Sunday, February 6, 2011

The Gregorian article on Buzz and Colleen Kinnick

The Gregorian is Published Quarterly by the Residents of the St. Gregory Retreat Center, Bayard, Iowa - Winter 2010-2011

From page 1, second column (and continued on page 2):

From the Court to Courtship, Marriage and Beyond:
the Journeys of Buzz and Colleen Kinnick

submitted by John R. & John D.


Fans of basketball are well aware of the drama that can unfold on the hardwoods. Victory, adversity, comebacks and comic mishaps abound. But any true fan will tell you that togetherness, teamwork and friendship are the key ingredients to any championship team. The story of Buzz and Colleen - their marriage, family, work, travels and community involvement - is the story of one such team. Both grew up in the area and have lived here all their lives; they currently reside off of Highway 141 between Bayard and Coon Rapids. Colleen remarked that it was a different time when she was in school; there were no school buses so she had to walk, presumably back and forth through the proverbial two feet of snow during the Iowa winters.  She grew up on a farm and has good memories of driving a tractor, shocking oats and riding horses. At Coon Rapids High School, she was on a state championship basketball team her senior year and made all-state her junior and senior years. Buzz grew up in Coon Rapids, the son of a banker. He had what he described as a "Huck Finn" environment growing up, with plenty of hunting and fishing and a fair amount of time spent helping his sister and her husband with their farm. He was also a basketball player for the men's team at Coon Rapids.

Unsurprisingly, one of their first interactions was on the basketball court during high school. While some courtship ensued, the United States' entry into the Second World War temporarily changed things. Buzz enlisted in the Army and at the close of the War was sent to Japan in the occupation forces. As a non-commissioned officer, he was charged with inspecting POW camps and mine sites as part of an intelligence unit. "Not that I was so smart, just lucky." One of the things he saw in this tour of duty was the training camp where the Japanese taught kamikaze pilots how to dive bomb U.S. targets.

Following the war, Buzz looked Colleen up. As Colleen recalled "He phoned and said 'Can I come see you? I didn't say 'no'." They courted and got married in 1948 - they have been together for 62 years. Their philosophy on how to make their marriage work for so long? Both agree that it starts with doing everything together - working, playing, praying, traveling, and raising kids.

With his war earnings, they purchased a tractor and began farming. Kids followed soon after. They have four children, 13 grandchildren, and five great-granchildren. All of the children have moved back to the area. The grandchildren are spread out all over the country. The success of their offspring stems from some basic principles Buzz and Colleen followed when bringing up their kids. "Be good citizens and stay out of environments that lead to trouble."

As in the case today, farming was very hard work and the times were not always easy. Buzz remembers that in the 1980s it as difficult for farmers to borrow money due to high interest rated, but they somehow persevered. Buzz took on a position with a fertilizer sales business and was involved with building the first fertilizer plant in the late 1960s located in Bayard at the east side of Highway 25. He later worked at a real estate office in a building that how houses the Bayard Hall of Fame. Colleen went back to school and became a nurse and enjoyed practicing for 20 years, in spite of it being emotionally taxing and physically demanding work. Buzz and Colleen saved enough during these challenging years that they were able to retain the family farm.

With children to raise and careers to worry about it would be easy to assume that they had little time for much else. But they actively involved in community organizations, committee work for their church and hospice for many years. Additionally, Buzz has held many appointed county positions and Colleen was active in P.E.O., a women's philanthropic organization.

Both are very fond of living in the Bayard/Coon Rapids area. Colleen summed it up well: "It felt like you knew almost everyone for many years."

In their opinion, St. Gregory fits right in. Colleen remarked "I think it's a wonderful, beautiful addition; I think it qualifies for altruism. Your group here exemplifies it." Buzz agreed, adding "Of all the 'isms', altruism is the best." A winning combination from a winning team. 


[Full disclosure: Buzz Kinnick is my mother's brother, my uncle.]

Saturday, February 5, 2011

William Kinnick Inventory - December Court 1786

William Kinnick Inventory - December Court 1786


Extracted from a transcription of Will Book A H No 9, page 393: Charles Co, Maryland

Inventory of the goods & chattels of William Kinnick late of Charles County deceased appraised by us in current money of Maryland (dollars at seven shillings & sixpence)

[I am recording here in descending order of value, value first, followed by the items in the inventory]

[This activity is part of the analysis of the written records of William Kinnick as a part of the research for the forthcoming book: The World of Sergeant Major William Kinnick]

17 15 0  3 cows & calves; 1 cow & 1 yearling
16 10 0  1 sorrel horse 2 years old; 1 black mare 9 years old
08 07 6  11 heifer; 17 sheep
08 00 0  2 indifferent feather bed furniture & bedstead
06 00 0  1 middling good feather bed furniture & bedstead
05 10 0  1 small white horse 3 year old
04 10 0  1 large bull 7 year old
03 10 0  8 goats 10 months old; 4 pigs 3 months old
03 07 6  30 ea feathers & 1 quilt
01 12 6  1 old sow; 1 younget {finall} (?) [sic]
01 10 0  3 bushels Indian corn; 20 lbs bacon
01 08 3  1 horse coat {cart} [sic]; 16 lb Wool; 1 lb Cotton
01 04 0  1 tablecloth & towel; 2 hides; 1 old sampler
01 01 3  8 good pewter plates; 1 doz. old pewter plates (damaged)
01 00 0  8 flag botom chairs; 4 pewter caskets
00 19 0  2 old ploughs; 2 sets of harrow hoes
00 15 0  8 quart bottles; 3 iron wedges; 1 hand (poker)
00 12 9  2 old axes; 4 old hoes; 1 old horse plow
00 12 9  3 pewter basings large; 1 small pewter basin
00 10 9  1 pr sheep shears; a small parcel of carpenter old tools
00 10 9  1 horse bell; 1 old horse bell; 3 old cotton wheel mach.
00 10 0  1 old loom & gear mach. (damaged)
00 10 0  weaving appearal
00 10 0  1 old hand mill stone grinder & frog
00 09 9  3 Beafe hooks; 2 pr old {cards}; 1 old chest
00 08 9  1 pigin; 1 wash tub; 1 iron pot
00 05 3  1 Dutch oven; 1 old frying pan
00 05 3  11 pewter spoons; 2 small butter pots
00 04 9  2 pr laces; 1 pr beading line
00 04 6  1 pr good pot hooks; 2 pr pot hooks; 1 iron skillet
00 04 0  1  bone iron; 3 heaters; 1 old iron pot (damaged)
00 03 6  2 flag botom chairs; 1 old poplar table (damaged)
00 02 6  1 old box; a parcel of old books
00 02 0  1 old sad clock; 1 old pocket book

89 [lbs] 10 3

given  under our hands and seals this 6 day of September 1786
Joseph Kennick, John Kennick - Kin
George Morton - Creditor

Edwd. Semmes
Alex. McPerson - appraisors

At the foot of which inventory is thus written
Viz: Charles County Ct. 23rd October 1786
Then came Ann Kinnick Admin. D.B.N. of William Kennick late of Charles County dec'd. and made oath on the holy Evangels of Almighty God that the foregoing is a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods and chattels of the said dec'd. that came to her hands or possession at the time of making thereof that what since or shall hereafter come to her hands or possession she will return in an additional inventory that she knows of no concealment of any part or parcel of the dec'd. estate by any person whatsoever that if she shall hereafter discover any concealment or suspect any to be she will aquaint the Orphans Court or the Register thereof with such concealment or cause of suspicion that it may be inquired into according to law.

Cert. by John Mufchett, Reg of Wills

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

[ My personal observations are these:
1) Most of the value was in the livestock.
2) Aside from Wool, any crops beyond winter food, had already been sold,
3) Only one table listed - the old poplar (damaged) - curious (*), and
4) No tool sets identifiable beyond that of a middling farmer.]



*One likely explanation - it is believed he lived and worked with his daughter, Ann, and her husband, John, and their children (ages 8, 6, 4, 2, 1 mo); These items would be those he owned, not Ann and John and their family.

Your comments or observations welcome!  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)