52 Ancestors: #8 Jensene Marie (Nielsen) Sorensen

52 Ancestors: #8 Jensene Marie (Nielsen) Sorensen

This year, Amy Johnson Crow has issues a new 52 weeks blogging challenge:

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

on her No Story Too Small blog.


The challenge: To have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.

My approach: I plan to make this a Tuesday Theme, and, use it to enhance my WikiTree ancestor profiles. That is, focus on a different ancestor on my WikiTree list of profiles, each week (include possibly adding new profiles), Great idea! Thanks to Randy Seaver's post for bringing this to my attention!

#8 Jensene Marie (Nielsen) Sorensen is #15 on my Ancestor Name (Ahnentafel) List, and is my great-grandmother. She married my great-grandfather, #7 Lauritz Christian Sorensen (1847-1922).
I am descended through:

* their daughter, #7 Dorthea (Dorothy) Kristine (Christine) Sorensen (1887-1982) who married
#6 Paul Harold Kinnick (1892-1968), through
* their daughter, #3 Mary Eileen Kinnick (1918 - 1999), who married #2 Delbert Leverne (Pete) Smith (1915 - 1977), to
* me, #1 William Leverne Smith (1939- …)

These are my Danish relatives, of course. They were both both in Denmark as was my grandmother, Dorothy, making me one-fourth Dane, by heritage!

We knew very little about Jensene, until a couple of years ago, except that she died about a year after coming to America, and was buried near Stuart, Iowa. I have visited the grave.

In the fall of 2011 (has it been that long ago, seems like yesterday!), our cousins in Denmark, Orla and Bente Poulsen, saw my posts, and sent some information, then photos, and now we know much more. Here is one of the first posts, about the home where she was born.

Here is a story about the tombstone of Jensene's parents. How wonderful to hear from cousins in Denmark. They, and several others, are now Facebook friends and we continue to communicate regularly. My daughter, Arrion, hopes to visit them, in Denmark, in the next year or two. Wonderful!


Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Near time of High School Graduation?

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday

Near  time of High School Graduation?

Found this old Poloroid photo - Annette, and I believe Allison is behind her, probably Spring of 1977. Found among paper that suggest it my be High School Graduation time.

There are two cars in the driveway of the house in Urbandale. Any memories or thoughts as you see this?

Don't have a lot of Poloroid photos - always interesting to see them when they show up. Perhaps I should collect them all in one space. Any suggestions? How do you handle Poloroid photos? Hardly ever have anything written on them...  ;-(

Families are Forever! ;-)

52 Ancestors: #7 Lauritz Christian Sorensen

52 Ancestors: #7 Lauritz Christian Sorensen

This year, Amy Johnson Crow has issues a new 52 weeks blogging challenge:

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

on her No Story Too Small blog.

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.

My approach: I plan to make this a Tuesday Theme, and, use it to enhance my WikiTree ancestor profiles. That is, focus on a different ancestor on my WikiTree list of profiles, each week (include possibly adding new profiles), Great idea! Thanks to Randy Seaver's post for bringing this to my attention!

Top row, left to right: Christian Otto, Dorthy Christine, Dagmar Rebecca (Delma)

Front row, left to right: Jensene, Louise Mildred (Louise), Lauritz

Most likely taken in Denmark just before their departure for America

#7 Lauritz Christian Sorensen (1847-1922) is #14 on my Ancestor Name (Ahnentafel) List, and is my great-grandfather. He married #15 Jensene Marie Nielsen (1852-1906) my great-grandmother.
I am descended through:

* their daughter, #7 Dorthea (Dorothy) Kristine (Christine) Sorensen (1887-1982) who married
#6 Paul Harold Kinnick (1892-1968), through
* their daughter, #3 Mary Eileen Kinnick (1918 - 1999), who married #2 Delbert Leverne (Pete) Smith (1915 - 1977), to
* me, #1 William Leverne Smith (1939- …)

These are my Danish relatives, of course. They were both both in Denmark as was my grandmother, Dorothy, making me one-fourth Dane, by heritage!

We have had this wonderful family photograph for many years, but it was only in recent years that we learned very much about their lives in Denmark, and that is still pretty sketchy. Fortunately, we do know quite about them once they arrived in the United States, and came directly to Stuart, Iowa. Their oldest son, Morris, was already living in Des Moines as a pharmacist, I believe, so that provided some stability.

The wife of Lauritz, Jensene (more about her and her family next week), died within a couple of years of arrival so we know almost nothing about her life here.

All we really know about Laurtiz, really, is that he raised a good family who adapted to life in America very well. He was already nearly 60 when they arrived, and he lived to be 75.



Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - A Hundred Years Ago

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday

A Hundred Years Ago

 

"A Hundred Years Ago" is the title of The Helena Muffly Diary blog posted by Sheryl Lazarus each day.

I read these posts every single day. These are A Hundred Years Ago. I post my Mom's diary every day, 75 Years Ago Today.

What fun to see this ad appear, on Monday:

 

[Source noted on blog: Kimball’s Dairy Farmer Magazine (February 1, 1914)]

This ad, or one like it, is very likely one of the influences for many members of my maternal Grandmother's Sorensen family to move to Montana, about this time. Thank you, Sheryl.


Here is a link to a story I wrote, and some photos, of their times there.




Families are Forever! ;-)

52 Ancestors: #6 Margaret Jeanette (Nettie) Williams

52 Ancestors: #6 Margaret Jeanette (Nettie) Williams

This year, Amy Johnson Crow has issued a new 52 weeks blogging challenge:

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

on her No Story Too Small blog.


The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.

My approach: I plan to make this a Tuesday Theme, and, use it to enhance my WikiTree ancestor profiles. That is, focus on a different ancestor on my WikiTree list of profiles, each week (include possibly adding new profiles), Great idea! Thanks to Randy Seaver's post for bringing this to my attention!

#6 Margaret Jeanette (Nettie) Williams (1869-1936) is #13 on my Ancestor Name (Ahnentafel) List, and is my great-grandmother. She married #12 Alonzo Palmer Kinnick (1870-1923) my great-grandfather.
I am descended through:

* their son, #6 Paul Harold Kinnick (1892-1968), who married #7 Dorthea (Dorothy) Kristine (Christine) Sorensen (1887-1982), and
* their daughter, #3 Mary Eileen Kinnick (1918-1999), who married #2 Delbert Leverne (Pete) Smith (1915-1977), to
* me, #1 William Leverne Smith (1939- …)

I mentioned Nettie last week, of course. When she married Alonzo, as I noted, her Dad was a mason and builder, as well as the ice man, in Coon Rapids. Her mother had died in 1879 when Nettie was just 10 years old…[from Nettie's obituary] "…and left six children. As she [Nettie] 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."

Nettie and Alonzo married in 1891 and had five children, born in 1892, 1894, 1896, 1902, and 1908. The two sons and three daughters each lived long lives and had fine family and many grandchildren for the family.

Again, from her obituary: "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."

When she died in 1936, at 66 years of age, her obituary included: "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 had died of complications following an ear infection. It was a shock to the family and the community.

Although the words of obituaries of the time were still a bit "flowery" - the words also seemed to be very sincere, in this case, and best relate to us how she was remembered by her friends and family.



Families are Forever! ;-)

Sunday Obituary - Erna Lund, Coon Rapids, Iowa

Sunday Obituary

Erna Lund

Coon Rapids, Iowa

A close family friend, a local school teacher, from our hometown:

From the Coon Rapids Enterprise, February 6, 2014:

Funeral services will be held for Erna Lund Tuesday, February 11, at 2:30 p.m. at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids. The service will be officated by Reverend Bill
Bernau. The visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. just prior to the funeral service. Interment will follow the funeral service at the Union Township Cemetery.
Casket bearers will be John Grettenberg, Larry Jensen, Charlie Nixon, Doug Pevestorf, Jack Tuel, and Steve Venteicher.
Erna passed away on Saturday, February 1, at her home in Coon Rapids.

ERNA LUND

Erna Louise, daughter of Chris and Sena (Moller) Lund, was born October 6, 1920, north of Manning. She was baptized September 10, 1922. The family lived on various farms in the Manning area and at the age of five, Erna attended country school for one year. Because of her father’s illness, the family moved to a small acreage at Aspinwall where Erna attended school until October 6, 1929, when the family moved to Coon Rapids, and she attended the fourth grade.

Erna was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church near Coon Rapids in 1934 and graduated from Coon
Rapids High School in 1938. After taking Normal Training in high school, she began her long teaching career at the Kretzinger country school two miles north of Coon Rapids and then at the Star (Union #1) school from 1938 to 1946. Erna received her Bachelor of Science Degree in education from Drake University in Des Moines.

She subsequently taught third grade in Bayard for 11 years. During this time in 1950, Erna and her mother purchased Erna’s present home at 219 Park Street in Coon Rapids. From 1957 until her retirement in 1985, she taught third grade at Coon Rapids Community School. She taught school for a total of 47 years. Erna was a Life Member of the National Education Association and Iowa State Education Association, as well as a past member of the Coon Rapids Local Association.

Erna has been a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids for many years and the
WELCA Ladies Organization, CU TTT, O.M.C. Club of Coon Rapids and was a Senior Citizen Volunteer.

Erna died peacefully at her home on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at the age of 93 years, 3 months and 26 days of age.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Elmer Lund and a sister Edith and her husband Harold Johnson.

Erna is survived by a niece Kristie Cummings and husband Brian of Columbus Junction; a nephew Kent Johnson and wife Sue of Wapello; four great-nieces: Alissa Villhauer and husband Nathan of Hills; Sena Cummings of Columbus Junction; Andrea and husband Eric Riley of Davenport and Karra and husband Jarrod Diedrich of DeWitt; a sister-in-law Anna Lund of Coon Rapids, IA; other relatives in Denmark and many friends.

75 Years Ago This Week - February 7, 1939

75 Years Ago This Week

February 7, 1939

75 Years Ago This Week began March 1, 1938 - my mother and father were preparing to get married later in the month. I'm continuing this meme, from time to time, as issues warrant.

The Coon Rapids Enterprise - 75 Years Ago column, had two interesting items: 1)

February 3, 1939
M.R. Wait, superintendent of the local light plant, announces an REA Wiring school will be held in the community building here on the evening of February 10. Planned in cooperation with County Agent Paul Wilson of Guthrie county, the school is intended to give information to all interested REA project members or any others interested in electricity and house wiring. C.H. VanVlack of the Extension Service of Iowa State college will be in charge of the meeting and will be able to answer any questions which may arise in regard to any REA matters. Members of the Glidden and Guthrie REA projects and farmers from any of our four counties will be welcome at this meeting as it is designed principally for their benefit and information.

My comment: This is noteworthy because in my comments on my Mom's daily diary entries from 75 years ago, and the Facebook comments following those posts, we have been discussing how their farm house did not yet have electricity because a line did not come down their road.

2) A later article also including a report of the Coon Valley Conference basketball tourney played in Coon Rapids. I included an actual copy of that week's newspaper with the diary post for that day, there.

Note: Diary entries are posted each day on the KINNICK Project Blog.

Families are Forever! ;-)

52 Ancestors: #5 Alonzo (Lon) Palmer Kinnick

52 Ancestors: #5 Alonzo (Lon) Palmer Kinnick

This year, Amy Johnson Crow has issues a new 52 weeks blogging challenge:

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

on her No Story Too Small blog.


The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.

My approach: I plan to make this a Tuesday Theme, and, use it to enhance my WikiTree ancestor profiles. That is, focus on a different ancestor on my WikiTree list of profiles, each week (include possibly adding new profiles), Great idea! Thanks to Randy Seaver's post for bringing this to my attention!

#5 Alonzo (Lon) Palmer Kinnick (1870-1923) is #12 on my Ancestor Name (Ahnentafel) List, and is my great-grandfather. He married #13 Margaret Jeanette (Nettie) Williams (1869-1936) my great-grandmother.
I am descended through:

* their son, #6 Paul Harold Kinnick (1892-1968), who married #7 Dorthea (Dorothy) Kristine (Christine) Sorensen (1887-1982), and
* their daughter, #3 Mary Eileen Kinnick (1918 - 1999), who married #2 Delbert Leverne (Pete) Smith (1915 - 1977), to
* me, #1 William Leverne Smith (1939- …)

This ancestor is a bit of an enigma (a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand).

It started with his place of birth. Whereas his parents lived "their entire lives" in Illinois, following the Civil War, they spent a couple of years in western Iowa and northern Missouri - a son born in each. Lon was born in Stuart, Adair County, Iowa on 2 Nov 1870. His brother, George Walter, was born 18 Sep 1872 in Mendon,  Missouri.

Then, at about age 18, Lon accompanied an uncle who was moving to Iowa and spent the rest of his life in and around Coon Rapids, Iowa (less than 25 miles from his place of birth).

He married Nettie Williams (he Dad was a mason and builder, as well as the ice man, in Coon Rapids) in nearby Carroll in 1891. They had five children, born in 1892, 1894, 1896, 1902, and 1908. The two sons and three daughters each lived long lives and had fine family and many grandchildren for the family.

The image, above is one of my favorites of Lon. It comes from my earlier post, with extensive information about Lon's later years. He loved his horses, he hated being ill. Eventually, he took his own life, far too early, at age 52.


Families are Forever! ;-)