Ancestor Artifacts
21 Points
In my last post, I shared the notebook in which my maternal grandfather, Paul H. Kinnick (1892-1968), had noted 11 “self-behavior” issues… and no more. Among the artifacts I have gleaned from my mother’s estate (Eileen (1918-1999)) is an envelope containing two pages, both sides, of additional thoughts Paul put down on paper while he was in College in Des Moines in 1912.
I do not know to whom (perhaps me, perhaps not) Eileen addressed the note on the envelope I now have with his two sheets of notes. The note appears to have been written in 1978. It reads: “This was written by your great grandfather Paul Harold Kinnick when he was in college in Des Moines. I’m just loaning it to you. I tried to make a copy but couldn’t. If you like I’ll make a hand written copy for you - so many think our writing is similar. P.H.K. was born in 1892. He would have been 85 now.” On the reverse side of the envelope she also wrote: “Please handle with care! The paper is old - (inside)”
Around 1977-78 was about the time I first showed interest in family history. I suspect the note was to me. She, like many of her generation and the one before, was very reluctant to share information. Over time, she did share more than she initially expected to, of course. Excuse the editorial comment.
Following is the content of Paul’s writing, that appeared on these two sheets, rather than in that notebook where he wrote his initial list of issues:
1. Watch your health. The sickly person is at a tremendous disadvantage. There is no prodigal on earth so foolish as one who is a spendthrift of health.
2. Eat as little as is necessary. Leave every meal while you are unsated. Eat slowly. Chew your food.
3. Let all alcoholic liquors alone. If you have youth you don’t need whisky. If you feel the need of it, all the more reason you ought to let it alone.
[Note: This one really got passed down to me. Never touched a drop.]
4. Don’t use tobacco. It may not be wicked, but the point is, that it can do you no good and may do you harm.
[Note: Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to stick with this one. He smoked cigarettes his entire adult life, and died of emphysema as a result.]
5. Take care of your teeth.
6. Exercise. Don’t overexercise.
7. Be dependable. Be punctual. Be loyal. Create a reputation of being one that does not have to be watched or guarded.
[Note: He excelled at this one. He served as Secretary, Treasurer or Clerk to School Board, City, many Sales through his adult life. Elected and re-elected to many civic responsibilities.]
8. Be polite. Always, everywhere.
9. Be clean; keep your clothes clean, your body clean, your mind clean, your mouth clean. This is an antiseptic age.
[Recall: This was 1912!]
10. Be honest. Don’t lie yourself and get out of any business that involves crookedness.
11. Associate with persons who know more than you & who are better than you: keep away as much as possible from low people, at least observe this rule in forming your intimates.
[Note: Rarely noted, but excellent advise!]
12. Know your weaknesses & guard against them.
13. Whatever you do, do it at the top of your capacity. The best way to a better job is to do the one you have well.
14. Speak well of the absent. You never can tell when your contemporaneous word will get around the man you spoke of.
[Note: Again, an interesting one to put down on this list. Certainly good advise!]
15. Watch your spare time. Get into the habit of learning some useful thing during leisure hours.
16. Face the sex question, find out the truth about it, & keep it settled. It has ruined more lives than any other one thing.
[Note: Really! Tell me more… he didn’t]
17. Don’t be afraid. Let no one intimidate you or alarm you.
[Note: Wow! Didn’t expect that one…]
18. Keep your money matters straight. Save a part of every bit you earn. Don’t borrow, Don’t lend. Don’t go into debt for personal needs. Don’t spend what you do not have. Keep money in your pocket.
[Note: He did survive the Great Depression, later in life. Apparently had pretty well stuck to his principles here. He was always considered a 'penny-pincher' in the family, but it worked for him.]
19. Keep cheerful. Don’t worry. Don’t pity yourself. Be a good loser.
[Note: I like this one!]
20. Don’t let failure upset you. Any fool can get along when successful. The real man is the one who knows what to do when he fails.
[Note: He passed this one on well, thank you!]
21. Finally, reverence for yourself. This is the very essence of any religion. Don’t hold yourself cheap of no account.
That took up three of the four sides of the sheets. The fourth was filled with other notes. Let’s see what those were:
Some Good Thoughts, (and other things)
The little sharp vexations, and the briars that catch & fret.
Why not take all to the Helper.
Who has never failed us yet?
Tell Him about the heartache.
And tell Him the longings too.
Tell Him the baffled purpose.
When we scarce know what to do.
Then, leaving all our weaknesses
With the One divinely strong,
Forget that we bore the burden,
And carry away the song.
Phillips Brooks (underlined)
Failure to think is the greatest cause of failure today.
[Followed by some initials, appears to be J.P.K.]
Then, clipped out of some newsprint and pasted here:
Paul is Latin, Harold, the Champion
Also, at the end, four names and addresses:
H.B. School, 417 Chestnut
B.C. Morgan, 810 Des Moines
M.M. Garnes, 1812 Grand Ave.
L.W. Williams, Columbus Nebr Rt# 2
[Note: I believe the last is a first cousin. I do not recognize the other three]
More to follow. Comments welcomed.
Families are Forever! ;-)
