Nettie Williams Kinnick Diary from 1915 Transcribed

 

 Nettie Williams Kinnick Diary from 1915 Transcribed

 

See the entries in her diary, now, at:

http://bridesonfamily.blogspot.com/2020/08/jeanette-nettie-williams-kinnick-1915.html?zx=8f647430be30dbad

 

Families are Forever! ;-) 

Nettie’s Grandchildren - 1 Feb 1931 - The Kinnick Cousins

 Nettie’s Grandchildren - 1 Feb 1931

The Kinnick Cousins

This has been a good week for my Kinnick Research. I had been updating some recent Kinnick lines on WikiTree, when a cousin in California began sending photo images scanned from her grandmother’s photo album, covering largely the first three or decades of the Twentieth Century. It turned out, eventually, the photos number a couple of hundred. What a little treasure chest!
[A Big Thank You to Rose Shapley (daughter of Jeanette, grand daughter of Gertrude, great grand daughter of Nettie) for sharing these photos and many others!!!]

As is frequently the case, many of the photo images are of only marginal interest to me, but among them are a couple dozen, perhaps, that will get further attention. And, then, there is one set of four that I found breath-taking. While the image quality is only fair, the content simply takes my breath away. I want to fly in six different directions, but must take my time, review coolly what I have before me, and proceed cautiously with what I do next. [My daughter, Annette, has provided edited images that I will use in a post on my Ancestor Blog - link to follow]

Part of my excitement in first seeing this first photo was that I have few Kinnick family images from this period - the Depression, perhaps. On second look, I realized these were the groups of cousins who, in my early and middle years my mother referred to as “The Kinnick Cousins” as if some mystical group. From the 1950s through, perhaps, the 1990s, members of this group, with their spouses, met regularly, without their children, for a dinner meeting, several times a year. Virtually all continued to live within a 25-30 mile radius of Coon Rapids, and, Bayard, Iowa, throughout that time. Here is the first image I saw:

The date struck me first, the number of people struck me next, the span of the family represented grew on me as I looked at it more. Also, I noted an error or two, right away, in the ‘caption’ - so that drew me in further

A second image was related and useful. This included the primary adults, taken the same day/time:

  

These are Lillian, Uncle George, Robert, Nettie, Lucile, Gertrude, and Paul (my grandfather). Uncle George Kinnick was visiting from Illinois, and his presence was no doubt the occasion for the gathering.

In addition, the second image on that first photo, was “the Kinnick Men”:

 

 

 Uncle George, Leo, Paul, Lyle, Robert in back, Burette and Edward (Buzz) in front. As an aside, Buzz is the only one of the entire group that survives today (8 Aug 2020) at nearly 92 (on 18 Aug), my mother’s brother - Uncle Buzzy!! ;-)

And last, not least, perhaps the best, was a photo image of all the children, only - wow!:

And, I was especially taken aback by the young lady on the left - my mother, Eileen, just past 12 years old, along side her ‘best friend’ Ila Jean. The oldest is Margaret at 17. “The Twins” - Geneva and Genevieve - are in front, age 4, along with the youngest, Shirley, 2, and Buzz, age 3. There are 18 children in the photo.

The families:
Paul, 39, Dorothy, 43, Leo, 14, Eileen, 12, Buzz, 3
Lucile, 37, Wilson Herron, 41, Margaret, 17, Wilbur, 15, Don, 14, Duane, 12, Pauline, 10, Wilson, Jr. (Ping), 8, Naomi, 6, Geneva, 4, Genevieve, 4, Shirley, 2
Robert, 34, Edna, 36, Lyle, 14, Ila Jean, 12, Gretchen, 11, Betty, 9, Burdette, 7
These three families were complete in 1931.
Gertrude, 29, and Everett Brideson, 32, would also have their two children in the 1930s. John and Jeanette.

Lillian, 23, and Delbert Ford, 27, would have their two children in the 1930s. Roberta and Dennis.
Just one of these four are still living, John Brideson, now 85.

Nettie was the matriarch of the family. Her husband, Lon Kinnick, had died in 1923. Her given name was Margaret Jeanette Williams, but always known as Nettie. As I was growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, the Kinnick Williams (or Williams Kinnick) Picnic was a June Tradition. This included her brothers and sisters and their families as well, of course. In a bit reduced format, this annual gathering in June continues…but everyone who qualifies, or wants to attend, is welcome. I get a phone call every year. Herron girl descendants generally organize and Uncle Buzzy is always involved. It is held at the Aquatic Center Community Building in Coon Rapids, Iowa, each year.

I’ll post links to additional related stories as they are produced. I love to hear comments and questions.

Families are Forever!! ;-)

 

Related link: https://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2020/08/maternal-family-photo-from-1931.html

Message from Mark Wilson, author of “The Way of Nile C. Kinnick, Jr.”

Message from Mark Wilson, 

Author of “The Way of Nile C. Kinnick, Jr.”

Dear Friends,
I just found out that my Kinnick book was one of three finalists for Book of the Year in a 12 state region. My publisher nominated me and sent a copy of the book to the Midwest Independent Publishing Association last year. He never told me, so this is a true surprise to be a finalist in this region. The category was Recreation, Sports, and Travel. The winner chosen by judges was announced last Saturday and a travel book won the Book of the Year, but I’m still blown away by this unexpected honor and deeply humbled…See below the sticker my publisher sent me that will be on each book…….Again, thanks for all your support……Mark



See information on the book here:
https://thekinnickproject.blogspot.com/2018/09/new-book-of-interest-way-of-nile-c.html

Happy Reading,

Dr. Bill  ;-)

“Kinnick 2003 Genealogy Book Online” now back online

“Kinnick 2003 Genealogy Book Online” now back online

For those of you working on your Kinnick family history research, this post is to remind you that the above resource is now back on line.

For a couple of years, this 900+ page reference posted in 2003 was gone from the Internet while the “freepages dot rootsweb dot com” was being reprogrammed and undated.

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~kinnick/genealogy/index.html

This is the front page of our update to the 1953 Kinnick Genealogy Book by Mrs. Waggener, with contributions from something like 100 Kinnick Researchers over the years.

Be aware that, over 15 years, some of the links are now no longer operative. Just back up and try something else. There is a lot there you may not have seen before. There is a lot there that is now available in a lot of other places now. But, here it is all organized based on the family tree, from the beginning in America.

My email is : billsmith2003@gmail.com, not the several emails linked in the 2003 postings that are long extinct.

Happy to answer any questions you have related to this posting or Kinnick research in general.

Bill  ;-)

New Book of Interest: The Way of Nile C. Kinnick, Jr.

The Way of Nile C. Kinnick, Jr.:
Insights, Images, and Stories of Iowa’s 

1939 Heisman Trophy Winner
by Mark D. Wilson

 

 https://www.amazon.com/Way-Nile-C-Kinnick-Jr/dp/1948509016/

I got this nice note from the author, today, Mark Wilson. Thought I would pass it along, if you have not seen his new, neat book!!

“Bill, I'm thinking that the families related to Kinnick might be interested in a copy of "The Way of Nile C. Kinnick, Jr." A portion of their purchase, my royalty, will go the The Center for Advancement to help fund the six Kinnick scholarships. If interested, they can get a copy on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, or ice Cube Press, my publisher's website..... Can't wait for your book!
Mark”


Description on Amazon:

In our lifetimes, many of us have had or still have an individual we look up to; someone who inspires us, challenges us, helps us face adversities, or helps us form a positive outlook on life. Nile Clarke Kinnick, Jr. is that person for me. Kinnick's way of thinking inspired me to write this book, The Way of Nile, is a compilation of 365 memorable quotes from his letters, journals, and speeches. I was also driven to share my connections to this fascinating and admirable young man through my own personal stories. Nile is The University of Iowa's only Heisman Trophy winner (thus far), an Ironman of Ironmen during the 1939 football season. Kinnick, a Phi Beta Kappa scholar, was elected president of his senior class for the College of Liberal Arts. For an individual who died so young during WW II, he had an innate ability to formulate significant thoughts about events from 1936 to 1943. Nile set goals for himself, was disciplined, and dedicated in everything he attempted. In my research, his correspondence revealed perceptions about education, athletics, war, race, and poverty. Numerous other noteworthy topics were written which still reflect issues and controversies in this current day and age. Kinnick's quotes are derived from his years as an undergraduate student-athlete, a graduate student in law school, and an ensign serving his country in the US Navy Air Corps Reserve.


Enjoy the read,

Dr. Bill ;-)

A Kinnick in the news, 100 years ago...

A Kinnick in the news, 100 years ago...

 

https://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2018/07/local-hometown-newspaper-100-years-ago.html

What is the origin of Jasper Kinnick?

What is the origin of Jasper Kinnick?

 

[Note: The following was recently posted to the Facebook page, Kinnick Family Association. It reached a few folks, but not too many. I'll post it here and see if the reach is greater. Comments are welcomed.]

Perhaps the most vexing question remaining in the Kinnick Genealogy History is where did Jasper Kinnick, the husband of Elizabeth Brightwell, and the father of Jasper, Joseph, and William Kinnick (the Revolutionary War soldier), come from?

We have known and have documents (marriage record and land record) of Jasper and Elizabeth with the surname Kennett. I researched Kennett (and other nearby surnames) fairly extensively, but was never able to come to a satisfactory conclusion.

Recent writings in the Kennett family have now come to our attention that a little know Kennett named Peter arrived from England in Northampton, Virginia on 13 June 1655. He is not related to the more well-known Martin Kennett making the same trip a number of years earlier and known ancestor of many well-known Kennett persons, including in St. Louis and other Missouri locations.

This Peter Kennett is said to have had at least three documented children: A Sarah (married John Glaze), born in Charles County, Maryland, in about 1680, a son (unnamed, but descendants-three sons-are known) born in about 1685, and Jasper Kennett, born in about 1690. It is speculated that this is ‘our’ Jasper, who married Elizabeth, and likely changed their name to Kinnick, perhaps because he was a dealer of tobacco, referred to by the Indians as “Kinnikinnick.” He was said to be the father of the three sons, Jasper, Joseph, and William Kinnick, all more documented in early Maryland history.

This story fits with all I have learned, with no contradictions. This does not make it true, of course. But, it does make a very viable theory, one that I am adopting until someone brings forth information to the contrary.

What do you think? Comments and Questions welcomed.

Dr. Bill, aka William L. Smith, billsmith2003@gmail.com