortensdatter (1823 Aalborg, Denmark - 1915 Aalborg, Denmark) married Niels Christensen (Kudsk)

On the Smith side, the matrilineal line of my father is:

1. Leverne Smith (1915-1977) married Mary Eileen Kinnick
2. Ellen Rebecca Preston (1880 Deer Lodge, Montana - 1923 Carroll, Iowa) married William Emanuel Smith
3. Ellen Rebecca Miller (1850 Bryan, Ohio - 1912 Coon Rapids, Iowa) married James P. Preston
4. Rebecca Firestone Carle ( 1808 Ohio - 1892 Coon Rapids, Iowa) married John Miller
5. Mary Fireston (1789-1869) married Richard L. Carle
6. Mary Ann Bieber married Mathias Firestone

My Kinnick grandfather's matrilineal line is:

1. Paul Harold Kinnick (1892 Iowa - 1968 Coon Rapids, Iowa) married Dorothy Christine Sorensen
2. Margaret Jeanette Williams (1869-1936) married Alonzo Palmer Kinnick
3. Ann Eliza Duncan (1842 Illinois - 1879 Guthrie Co, Iowa) married Elias Williams
4. Araminta Kirk (1813 Scotland - 1855 Duncan Prairie, Mercer Co, Illinois) married Braxton Duncan

My Smith grandfather's matrilineal line is:

1. William Emanuel Smith (1869 Moline, Illinois - 1939 Coon Rapids, Iowa) married Ellen Rebecca Preston
2. Margaret Nellie Soderstrom (1846 Bjuraker Parish, Sweden - 1901 NE Soldiers Home, Grand Island, Nebraska) married Michael Smith
3. Johanna Margreta Rolin (1817 Sweden - unknown) married Peter Andersson Soderstrom
4. Margreta Sprang (b. Sweden) married Jonas Rolin

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sentimental Sunday - Check latest KINNICK Memorial post

2011-10-02T05:30:00.000-05:00

Sentimental Sunday

Check latest KINNICK Memorial post

See recent Guest Post on companion The KINNICK Project:

Rene M. (KINNICK) Coffelt Family Memorials

She has her whole ancestry on Find-A-Grave.com

We were happy to share her work,

perhaps it will bring contact from some 'new cousins!'

Families are Forever! ;-)

Sports Center Saturday - Buzz and Coleen - 1 Oct 2011

2011-10-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

Sports Center Saturday

Buzz and Coleen

1 Oct 2011

Last week (Sep 24) I featured uncle Buzzy Kinnick in 1941 with his basketball team. I had featured him in a Thursday Treasure Chest post 4 Mar 2010 as 'like an older brother." Toward the end of that post, I included his wife, Colleen. She was a leading player on the 1946 Coon Rapids High School team that won the Iowa State Championship as Colleen Davis. This post ties these all together in a neat package.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Follow Friday - 30 Sep 2011

2011-09-30T05:30:00.000-05:00

Follow Friday

30 Sep 2011

From time to time we benefit from reminders of things that are 'right in front of our face' - I'll put this recommendation in that category. Thanks to Randy Seaver for bringing it to my attention this week.

Carolyn L. Barkely in her GenealogyandFamilyHistory.com wrote: "Genealogy Columns in Newspapers: Important Resources of Your Research."

Not only does she provide a number of excellent examples and sources, but, she also reminds each of us, who write regularly, that we should consider writing such a column, ourselves, for our local or home-town paper.

Again, excellent reminders! Thank you, Carolyn (and Randy!).

What do you think? Have you looked at these sources? Might you consider writing such a column? Do you?

Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Willow#3 School, Greene County, Iowa

2011-09-29T05:30:00.000-05:00

Those Places Thursday

Willow#3 School, Greene County, Iowa

Recently, I shared a "Those Places Thursday - Star Church 1955" that was a social center of the community where my wife and I grew up in the 1940s and 1950s in west central Iowa. Today, I continue this series by sharing photos including the one-room country school that I attended for Kindergarten through seventh grade: Willow #3 in Greene County, Willow Township, Iowa. This school was located two miles directly east, across the county line, from the Star Church.

Iowa one-room country schools were originally located on the center corner of every four square miles. The Iowa I grew up in consisted of a very homogeneous checkerboard of regular roads every mile, both north and south and east and west. Only rivers, lakes and such natural barriers prevents a road every mile. Interesting, looking back; and fairly distinctive, it now seems. [Our farm house was also on a corner, one mile directly south of the Willow #3 school house.]

A few years ago, I created a web page in my The Early Years series on Willow #3. Today, I will add another photo taken at the school. I'm at the far right, with suspenders.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - 5 KINNICK Siblings

2011-09-28T05:30:00.000-05:00

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

5 KINNICK Siblings

Left to right (dates late 1940s):

Robert (1896-1953)

Gertrude (1902-1988) {Brideson}

Lillian (1908-1993) {Ford}

Lucile (1894-1956) {Herron}

Paul (1892-1968) - my maternal grandfather

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 38 - Sep 14-20

2011-09-27T05:30:00.000-05:00

Eileen KINNICK

75 yrs ago

Week 38 - Sep 14-20

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few back links and all!). I am starting this retro view in the middle of the year. You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue

Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; girl friend, later wife, Ida. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy); see photo.

Week 38. 1936 was a year of extreme weather, much like 2011; see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_North_American_heat_wave
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/jan/11/steve-austin-column-1936-37-set-standard-weather-e/

I was fascinated to hear Eileen talk of "First time I ever saw all of our land" and "make the cows swim" in the river on the property. This was the Middle Raccoon River that was a pretty powerful stream when flooded. I can visualize it very well… scary - I do not like flood waters, anywhere.

"Watched Mts. Pitch horse shoes." A family by the surname of Mountain lived on the edge of town. She went past their home on about every trip to town. Two of the 'young ladies' in the family became school teachers in Coon Rapids, for many years, into the1980s-90s. Fixtures in the community.
From 1930 U.S. Census:

Daughter, Maud Mountain, Social Security Death Index:

Name:	Maude M. Mountain
SSN:	xxxxxxxxxxxx
Last Residence:	50058 Coon Rapids, Carroll, Iowa, United States of America
Born:	24 Oct 1902
Died:	21 Feb 1998

"Lund 's, Pete, Don A., Peverstorf's Par [ink blot blocked part of word] Jensen & I in truck riding in pm." There is Pete, again... ;-)

Enjoy the read. Comments welcomed.

Families are forever! ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

2011-09-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

It's Monday, What are You Reading?

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

This is the twenty-fifth entry for this meme, the fourth at this blog site, suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [The first 21 entries in the series were posted at the Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar, which has generally been on hiatus]

Ok, if you are a regular reader, you are probably beginning to question my sanity in choice of books to read… Correct, unless you understand my variety of interests and activities. It was a concern I had in combining the two blogs; but, here goes.

The Hunger Games, the first of three, so far, in this series by Suzanne Collins, is a Young Adult book that is now being made into a movie with a March 23, 2012 planned release (it is currently in post-production) starring Jennifer Lawrence.

As an Examiner.com writer, I have written about here extensively. [Jennifer Lawrence was the star of "Winter's Bone" - a story set in Ozarks, filmed in the county where I live. "Winter's Bone" was based on the book of the same name and won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Film as the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. It was selected for four 2011 Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress (Jennifer) and Best Supporting Actor.]

As a highly acclaimed current Young Adult book series, I also have an interest beyond Jennifer Lawrence starring in the movie (and all three of my grown daughters anxiously looking forward to the movie based on reading the books…). In my author role, I have 'identified' a 14-year old Civil War era young man in the family history of my current novel series. He cries out for a Young Adult novel, perhaps Graphic Novel, set 150 years ago in 2013. The Hunger Games is research for me in possibly writing this novel, in collaboration with my oldest daughter, who has developed some expertise in graphic novels. Ok, enough, for now. Wish me luck! ;-)

About the book - From School Library Journal; at Amazon.com:
Grade 7 Up - In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like 'Survivor' and 'American Gladiator.' Book one of a planned trilogy.Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK {Based on Hardcover edition} [I'm reading the Kindle Edition.]

By the way, it is still ok to question my sanity! ;-)

Happy Reading,

Bill ;-)