Untitled Document

HENRY KIMEL

Henry Kimel, (deceased), was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1800, and was a son of Isaac and Mary J. (Musser) Kimel, both natives of Germany. In 1808, the family emigrated to Trumbull, since Mahoning county, Ohio, where the old people lived till death.

Henry Kimel was there married to Miss Anna M. Hirst, whose father was from England and whose mother was from Ireland. Nine children were born in Ohio. In 1840, Mr. and Mrs. Kimel, with five of the children, James W.. Thomas K., Jonathan T., Chauncey L. and William P., emigrated via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Illinois, landing at Oquawka, June 10.

They immediately took teams for what is now Ohio Grove township, Mercer county. Latter the other four children, Isaac, Eliza A., Mary J. and Julia, arrived after a journey overland of thirty days. Mr. Kimel entered 160 acres of congress land near the center of Ohio Grove township, also secured a quarter section of military land. There were but few settlers in the township at that time. No roads were laid out for travel but all was wild and unbroken from Oquawka to where they settled. The usual improvements were begun and carried out. Small crops were raised; corn was at one time six and a quarter cents a bushel, and the postage on a letter twenty-five cents, thus four bushels of corn being required to pay postage on one letter. But Uncle Sam allowed, an envelope to be filled without any extra due stamps for a long letter. One child, John Harvey, was born in 1842. A sad bereavement befell the family when, August I8, 1846, death claimed the wife and mother. She was a member of the Presbyterian church.

Mr. Kimel subsequently married Mrs. Catharine Case, of Rock Island county, who became the mother of four children: Anna, John H., Eddie, and Aseneath. She died July 5, 1871. Mr. Kimel, in 1848, sold the first purchase and bought what is known as the Lamar farm, which he improved. In 1863 he moved to Rock Island county, where he lived till 1878. He then passed his remaining years about two miles southwest of Viola, Mercer county, where he died October 10, 1880. Religiously he was a Presbyterian ; politically an old line whig, and later a republican. "When twelve years old he volunteered in the war of 1812, but was rejected on account of youthfulness.

Shortly before his death he purchased the McBride and Stephens saw-mill, which he sold to his son, James W. James W. Kimel, the fourth child of the first family of Henry Kimel, was born February 27, 1831, in Trumbull county. Ohio, near Youngstown. His youth was spent on the farm, with but meager educational advantages. Several seasons he broke prairie with five and six yoke of oxen.

In 1848, he spent a few months at school in Ohio, and in the following year returned to the farm in Illinois. In 1850, he was seized with the California fever. With a company from Moline, Illinois, April i, he started overland for the far west, where he arrived in Sacramento August 17, following, after the experiences incident to such a journey. After remaining, with considerable suc cess, financially, till 1853, he returned in January to Illinois. He purchased the McBride and Stephens saw-mill of his father, which he conducted for four years. In 1858, he displaced the saw-mill by a grist-mill, on the same site. The grist-mill he run till 1876, when he erected his present large structure, 36x16, three story and basement. His attention having been called to the "wire transmission power," he visited several mills for examination and information. Satisfied as to its efficacy he determined to adopt it. He binlt his mill 300 feet from the stream and prepared for his new and lately invented " power," which the aged and knowing ones predicted would fail. Time and use have proven the success of this departure. The mill is generally in action.

A small stock of groceries is kept to accommodate farmers. In 1854, Mr. Kimel purchased the quarter section of land on which he lives. In 1874: he added a quarter, and in 1876 an eighty. He was married May 4, 1854, to Mary B. Burnet, who was born in Salem, Kew York, August 7, 1832. Her parents, Andrew and Mahettable Burnet, were of Scotch descent. They emigrated from New York to Ohio Grove township, Mercer county, Illinois, in 1838. They were emphatically pioneers who dared the new and wild west for homes. He died here May 31, 1S61. She died at Mr. Kimel's home January 30, 1881. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Kimel lived near the old mill for nine years. In 1863. a house was built on the farm and occupied. In 1868 an addition was made, bringing the dwelling into considerable notice as a large and handsome building. Other improvements have added much to its beauty. It is enjoyed by a family of six children, comprising Lara, Lucy J., Abbie M., Jim B., Gussie C. and Bessie M. Mr. Kimel. politically, is republican, but meddles but little with politics. His business consumes his time entirely.

History of Mercer and Henderson County

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Illinois Ancestors

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