Friday, March 29, 2013

75 Years Ago This Week - March 29


75 Years Ago This Week - March 29
 

75 Years Ago This Week began March 1, 1938 - my mother and father were preparing to get married later in the month.

Over in The KINNICK Project blog, we had another week of daily entries from Mom's - that is Eileen Kinnick's - diary.

Interesting week of "new things" -

An ice cream party…

We started counting eggs each day…

We got our first look at the journal of cream sales (and butter purchase)…

Mom used some of the eggs to make a neat cake!

We got to meet Pop, up close…  ;-)


From the local newspaper in Coon Rapids, Iowa, the Coon Rapids Enterprise, 75 Years Ago:

March 25, 1938:

The Coon Rapids Boy Scout Troop with 21 members and 5 “Cub” Scout associate members was formally instituted and presented with a charter at appropriate ceremonies in the public school auditorium Tuesday evening.
Sponsored by the Coon Rapids Lions Club, the Lions had charge of the meeting with
Chairman Dollarhide of the Lions Scout Committee in charge of ceremonies. The Bayard Scout Troop in charge of their scoutmaster J.B. Warren, acted as installing troop and carried out their program with precision and dispatch. F.C. Woolworth of
Sioux City, scout executor of the Sioux City area, was present and presented the new charter with an appropriate speech. Scout Master adrian Clark gave a short talk on the work of the troop and announced they had secured the use of an old barn on the F.C. Caswell property just west of the school building for troop headquarters where they held their meetings each Monday evening.
Some of the boys do not have uniforms and are anxious to earn money so they can get some. Members of the new troop are John Chrystal, Stephen Garst, Duane Davis, Duane Hoffman, Joe Gallagher, Keith Compton, Junior Schumacher, Bill Davis, Dick Davis, Lawrence Raygor, Raymond Betts, Bill Cook, Douglas Cook, Roy Patrick, Leroy Ockenfelt, Marvin Smith, Junior Johnson, David Ibach, Max Austin, Junior Whitnell, Dick Rafferty.
The five Cub Scout member boys under the age of twelve are David Garst, Jack Wallace, Keith Robison, Billy Grettenberg, and Junior Kersey. These boys are all
classed as tenderfoot Scouts with the exception of Max Austin and Junior Whitnell who have passed examinations to be classed as Second Class Scouts. Two patrols
have been formed, one called the Lions Patrol and the other the Raccoon Patrol. Max Austin and Steven Garst have been named patrol leaders. John Chrystal has been named treasurer, Joe Galloway, scribe, and Junior Johnson is game warden.

My comment: Just thought this was interesting. Lots of familiar names here, from later years, when I was around…  ;-)

How many do you recognize? ;-)


Families are forever!  ;-)

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Thursday - Stories To Tell


Thursday - Stories To Tell


It is always a good idea to read the Blog at Stories To Tell, but today is a special day. Please stop by.

Part of the 13 Ways Book Blog Tour





Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - At the Mayflower - 45 years ago


Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - At the Mayflower - 45 years ago






We started our family history and genealogy study a long time ago. Here, 45 years ago, our first two daughters are standing with the Mayflower in the background, at Plymouth... never too early to get to work on our social history!

Families are forever!  ;-)

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tuesday's Tip - Visit the Book Blog Tour stop at Angler's Rest today


Tuesday's Tip
Visit the Book Blog Tour stop at Angler's Rest today


Visit Julie today at Anglers Rest - and stop by again tomorrow for her giveaway on the 13 Ways Book Blog Tour...






Families are Forever!  ;-)

Monday, March 25, 2013

13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories - Book Blog Tour Begins Today


Book Blog Tour Begins Today
"13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories"

Please visit each of our participating Blogs!
 




 Monday, Mar 25

Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories
http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/
and Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar
http://drbillsbookbazaar.blogspot.com/

Scroll down to see Giveaway information...


Tuesday, Mar 26 and Wed, Mar 27

Julie Goucher at Anglers Rest
http://anglersrest.blogspot.com/

Review on Mar 26
Guest Post and Giveaway on Mar 27

Thursday, Mar 28

Biff Barnes on Stores to Tell Books
http://www.storiestotellbooks.com/

Author Interview and Giveaway

Friday, Mar 29

Jason Crews on Genealogy Spheres
http://www.genealogysphere.com/

Author Interview

Saturday, Mar 30

Shannon Combs-Bennett on Trials and Tribulations of a Self-Taught Family Historian
http://tntfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/

Review and Giveaway

Happy Easter

Monday, Apr 1


Miriam J. Robbins at AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors
http://ancestories1.blogspot.com/

Author Guest Post and Giveaway

Tuesday, Apr 2

Julie Cahill Tarr on Writing Your Way to the Past
http://julietarr.blogspot.com/

Review

Wednesday, Apr 3

Jana Last on Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog
http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/

Review and Giveaway

Thursday, Apr 4

Gena Philbert-Ortega on Gena's Genealogy
http://philibertfamily.blogspot.com/

Host Author Guest Post

Friday, Apr 5

Pam Schaffner on Digging Down East
http://diggingdowneast.blogspot.com/

Review
************
A Big Thank You to each Blogger Participating!
************

Giveaway Information:

One PDF copy of the 2nd Edition of "13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories" to the winner


To Qualify to be the winner, you must:

1) Enter a comment, below, that includes an email contact address
[Use this format: billsmith2003 at gmail dot com]

2) Enter comment, per Blogger time stamp, prior to midnight, Thursday, Mar 28


Winner will be determined using Random.org - and contacted via email address provided.


Thank you for your participation, and sharing this information.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Happy 210th Birthday - Asenath Butler


Happy 210th Birthday - Asenath Butler Preston Thomas


Asenath was my Great-Great Grandmother, the daughter of my only known ancestor born in Ireland, John Butler. She survived the surrender of Detroit in the War of 1812, married the "Old Sheriff" in Defiance County, Ohio, had several children including my grandfather, James P. Preston. Following the untimely death of the "Old Sheriff" she remarried, had two more sons, moved to Iowa and lead a long and productive life for the times of 85 years.



Happy Birthday, Grandma!!






Families are Forever! ;-)

Friday, March 22, 2013

75 Years Ago This Week - March 22


75 Years Ago This Week - March 22



75 Years Ago This Week began March 1, 1938 - my mother and father were preparing to get married later in the month.

Over in The KINNICK Project blog, we had another week of daily entries from Mom's - that is Eileen Kinnick's - diary.

After all the preparation work on the old farm house last week, this week saw the marriage of Pete and Eileen take place on St. Patrick's Day - so they could go to the dance with their friends after!

Chivariers did come the evening of their first night in their new home - on schedule, and messed up the floors (see the next day)

Cows and the milk/cream separator (needing cleaned thoroughly twice a day) arrived on the 20th.


And, the chickens arrived on the farm on the 21st…


From the local newspaper in Coon Rapids, Iowa, the Coon Rapids Enterprise, 75 Years Ago:

March 18, 1938:

George Boehler polled 91 votes and Orton Kretzinger 181 to become new members of the local public school board Monday. H.J. Day was reelected treasurer. Harold S. Keister, defeated third term candidate, polled 159 out of the 307 votes cast. L.A. Jordan the other retiring member, was not a candidate for reelection.
The new board will now consist of Chas. W. Thomas, C.E. Coder, Paul Kinnick, George Boehler and Orton Kretzinger with H.J.
Day as treasurer.

My comment: Last week, we saw two town council tickets, with my grandfather, Paul (P.H. Kinnick), on both tickets, as Treasurer! This week we are reminded that he also continued to serve on the local school board. Neat! Local public service is so important! ;-)


Families are forever!  ;-)

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Easter 45 Years Ago


Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Easter 45 Years Ago


As I've noted earlier, I'm working my way through scanning our family slides, systematically, for 1976 or so back in time to 1952... today was Easter, 45 years ago, with our first two daughters!
[This was in Schenectady, New York, when I was working for General Electric.]


 Above, they got some Easter candy in their baskets. Below, they are dressed up in their finest for Church - even white gloves! Oh, my!  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)
For sure! ;-)

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Barbara Cowles Memorial Service/Obituary



Barbara Cowles Memorial Service/Obituary
 
 
Barbara was my 2nd cousin by way of my maternal grandmother Dorothy (Sorensen) Kinnick and her brother, Morris (Marius), grandfather of Barbara (Groth) Cowles (Nov 1931-Jan 2013). Our common ancestors were Lauritz and Jensene (Nielsen) Sorensen (Denmark > Iowa).

A memorial service was held for her on February 23, 2013, in Des Moines, Iowa, which I was unable to attend. Her sister, Carole, was kind enough to send me a copy of the program which contained a fuller obituary than that available from public, online sources. Thank you again, Carole. I've included as scan of that obit below.

I want to share one line from the obit:
"Barbara held intense fascination for genealogy and the pursuit of ancestral history with led to many wonderful photo albums, and volumes of historical data and interesting stories."

My wife and I received a Christmas Card and letter from Barbara every year for many, many years with each update in her family, and we exchanged the same with her. Our Christmas letter this year was among the first her sister, Carole, found among her things in January, and contacted us directly. We were so grateful.

Here is one of my favorite old photos, from then 1940s, with my Mom and Dad, in Des Moines, visiting with Carole and Barbara at the home of their parents, Pearl and Alton Groth, in Beaverdale.
 
 



A graduation photo of Barbara:


The obituary from the Memorial Service:

[Click for enlarged image]


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Saturday, March 16, 2013

13 Ways 2nd Edition now on Amazon


13 Ways 2nd Edition now on Amazon



Click the image to go directly to Amazon.com site.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, March 15, 2013

75 Years Ago This Week - March 15




75 Years Ago This Week

75 Years Ago This Week began March 1, 1938 - my mother and father were preparing to get married later in the month.

Over in The KINNICK Project blog, we had another week of daily entries from Mom's - that is Eileen Kinnick's - diary.

The old farm house was being prepared to live in by both families working together to help Pete and Eileen get ready when they are married in a few days…

Wallpapering was completed, among other things.


Identifying the Smith siblings that helped out.


From the local newspaper in Coon Rapids, Iowa, the Coon Rapids Enterprise, 75 Years Ago:

March 11, 1938:

Town election is a couple of weeks away Monday, March 28, and nomination papers are now in circulation about town for the following two tickets: The Peoples ticket presents John Shirbroun for mayor; George Textor, W.A. Kretzinger, M.H. Galloway, C.W. Rippey, and George Lachenmeyer for town council,; Jno. W. Smith for assessor; P.H. Kinnick for treasurer. The Citizens ticket presents Paul O. Alex for mayor; Dwight Williams, Dr. D.S. Weaver, Ralph Shannon, and John Tigges for town council; Ralph C. Bowman for assessor; P.H. Kinnick for treasurer.

My Grandfather, Paul (P.H. Kinnick), was on both tickets! Love it!
  ;-)

Families are forever!  ;-)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Smith Family Gathering Summer 1970


Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday
Smith Family Gathering Summer 1970


I've been systematically scanning every slide I took in the 1970s - late to early, now into the summer and fall of 1970. These three are from a visit to my parental Smith farm home, "on the Porch" - for a gathering of members of my Dad's family. It is rare when I cannot identify everyone, but I do need some help on these. I can guess (because there are only so many cousins to choose from), but I'd appreciate help from my faithful readers, in the comments, please.

My three daughers are in blue, with necklace and light pink and yellow (on the right, below). I wonder if a couple are from CA, since their grandparents are below.


Are the boys the Pierce boys? Wrong ages, I think? Don't think their parents or sister are here, which has me confused.


Back two rows, from the left, Bill (me), Max, Mike, Orrin, Arrion, Eileen, Nancy, Jim, Pauline, Gwen, Merl, Tom, Pete, Paul.

And, I really cannot tell 'who is missing' to be taking the photos, on my camera, since I am in the one immediately above. Thanks for any assistance.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Monday, March 11, 2013

13 Ways Book Blog Tour Schedule - 2 weeks from today


Book Blog Tour
"13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories - 2nd Edition" 
Tour by Day and Event

[Click on image to order print copy of this workbook]

We hope you will stop by, and leave a comment, at each of our fine Tour participants, below!

Monday, Mar 25

Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories
http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/
and Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar
http://drbillsbookbazaar.blogspot.com/

…get the tour underway. Giveaway at each site.

Tuesday, Mar 26 and Wed, Mar 27


Julie Goucher at Anglers Rest
http://anglersrest.blogspot.com/

Review on Mar 26
Guest Post and Giveaway on Mar 27

Thursday, Mar 28

Biff Barnes on Stores to Tell Books
http://www.storiestotellbooks.com/

Author Interview and Giveaway

Friday, Mar 29

Jason Crews on Genealogy Spheres
http://www.genealogysphere.com/

Author Interview

Saturday, Mar 30

Shannon Combs-Bennett on Trials and Tribulations of a Self-Taught Family Historian
http://tntfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/

Review and Giveaway

Happy Easter

Monday, Apr 1


Miriam J. Robbins at AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors
http://ancestories1.blogspot.com/

Author Guest Post and Giveaway

Tuesday, Apr 2

Julie Cahill Tarr on Writing Your Way to the Past
http://julietarr.blogspot.com/

Review

Wednesday, Apr 3

Jana Last on Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog
http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/

Review and Giveaway

Thursday, Apr 4

Gena Philbert-Ortega on Gena's Genealogy
http://philibertfamily.blogspot.com/

Host Author Guest Post

Friday, Apr 5

Pam Schaffner on Digging Down East
http://diggingdowneast.blogspot.com/

Review

A Big Thank You to each Blogger Participating!


Bill ;-)




Families are Forever! ;-)



Friday, March 8, 2013

75 Years Ago This Week - March 1-7


75 Years Ago This Week


75 Years Ago This Week began March 1, 1938 - my mother and father were preparing to get married later in the month.

Over in The KINNICK Project blog, we had another week of daily entries from Mom's - that is Eileen Kinnick's - diary.

On March 3, Eileen went to Des Moines to watch the Girl's Basketball Game in the State Championships.

On March 4, we started to hear a lot about plastering and pulling down old wall paper at the farm house where they were planning to make their new home.




On March 6, her whole family joined in with painting in that house.

On March 7, new wallpaper arrived.
What will come next?



From the local newspaper in Coon Rapids, Iowa, the Coon Rapids Enterprise, 75 Years Ago:

March 4, 1938:
"Coon Rapids playing the outstanding game of the state tournament so far out played Fonda during their first round of the tournament to lead 23-3 at the half. The radio announcer
said that Coon’s team was the smoothest he had seen this season and Lund’s ball handling simply marvelous. Lund was credited with sinking 12 of these points, Grohe 6, and Johnson,6.
Coon’s defense led by “Tuffy” Parker had the Fonda girls baffled. Coon Rapids was there in force with Holliday’s school band furnishing music for the occasion. apparently Coon was
the popular outfit of this day’s play with half the town in attendance.
Playing in the first half for Coon were Lund, Johnson, Grohe, Parker, David, Anderson. Starting the second half, Lund was given a free throw and as usual, sunk it to make the score
24-3. At the end of the third quarter the score stood 37-6 in favor of Coon. Lund accounted for 20 of these points, Johnson, 10, Grohe, 7. Lund’s work was outstanding. Between quarters Holliday and his band got almost as much mention from the announcer.
By special wire from Drake fieldhouse at the end of the game we find Coach Christian shot in all of his reserves to finish the game, Whisler, Baker, Davis, Coder, Rogers, George.
Long shots were a feature and the final score was Coon Rapids 47, Fonda, 9."


Families are forever!  ;-)

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Treasure Chest Thursday - Mom's Sheet Music and comments


Treasure Chest Thursday - Mom's Sheet Music and comments


Nearly fourteen years after her untimely passing, I still find artifacts from my mother that make me smile... this was a recent one! This many times used piece of sheet music, is not unusual among the items she left behind. The note on it, is so "HER!"

"My cousin Wilbur and wife Pauline danced to this song with the Kluckers singing & I played piano. They like to Polka, too, & Kluckers sang & I played."

The Kluckers were a group of local folks, in Coon Rapids, Iowa, that performed as an 'orchestra' for local organizations. I'll write on them more, one day. Today, I sit here pondering what inspired her to actually write this note on the from of this particular sheet of music...

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Wrens - 40 years ago


Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Wrens - 41 years ago


I was girl's softball coach in the summer league in Urbandale, Iowa, for several years
This was about three years in... Annette, on right, was pitcher and catcher.

Another year or two, we added teams at younger ages, and Allison, left, played for years.
Arrion, ball girl, here, also played for several years, until we moved to Tucson.

Very fond memories!
Thanks to Nancy, wife and mother, for strong support, by the way!  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)


Monday, March 4, 2013

13 Ways Book Blog Tour - coming soon


Coming Soon



The stops on the 13 Ways Book Blog Tour will be posted here on


The tour will begin on March 25, right here, and run for two weeks.



In advance of availability on Amazon.com, you may order your print copy of
"13 Ways To Tell Your Ancestor Stories, 2nd Edition"

for $9.99


via my Dr. Bill's Non-Fiction Book Store, using your PayPal account, for example.

Thank you for your support!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sunday, March 3, 2013

"13 Ways" 2nd Edition in print now available from printer



"13 Ways" 2nd Edition in print now available from printer






In advance of availability on Amazon.com, you may order your print copy of
"13 Ways To Tell Your Ancestor Stories, 2nd Edition"

for $9.99


via my Dr. Bill's Non-Fiction Book Store, using your PayPal account, for example.

Thank you for your support!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, March 1, 2013

75 Years Ago This Week

75 Years Ago This Week



This is a new weekly meme, for me, starting today, March 1, 2013.

75 Years Ago This Week
included March 1, 1938 - my mother and father were recently engaged, preparing to get married later in the month.


Also starting today, over in The KINNICK Project blog, I have resumed daily entries from Mom's - that is Eileen Kinnick's - diary.

Each week here, I will have something to say about the week's diary entries with a link over there.

Most weeks, I'll also have something from the local newspaper in Coon Rapids, Iowa, the Coon Rapids Enterprise. From time to time, I may add other tidbits from that week, 75 Years Ago! ;-)

***
 From Eileen's diary entry of Feb 6:
"Decided to get married sometime in March & love on Smith's other place."

From Eileen's diary entry of Feb 8:
 [At work] "Told Leo & Boyd I was gonna get married.
Told the folks but they hardly believed me."

From Eileen's diary entry of Feb 9:
"Pete came. Went out on Betts road. Just sat & talked. Plan on going to Des Moines {to get rings}."

From Eileen's diary entry of Feb 11:
"Pete came & we went to Des Moines. Ate at Butterfly. Got rings at Helzbergs, did a little shopping... [Back at home] So tickled about the rings; they're cuter than the dickens."

From Eileen's diary entry of Feb 18:
"Looked at catalogs and planned."

From Eileen's diary entry of Feb 20:
"Over to Smith's other place. Measured all the floors and windows. It really can be made nice. Over to Smith's to supper."

From Eileen's diary entry of Feb 23:
"Went to Whitnell's & picked out our Fiesta... Went to Carroll... Got our cabinet, couch, 2 rugs, & 2 kitchen chairs. Came rite home."

My comments: Kind of brings us up to date!  ;-)


Families are forever!  ;-)