Kin Hubbard

Charles “Kin” Hubbard – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

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Explore the life and legacy of Kin Hubbard (Frank McKinney Hubbard, 1868–1930) — American journalist, humorist, and cartoonist who created the famed “Abe Martin” series. Delve into his biography, career, style, and favorite quips.

Introduction

Frank McKinney “Kin” Hubbard (September 1, 1868 – December 26, 1930) was an American journalist, humorist, caricaturist, and cartoonist whose pithy observations and rural wit made him one of the most beloved commentators of early 20th-century America.

He is best known as the creator of the Abe Martin cartoon series, which combined homespun wisdom, satire, and aphoristic humor. His style was simple, direct, and deeply resonant—he captured universal truths with just a few words. In this article, we chart his life, contributions, legacy, and some of his most memorable lines.

Early Life and Family

Kin Hubbard was born as Frank McKinney Hubbard in Bellefontaine, Ohio, on September 1, 1868. Thomas Hubbard (an editor and publisher) and Sarah Jane (Miller) Hubbard.

He was the youngest in a family of six children and was always known familiarly as “Kin.” Bellefontaine Examiner) exposed Hubbard to the world of print media early on.

Hubbard attended public school in Ohio and later moved to Indianapolis with his family. He left organized schooling early—he did not complete formal advanced education, and his art training was largely self-taught.

Youth, Education & Formative Years

As a youth, Hubbard showed a talent for drawing and humor but was disinterested in standard schooling.

He briefly enrolled in the Jefferson School of Art in Detroit, but stayed only a short time before quitting.

Before his full career in journalism, he worked various odd jobs: in a paint shop, engraving, as a silhouette artist, and other roles to support himself.

Career and Achievements

Entry into Newspapers & Early Work

In the 1890s, Hubbard began contributing cartoons and humor to newspapers. He first joined The Indianapolis News as an illustrator and occasional quip-writer.

His early works included political caricatures and cartoons, especially of Indiana legislators and lobbyists. He signed political drawings as “Hub.”

His first book, Collection of Indiana Lawmakers and Lobbyists, appeared in 1903.

Creation of Abe Martin and Humor Essays

In December 1904, Hubbard introduced his most enduring creation: Abe Martin, in The Indianapolis News.

By 1905, the setting for Abe Martin was moved to Brown County, Indiana, giving the strip a rural backdrop and local flavor.

In 1910, the Abe Martin cartoons went into syndication, appearing in over 200 newspapers across the U.S.

In addition, Hubbard wrote and illustrated a weekly humor essay column titled “Short Furrows” in the Sunday edition of The Indianapolis News, which also became syndicated around 1911.

He produced more than 8,000 drawings for the News and wrote and illustrated roughly 1,000 essays for Short Furrows.

Throughout his career, Hubbard compiled many of his cartoons and sayings into books: Abe Martin’s Almanack, Abe Martin’s Sayings and Sketches, Abe Martin’s Broadcast, Abe Martin’s Wise Cracks, and more.

Style, Influence & Recognition

Hubbard’s humor was understated but poignant. He often paired two unrelated observations in a single cartoon, creating a juxtaposition that revealed human foibles.

His language used colloquialisms, dialect, and contraction—giving his characters a voice rooted in rural speech.

His reputation grew; humorist Will Rogers once called Hubbard “America’s greatest humorist.”

After his death, his Abe Martin cartoons continued to be published for a time.

He was posthumously honored: in 1939, Hubbard was inducted into the Ohio Journalism Hall of Fame, and in 1967 into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.

Brown County State Park in Indiana is named partly in his honor—Abe Martin Lodge is located there.

Legacy and Influence

• Timeless wit and social commentary: Hubbard’s aphorisms remain in circulation and resonate because they capture universal human nature in few words.

• Model for humorists and cartoonists: His blending of illustration and succinct verbal wit influenced later generations of satirical writers and cartoonists.

• Cultural memory: The character of Abe Martin and the style of rural philosophical humor remains emblematic of a certain American folk wisdom tradition.

• Honors preserved: His namesake lodge and park continue to draw visitors, and his work is collected in anthologies.

Personality, Traits & Creative Approach

Hubbard was known to be reserved publicly, preferring to let his work speak.

He had a sharp eye for small contradictions, human foibles, and political absurdities. His humor was rarely cruel—he made gentle but piercing observations.

He was prolific and disciplined: producing thousands of drawings and essays over his career.

Selected Quotes of Kin Hubbard

Here are some of his most famous aphorisms and humorous observations:

“Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change once in a while.”

“Honesty pays, but it doesn’t seem to pay enough to suit some people.”

“It is pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness; poverty and wealth have both failed.”

“Next to a circus there ain’t nothing that packs up and tears out any quicker than the Christmas spirit.”

“The fellow that agrees with everything you say is either a fool or he is getting ready to skin you.”

“A good listener is usually thinking about something else.”

“The safe way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket.”

“Where ignorance is bliss it’s foolish to borrow your neighbor’s newspaper.”

“We’d all like to vote for the best man, but he’s never a candidate.”

These lines show Hubbard’s ability to capture irony, social truth, and humor in compact form.

Lessons from Kin Hubbard

1. Brevity with insight
   You don’t need many words—just the right ones. Hubbard’s minimalism in phrasing often carried more weight than longer prose.

2. Observe the everyday
   His humor emerges from noticing small contradictions in daily life, politics, and human behavior.

3. Humor as gentle mirror
   He held a mirror to society but rarely with harshness—encouraging reflection through laughter.

4. Consistency and discipline
   Producing thousands of cartoons and essays over decades requires perseverance and regular output.

5. Root voice in place and people
   His use of rural settings, local casts, and colloquial speech gave his work authenticity and broad appeal.

Conclusion

Kin Hubbard was more than a cartoonist or humorist—he was a philosopher of everyday life, a wry observer of humanity, and a master of the concise, witty aphorism. Through his Abe Martin cartoons and Short Furrows essays, he critiqued politics, human nature, and society with both heart and humor.

His legacy endures in the many quotable lines still shared today, in the influence he had on humor writers, and in the quiet corners of Indiana that honor his memory. His life reminds us that sometimes, what is most profound is also what is most simply and honestly said.