Harriette E. Kinsey

“This was to be  “My Life’s Story”…..”

I was born at our Warren County, IA home just south of Medora at about midnight on January 7, 1923 to Horace and Cleo (Manley) Henry.  Dr. Jardene drove out with her horse and buggy to help with the delivery.  I came along only eight months after my big brother, Hollis, who was born north of Liberty Center on May 14, 1922.

We both walked about a mile to start school at Hawkeye, and then we moved to Lucas County on a farm that belonged to Lifus Holt.  From there we walked about half a mile to Wren Hill School.  Hollis went to High School in Lucas for one year.  He rode his pony to the highway, where he would meet the Lucas County Sherriff, who gave him a ride to Lucas each day.  Hollis would throw the reins over the pony’s neck, and the pony would eventually find his way home.  Later, I would ride that same pony to 4-H meetings at a neighbor’s home.  My mother taught me to cook, sew and I remember baking projects for 4-H.

I graduated 6th grade from Wren Hill and both Hollis and I attended high school at Norwood.  Our dad was a farmer, but at that time he also drove the school bus.  As soon as Hollis was old enough to have a driver’s license, he started driving the school bus.  He graduated from Norwood in 1939 and I graduated in 1940.  I played 6-on-6 basketball in high school and I dated George Kinsey, who lived in the same country neighborhood.  We would double date to go roller skating in Osceola, Indianola and Chariton.  Once in a while we went to a movie.

I attended junior college in Chariton on the top floor of the high school.  I lived for two years in a house with several girls.  During my second year in junior college, I was asked to finish out the year at Alma Clay School for a teacher leaving for the army.  Alma Cay (named for a beloved teacher) was a grade school and junior high building next to the high school.  Alma Clay was later torn down and replaced by Johnson Auditorium and community center.  I finished out that year, and then the next year started teaching 6th grade at Alma Clay.

When George Kinsey returned from his army service, we got married on November 2, 1945. He worked at a garage and then drove a gas truck.  I started evening and Saturday classes at Drake University, graduating in 1968.  I took time out from teaching when our two sons were born, Barry in 1950 and Karyl in 1954 and when I returned, I taught in Chariton Schools (mostly 6th grade) until I retired.  We moved to our home on Osceola Ave. between the births of our boys and still living there in 2018.

While we were raising our family, we took some summer trips to Colorado, gardened, baked and played pinochle with three other couples almost every Saturday evening for many years.  George passed away March 1, 2006.  I turned 95 this year- and I still enjoy playing cards and going to lunch or dinner with my friends.

                                                                                                  September 2018

Penned by Harriette herself in 2018. Who better to tell the story of Harriette Kinsey than Harriette herself.  We love you, we miss you, we will remember you.

                                                                           The Kinsey Family &  Friends  

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