CEMETERY RECORDS say age 83.

FRAMES FOR THE FUTURE Iron River area Michigan centennial book 1981 "Families: Aaron Kinney” page 407
Aaron Kinney was born in New Brunswick, Canada, June 12, 1876 and came to this district with his parents at the age of six.
Settling at Ice Lake, he became a dealer in ice for home and commercial refrigerators and continued to offer this service with the assistance of his sons for 50 years.
Active in Iron River township government when the village of Iron River was a part of the township, he was an ardent conservationist and an officer of the old Iron River Rod & Gun Club. He was a member of the Iron River Masonic Lodge. He served as a township Supervisor.
Mr. Kinney married December 5, 1905 to Amelia Moore, daughter of the Stambaugh constable Horace Moore. The bridegroom was 29 and the bride a sweet sixteen, and they vowed they would square dance on their golden wedding day. True to the pledge, the couple danced a quadrille with the Kinney Square Dancers, who staged a mock wedding during the 50th anniversary celebration.
Mrs. Kinney died unexpectedly in 1956, only a few weeks after the happy celebration of the golden wedding. Mr. Kinney died in March, 1960.
Surviving were ten children, 16 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, and a sister Mrs. Luther White and a brother Willard Kinney.
The children were Mrs. William (Armina) Williams, Mrs. Norman (Lila) Oss, Mrs. Raymond (Velva) Anderson, Mrs. Estelle Patraz, Mrs. Orville (Geraldine) Pelkey, William, Walter and Oliver Kinney, Harold, and Mrs. Philip (Ione) Rosenquist.

NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter June 6 1930 “Meet Today – Aaron Kinney” with photo (at right)
Aaron Kinney, coming from a long line of pioneers, is in one sense a pioneer even to this day in that he is bending his abilities to the task of advancing conservation in the upper peninsula in an endeavor to make this country one of the few remaining game districts of the United States.
Coming to Iron River in 1882, at the time that the district was in every sense a pioneer country, he found the environment which appealed to one of his blood, and still spurred by the long call of adventuring ancestors, he is foremost in any new movement which lends to further develop the peninsula in the unique position it holds and which must be maintained.
The first of the Kinneys came to America at the time Pennsylvania was settled and since that time the family had pressed on and on, ever a part of the vanguard which marched slowly west and north to hew an empire out of a country which had known the tread of a few white feet, those of a wandering trapper or sketchy explorer.
Mr. Kinney was born on the Canadian bank of the St. John river, the border line between the state of Maine and the province of New Brunswick, June 13, 1876. The St. John is often called the “Rhine of America,” being one of the most beautiful rivers on the continent. The Kinney homestead in New Brunswick was secured by Mr. Kinney’s great grandfather by a grant from the early surveys, which he had assisted the government engineers in making.
Great-grandfather Kinney was a bell-maker, bells being much in demand at that time for use on oxen. A dollar a mile was charged for the bells. If a bell could be heard a mile it was worth one dollar, if heard two miles it cost two dollars. This is one of the instances where quality was a determining factor of cost.
Before immigrating to America, the Kinney family came from the north of Ireland, but despite the fact that they hailed from the Isle of Erin, they are not Irish, but Scotch. “They are stubborn and Presbyterian,” said Mr. Kinney, “and there are a lot of preachers in the family.”
TO THE U.P. In 1880 Mr. Kinney’s father came to the upper peninsula, and in May, 1882 the family followed him to Menominee, coming to Iron River June 28 of the same year.
The Upper peninsula was a wild place at that time. There were no large towns. Mr. Kinney describes Menominee as “a hole in the woods, with the stream from the mills spouting up between the tree branches.” Iron River was no better-worse in fact.
The railroad came only as far as Stager and from there the family made the trip by buckboard, coming over a trail that wound in and out between the huge trees, bumping over roots and boulders and dropping into chuckholes. The woods were a thick tangle and the road wound in such a manner as to miss the swamps, the thickest of the woods, and sidehills. The Iron river was forded close to where the Wisconsin-Michigan power plant now stands.
In Iron River the young Kinney went to school in Iron River’s first school, located in a little log building in the Mercantile block, with Tom Flanagan as teacher.
A sawmill stood where the Northwestern depot now stands, but lumber was of little value. The mill would condescend to haul a log from one’s property, if one gave them the log. In this way the mill secured plenty of free timber, already cut. The forest near Iron River was not as thick or as tangled as in many places in the upper peninsula and accordingly the pine trees reached enormous girths, trees five and six feet in diameter being quite common.
At the time of Mr. Kinney’s arrival here, Genesee street was being cleaned out. Elisha Morgan held the contract for blasting out the stumps. One large pine stump was blasted from in front of the Boyington house and a mud puddle which was worse than the stump resulted. The Boyington house at that time boasted the only sidewalk in the town. The sidewalk was a 12-inch plank!
“Peanut” money was earned by Mr. Kinney and the other boys of the town by collecting empty pint bottles, of which there were plenty strewn about, and selling them for five cents each to the various bars.
A BOOM TOWN Iron River was a boom town, populated by a boom people. No one had any intention of making it his home. The majority of the people were fortune seekers and it was a common saying that as soon as a fortune was made they would leave the town, describing it as a “God forsaken hole,” with a few glowing pioneer adjectives thrown in.
Mining was the big thing then. Many of the mines were just opening. Tod Stambaugh was working for the late W.H. Selden, the Nanaimo and Riverton mines were operating and many explorations were under way. All work was done by hand in open pit mines. Later as the mines became deeper, shaft houses were erected, often being nothing more than a tripod.
It was commonly supposed that the entire country was underlaid with ore and that a man only had to dig it up. With this idea in mind land was snapped up. Much of the land was held by railroad grants and it was also thrown open to cash entries at $1.25 per acre. The cash entries were largely taken up by large lumbering and mining companies and with these and the railroad grants the homesteader often had a hard time to get a clear title. On a preemption claim one could prove up in six months.
The rivers at that time were not cleared for log drives, and timber, for this reason, was practically valueless.
In 1884, Mr. Kinney’s father, who was a carpenter by trade, turned to homesteading and chose land near the present site of Gaastra, with ore outcropping plainly visible. Later the Zimmerman mine, to this day often called the Kinney mine, was operated on the property. In 1886 the first Gaastra school was built.
A few years later the mines on the Mesaba range were opened and the mines here were forced to close. Attention was then turned to lumbering. Choice cuts of pine were sold for $2 and $3 a thousand. Previously the settler had burned the timber on his land in order to get rid of it.
From 1893 to 1899 hard times struck the country, but with the coming of the twentieth century conditions became better. C.E. Lawrence leased the Kinney homestead and work was started on the Zimmerman mine. After passing through many hands the mine is now owned by the M.A. Hanna company.
During these years in the 1900s, Mr. Kinney was employed in the various mines which were rapidly being opened, at times contracting to furnish timber and fuel and keeping boarders for the mining and exploration companies. This occupation proved very lucrative.
There were no banks here at that time and all money had to be carried on the person. Everyone, said Mr. Kinney, carried guns, however, and knew how to use them.
At one time Mr. Kinney entered the strawberry business and planted one half acre of this fruit, realizing $325 by selling his produce for eight cents a quart.
In 1910 he entered the ice business, which he is still employed in, starting in Gaastra the first year. In 1911 he purchased land near Ice lake and in 1913 acquired his present property.
CONSERVATION A sportsman who loves a gun and rod, Mr. Kinney has spent much of his time in leading movements to insure future generations of hunting and fishing in this country.
At one time the country lying between Iron River and Stager was a favorite hunting grounds of the Indians, who called it Maple Ridge because of the fact that much of the country was covered with hardwood. Few wolves infested the immediate country and for this reason game was plentiful.
When 11 years of age Mr. Kinney remembers that he killed 65 partridge in one fall, while deer were so plentiful that the most indifferent hunter might secure several in a short time.
Realizing that the game was fast disappearing, Mr. Kinney organized the first Rod and Gun club in this section in Gaastra in 1910, the organization becoming the Iron River Rod and Gun club in 1920. Upon this club was founded the Northern Michigan Sportsmens’ association, organized in 1921.
Pressure exerted by this organization secured the passing of the one buck law and was useful in obtaining fish hatcheries in this country. The fish hatchery movement was led by D.H. Campbell of Iron River, who was ardently supported by Mr. Kinney.
Largely because of the influence of the educational work of the Rod and Gun club, there has been practically no game violation in this country as compared with other sections of the country, Mr. Kinney said.
Realizing that forestry is the foundation of wildlife, Mr. Kinney is also interested in that branch of work. He is now serving as chairman of an Iron River Lion club committee to arrange for the extension of federal forest preserves.
He is president of the Lake Superior Beaver and Fur Breeders’ association, a new organization interested in conservation and the consolidation of fur companies and breeding associations.
He is also president of the Iron River Fur Farm company which now has 200 acres under fence. H.H. Frailing is secretary-treasurer.
Mr. Kinney has served as a deputy game warden for a number of years, but has never made an arrest, believing that conservation officers should educate rather than punish. He also has been a state fire warden for some time.
He is interested in politics, having made his announcement as state representative for Iron county. For four years he served as Iron River township supervisor and for six years held various offices in Stambaugh township.
He is a member of the Iron River Lion club and the Iron River Business Men’s association.
In 1905 he married Miss Amelia Moore of Stambaugh. There are 10 children, all living in this district: Mrs. Armenia [Armena] Johnson, Mrs. Lula [Lila] Juneau, Mrs. Velva Anderson, Estelle, Walter, Harold, Oliver, Geraldine, Billy and Ione.

1930 US CENSUS for Iron River MI shows Aron Kinney head age 53 married born abt 1877 Canada immigrated 1881 parents born Canada. Amelia wife age 40 married born abt 1890 Michigan parents born Vermont. Lila Juneau daughter age 22 married born abt 1908 Michigan. All remaining children incorrectly given last name Juneau! [should be Kinney] Estelle daughter born abt 1911 Michigan. Walter son age 17 born abt 1913 Michigan. Harold son age 15 born abt 1915 Michigan. Oliver son age 13 born abt 1917 Michigan. Geraldine daughter age 11 born abt 1919 Michigan. William son age 9 born abt 1921 Michigan. Ione daughter age 7 born abt 1923 Michigan. Parents born Canada & Michigan for all children.

1900 US CENSUS for Stambaugh Village MI shows S. Kinney head age 62 born June 1838 CanadaEng married 37 years abt 1863 immigrated 1879. Sarah A. wife age 57 born Oct 1843 CanadaEng married 37 years since abt 1863 8 children 6 living immigrated 1882. Sarah E McDonald daughter age 35 born May 1865 CanadaEng divorced 2 children 1 living. Willard Kinney son age 28 born June 1872 CanadaEng single immigrated 1882. Edith M. daughter age 26 born Feb 1874 CanadaEng single immigrated 1882. Aaron son age 24 born June 1876 CanadaEng single immigrated 1882. Addie daughter age 15 born Feb 1885 Michigan. Annie McDonald granddaughter age 14 born Dec 1886 Michigan parents born CanadaEng.

OBITUARY of Oliver Kinney 2004 (no known burial) says Aaron Kinney was his father.

OBITUARY of Ione Rosenquist 2002 (no known burial) says Aaron Kinney was her father.

OBITUARY of Armena Williams 1992 (buried Resthaven) says she is the daughter of Aaron Kinney and was born 1906 in Gaastra.

OBITUARY of Lila Oss 1990 (no known burial) says Aaron Kinney was her father.

OBITUARY of Velva Anderson 1989 (no known burial) says Aaron Kinney, pioneer resident of Ice Lake, was her father.

INFORMATION FROM RELATIVE great-niece Janet Feldhusen says children:
1. Armenia Kinney Johnson Williams born 1905
2. Lila Angeline Kinney Junoe Oss born 1908
3. Velva Jessie Kinney Anderson born 1910 (married Raymond)
4. Estelle Amelia Kinney Kuchinski Patraz born 1911
5. Walter Aaron born 1912
6. Harold Henry born 1913
7. Oliver Ostin born 1916
8. Geraldine Norma Kinney Pelky born 1918
9. William Floyd born 1920
10. Ione Phyllis Kinney Rosenquist born 1922

INFORMATION from Barbara Holm says the Kinney family arrived in the area in 1882.

INFORMATION FROM RELATIVE Carl Nelson Jr ([email protected]) says Aaron's father John S. Kinney lived in Long Beach CA and had a new wife of three years in 1918. Aaron Kinney had gone out to California to visit him that October and it was he, John S. Kinney and his wife that had gone for a drive when the automobile was struck on the rail road tracks by an oncoming train. John S. Kinney's head struck the top of the car's door frame and he died of head injuries almost instantly, at the age of 80. Aaron Kinney and his step-mother recovered, although she was badly hurt and spent the rest of 1918 recovering.
Also, Aaron Kinney died of a brain hemorrhage in 1960 at the age of 84.

NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter Jan 6 1949 "39 Here For Aaron Kinney Family Reunion"

INFORMATION FROM WAYNE OHLSSON at www.rootsweb.com for Aaron H. Kinney.