USA > Missouri > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Missouri : past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county Vol. II > Part 32
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On December 9, 1900, Mr. Kennedy had the sad misfortune of losing his wife, she departing this life on that date, at Nevada.
Mr. Kennedy is an active member of Oak Camp, No. 3, W. O. W., of Nevada, and has several times represented his camp at state conventions.
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Elbert E. Kimball, an attorney of recognized ability and esteem, was born in North Cohocton, Steuben county, New York, October 6, 1843. He was the son of Virgil W. Kimball, a con- tractor and builder by trade, and a native of Chenango county, New York. The latter, on leaving the Empire State, moved to Springfield, Mo., with his family in 1855, but in the fall of 1860 exchanged his property there for 240 acres in Vernon county, on which Virgil City now stands. For some time he was engaged in his chosen calling, but owing to war troubles he and his wife returned to New York, Elbert still remaining in attendance at school in Springfield. The institution, however, was finally closed, about half of the young men who were students becoming members of the Confederate army, while the other half joined the Federal troops. Young Kimball enlisted in the three months' service under Holland's company of Home Guards, following which he was detached and placed in the quartermaster's depart- ment for three months, in the meantime participating in the battle of Wilson's Creek. Subsequently he returned to his old home in New York, and enlisted in the 189th New York volunteers, which was made a part of the First division, Fifth army corps, and until the surrender of Lee he was actively engaged in service, being mustered out as orderly sergeant at Elmira, June 2, 1865. At the close of the war Mr. Kimball attended the law department of Ann Arbor University, of Michigan, graduating in the class of 1868, after which he came back to Missouri, and later formed a partnership with Judge C. G. Burton, in this county. In 1869 this firm went to Erie, Kan., and besides practicing their profes- sion were also occupied in the publication of the Neosho county "Dispatch" for one year, then returning to Vernon county and settling at Nevada, where an office was opened. The relation with Mr. Burton was sustained until shortly before that gentle- man's election to the position of circuit judge. He later asso- ciated in practice with Mr. M. T. January. During his residence here Mr. Kimball has been called to official prominence, having served as mayor of Nevada. December 23, 1870, Miss Rose L. Acre, of Michigan, became his wife. Mr. Kimball is a prominent Mason and has held the position of H. P. in Nevada Royal Arch Chapter. He is also connected with the G. A. R. as S. V. C. in the Department of Missouri. It should have been stated before that his father returned from New York after the war, and in
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September, 1866, laid out the town of Virgil City, naming it for himself. At that time this village was perhaps the most impor- tant hereabouts and a larger amount of business was carried on than at Nevada. Two stage lines met here and travel exceeded that of other towns in a large tributary country. Mr. Virgil Kimball died in 1878, leaving, besides his widow (formerly Miss Susan B. Wing), four children, the subject of this sketch being the eldest.
Washington T. Kimbel, who was born in Washington county, Virginia, November 13, 1833, was the second child, and is one of five survivors of a family of eight children born to Luke and Sallie (Dungan) Kimbel, natives of. North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. The parents moved to Monroe county, Missouri, in 1834, and lived there till 1856, when the father sold his land and came to Vernon county, where he entered a quarter section of land in section 36, Walker township, and established the family home. The mother died in Monroe county in 1849, and the father in 1874. Of their other children, Francis M., the eldest, died in Monroe county, Missouri, July 5, 1911. Martha A. married Mr. M. Randall, and lives in Oklahoma. Elizabeth is the wife of Mr. H. C. Eidson. also of Oklahoma; Susan is the wife of Mr. A. C. Vandeveer, and lives in California. William died in Vernon county, leaving a wife and one daughter. James passed away at the age of thirty-four years.
Washington lived on the homestead till after the opening of the Civil War, and on June 28, 1861 enlisted in the Ninth Battal- lion, Sharp Shooters, and was in the service four years. While home on a furlough he was captured and after being held a prisoner over at Ft. Scott a month was released, and enlisted in Company "E" Sixteenth Regiment, Missouri Volunteers, In- fantry. He fought in the battles at Carthage and Springfield, and at Lone Jack was in a skirmish which he describes as "The hottest place he was ever in." He was with his company in all of their engagements and received his discharge at Shreveport, La. On their way down the river to Baton Rouge, their trans- port was sunk and some two hundred of the men were drowned. The survivors were transferred to another boat and continued to their destination whence they were sent to their homes. On March 21, 1866, Mr. Kimbel was united in marriage with Miss
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Sarah Brim, who was born in Tennessee, July 4, 1848, to William M. and Julia (Dodson) Brim, natives of Tennessee, the former born in 1812, and the latter in 1821. They were married in their native state, and in 1851 went to Benton county, Missouri, thence moved to Polk county, and in 1854 settled in Vernon county, where the father entered a quarter section of land in Virgil town- ship, where the father died in 1863, and the mother in 1881.
They had a family of six children. Those besides Mrs. Kimbel being, Mary, who died when sixteen years old. John, who died without issue. William A. Brim who lives in Virgil township. Julia A., who was married to Mr. John Everman, of Missouri, and is deceased, and an infant who died unnamed.
Mr. and Mrs. Kimbel have had eight children born to them : Matilda A., who was born July 24, 1868, and died June 25, 1911; Willie H., who was born March 10, 1870, died February 16, 1908; Mary L., born November 12, 1872, is the wife of Mr. C. Moore, of Kansas; William L. Kimbel, born February 22, 1875; Sarah Ida, who was born June 16, 1878. Ruth Violet, born September 15, 1883; Minnie May, who was born May 17, 1885, and is mar- ried to Mr. E. L. Coffman, of Nevada, Mo., and Frances T. Kimbel, who was born June 27, 1888.
Mr. Kimbel owns a good farm of one hundred acres in section 36, Walker township, and ranks with the up-to-date farmers of the community. He is a democrat in political opinion, and in religious faith and fellowship is affiliated with the Methodist Church.
Andrew J. King is an honored member of the bar of Vernon county, Missouri. A native of Macon county, Missouri, he was born August 12, 1852, the second of four children born to William and Martha (Rose) King, the other children being Mary, now deceased; Augusta, the wife of Mr. Daniel L. Belmear, of Macon county, and Elizabeth, who is married to Mr. John Epper- son and who lives in Macon county. The father was a successful farmer and died some twenty-five years ago. The mother died when our subject was five years of age. This branch of the King family is of Scotch-Irish lineage, the ancestors being traced through four generations to Scotland. The Rose family came originally from Wales.
Andrew J. spent his early life in Macon county and attended
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the public schools there, and in 1868 entered the State Normal School at Kirksville, Mo., where he was graduated with the class of 1870. On July 9 he came to Vernon county, and in Septem- ber of that year he began teaching in Vernon county and for twelve years continued in that occupation, in the rural districts seven years, in Nevada four years and one year in Schell City. In 1875 he was elected to the office of county school commissioner for Vernon county and served in that capacity six years. In November, 1882, he was elected to the office of county recorder, and in 1886 was re-elected for a second term. His efficiency and popularity was such that in the meantime, in 1890, he was elected mayor of Nevada and filled that office till 1892. Closing his affairs in the spring of 1892, he spent several months traveling through the West, and after his return he engaged in mining in Lawrence county, Missouri, for one year. Then, in September, 1893, he went to Chicago and spent one year in the real estate business, after which he entered the law department of North- western University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896, going thence to Lamar, in Barton county, Missouri, where he was enrolled as an attorney at law. During his former residence in Nevada he had become greatly attached to the place and the people, and it was but natural that he should desire to establish himself there among his host of friends, which he did in February, 1896, becoming an active and honored member of the Nevada bar. He was elected prosecuting attorney for the term of 1900-1, and then, by appointment, served four and a half years as city counsellor. Mr. King is popular with all classes and universally esteemed for his many virtues and manly character. He became a Mason in 1875 and has filled the various chairs of the local lodges at Nevada. He is also identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and holds membership in the Woodmen of the World and Knights of Pythias.
On January 9, 1888, Mr. King married Miss Mabel Morrison, of Lamar, Mo., daughter of the late N. H. Morrison, of Virden, Ill., and one daughter was born of the marriage, Ethel Roberta King, to bless the union.
William M. King, a prosperous merchant of Nevada, was born in Macon county, Missouri, September 8, 1862. to William R. and
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Elizabeth (Rose) King, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Macon county. The father spent his active life on a farm in Macon county and there died in 1884, at the age of sixty-four years. The mother passed away in 1885, when she was forty-eight years of age. They had a family of twelve chil- dren, four of whom are deceased, viz., Mary, Fannie and two who died in infancy unnamed. Those surviving, besides our subject, are : Howell C. King, of Lawton, Okla .; Martha, the widow of the late Velroy Davenport, of Macon county; Emma, who is married to Mr. John Greer, of Macon county ; Jacob C., of Macon county ; Leora King, who lives in New Mexico, where also lives Addie, who is married to Mr. John Atterbury, and Icem King, a resident of Macon county. The father was twice married. The first wife, Mary (Rose) King, was a sister of the second wife. There were born to this first union, Andrew J. King, of Nevada ; Augusta, who is married to Mr. Daniel Belmear, and Elizabeth, the wife of Mr. John Epperson, both of Macon county.
William M. grew up on the home farm in Macon county and attended the common schools. He began his business career as a traveling salesman, selling patent medicines for Dr. H. W. Wood, but discontinued at the end of two and a half years and returned. home on account of the death of his mother. In 1884 he pur- sued a course of study in the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Ill., and the same year settled in Nevada, where he was appointed deputy county recorder under his half-brother, An- drew J. King. After six years' service in that office Mr. King spent three and a half years as bookkeeper and collector for Mr. H. K. Bascom, at Nevada, after which he was employed a like period as general collector for Messrs. Nicholas and Shepard, threshing machine manufacturers of Battle Creek, Mich. Fol- lowing that engagement Mr. King spent five and a half years as a salesman and collector for the Altman-Taylor Machinery Com- pany, and in 1905 settled at Nevada, purchasing the shoe store and business formerly owned by Mr. T. C. Caldwell. He has since that time devoted his energies to its development and made it one of the leaders in its line in the city, increasing the stock to double what it was when he bought it. The store is situated at the southwest corner of the courthouse square and is in every sense a thoroughly equipped, model, modern establishment and conducted in a manner to reflect the highest credit to its pro-
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gressive proprietor. Though he is not an active politician, Mr. King has always adhered strictly to the principles of the Demo- cratic party and has served as councilman from the Fourth ward of Nevada. Mr. King is a man of splendid qualities, sociable, kind-hearted and generous and active in the work of fraternal orders, being identified with the Knights Templar, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World. He is withal an enthusiastic sportsman and is the champion quail hunter of the state, his record for 1909 being 341 birds, and for 1910 it was 345.
On October 27, 1889, Mr. King was united in marriage with Miss Alice C. Yater, daughter of C. A. and Louisa C. (Ballingen) Yater, of Nevada, and they have two children, named, respect- ively, Garnett and William Wayne King.
John Klonts, deceased, came to Vernon county in 1867. He was born September 10, 1818, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, the son of John and Magdalena (Fornwald) Klontz, themselves na- tives of the Keystone State, and the parents of fourteen children : of these John was the fourth child. He was brought up in the vicinity of his birthplace until the age of nineteen, then accom- panying the family to Clarke county, Ohio, where he made his home for ten years, or until removing to Stephenson county, Illinois. About seven years later he decided to locate further west and accordingly made a settlement in Winneshiek county, Ia. From there Mr. Klontz came to Vernon county, Missouri, and here he afterward resided, perfectly satisfied that this local- ity is unsurpassed for the privileges of comfortable home life. His farm of 285 acres was well improved and in good cultivation : genial, whole-souled and entertaining, his house was always a favorite place to visit. In 1839 Mr. Kimball was married to Miss Rebecca Kniss, of Berks county. Pennsylvania, and they had five children : William, Peter, Samuel, Calvin and Tarintina, wife of Anson Sweeth.
Frank Koontz, who passed away at his home in Richland township, Vernon county, Missouri, after a residence there of more than forty years, was born in Virginia, October 11, 1837, to Andrew and Eliza A. (Sisson) Koontz, natives of Virginia. About 1840 the family, traveling overland. came and settled near the
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present site of New Lebanon, in Cooper county, Missouri, whence, about 1855, they moved to Johnson county, where the father died during the Civil War, his widow surviving till August 19, 1891, and passing away at the age of eighty-three years. They had a family of thirteen children, all of whom are now deceased, our subject being the seventh child and seventh son. He lived at home till he reached his majority, and then spent several years freighting across the country over the Santa Fe trail. He returned to Johnson county, Missouri, in 1858, and after the opening of the Civil War joined Captain McCarey's company of State Guards, later joining Frank Cockerell's regiment of the First Missouri brigade, under Price. Besides several minor wounds he was severely wounded by a shot in the leg at the siege of Vicksburg, while serving as captain of his company, and disabled for a long time. Soon after this he was captured and sent to the military prison at Johnson's Island, and was there when the Confederate forces surrendered at Appomattox. During the war the family home in Johnson county had been pillaged, the slaves freed and everything on the farm destroyed by the "Jayhawkers" and Home Guards, who entertained a bitter feeling toward the family from the fact that four of the Koontz brothers were in the Confederate army, where one of them was killed. The same organization, without provocation, killed two other of the Koontz brothers at the home of their uncle in Cooper county. During these perilous times the mother and those of the family who were with her took refuge in Howard county, and our subject joined them there on his return from the war and took them back to Johnson county, rebuilt the house and re- established the family home.
On October 26, 1868, Mr. Koontz was united in marriage with Mrs. A. Melcena (Geery) McDonald, who was born in Howard county, Missouri, March 3, 1843, to William and Melissa (Phil- lips) Geery, whose parents were among the pioneers of Howard county. Mrs. Koontz was first married in December, 1860, and her first husband, Newton McDonald, a native of Johnson county, Missouri, died in April, 1861.
Mr and Mrs. Koontz settled in Vernon county in 1869 and he bought eighty acres of land in the northeast quarter of section 15, Richland township, where they established their family home, living at first in a small, temporary "box house." Beginning
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in this modest way, Mr. Koontz gradually improved and added to his farm, replacing the temporary house with one larger and more pretentious. In his farming he was eminently successful, buying and feeding cattle for the market, and when he turned the management of the farm over to his sons and retired from work, some years prior to his death, he owned 560 acres in one body in sections 14 and 15, besides another of 160 acres in section 14 and also a quarter section in section 21. He was a prominent man in his community and served in various local offices, among others being county Judge during 1882-3.
He and his family are connected with the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church.
There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Koontz eight children, five boys and three girls, all of whom are still living.
J. William Kramer is of German lineage on the paternal side, while his maternal line is of Scotch descent. He is a native of Sangamon county, Illinois, and was born December 23, 1861, to Thomas D. and Martha (Barnes) Kramer, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Illinois.
He was educated in the public schools of his native place and passed his boyhood and youth on his father's farm in Illinois. In 1878 he went to Crawford county, Kansas, and lived there some fifteen years, till 1893, when he took up his residence at Nevada, his present home. During his first four years here he was employed as foreman of the farm at the State Hospital No. 3, located at Nevada, after which he was in the employ of the Cockerill Zinc Company for seven years. From March, 1906, to October 20, 1910, he served as deputy circuit clerk under Mr. Julian E. Huff, then entered the service of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company as baggageman, and on March 28, 1911, was elected collector of Center township, Vernon county, receiving a majority of 184 votes. Mr. Kramer has always adhered to the principles of the Democratic party in political affairs and is an active and aggressive factor in the local councils of his party, being a member of the county central committee. For twenty years he has been identified with the Modern Wood- men of America, and has passed through all the chairs of the local lodge, and in 1905 was sent as a representative to the Head Camp in Milwaukee. He is a member of the Independent Order
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of Odd Fellows and a past grand of that order, and also belongs to the Rebeccas. In religious faith and fellowship he is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
In 1883 Mr. Kramer was united in marriage with Miss Laura O. Bever, daughter of Abijah and Mary H. Bever, natives of Hillsboro, Ind. This union has been blest with two children, viz., Myrtle E., who is married to Mr. D. B. Teal, of Butler county, Kansas, and Mabel E., the wife of Mr. Ollie F. Cook, of Nevada, Mo.
Richard W. Langley, whose death occurred April 30, 1909, was born in Kirbythor, England, April 16, 1849, the second child of a family of five children born to Richard and Ruth (Willon) Langley, both natives of England. Richard W. Langley, the father, was born at Westmoreland, England, November 22, 1821. He was married to Ruth Willon in 1846, and came to America in 1857. He died in Mason county, Illinois, on June 6, 1883. His wife Ruth Willon was born at Brighton near Manchester, Eng- land, and died on February 26, 1894. Their other children are Mrs. Peter Stewart, who lives in Kansas City; Edward Langley, of Belle Plain, Canada-one child named Vera; Mrs. Jonah Bratt, who resides in Nebraska-one child named Ruth; and Mrs. Charles Stables, whose home is in Peoria, Illinois-one child named Ralph.
The parents came to this country in 1857 in a sailing vessel and landing at New York went thence to Illinois, and settled on a farm twenty miles from Pekin, where the father spent his life, and died in June, 1883. The mother passed away on February 26, 1894.
Richard W. grew to manhood on his father's farm and lived there until he was twenty-five years old. On January 17, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma R. Peppers, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, January 17, 1855, to Hiram J. and Hannah (Orr) Peppers, the former born in Ohio, July 10, 1828, and the latter in Massachusetts, January 17, 1833. They were married September 3, 1857.
Hiram J. and Hannah Peppers, parents of Mrs. Langley, have a family of three children living at this date (1911), viz .: Mrs. Emma R. Langley ; Mrs. Lillie D. Townsend, of Kirwin, Kan .; and Mrs. Minnie L. McGovney, of Kansas City, Mo., who has a family
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of five living children, viz .: Ray E., Guy, Charlie, Winnifred and Frank.
The first representative of the Peppers family of which we have authentic record was. Frederick Peppers, whose wife's Christian name was Deborah. Their son, John Peppers, who was born in Maryland, married Rebecca Gooden, also a native of Maryland, and they were the parents of Hiram J. Peppers, Mrs. Langley's father. Her maternal grandfather, William Orr, came to this country from England and married Margaret Long, who was a native of Massachusetts. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Langley lived in Illinois till 1881, when they moved to Vernon county, Missouri, and settled on a farm which Mr. Lang- ley bought in Badger township. Selling that, in 1903 he bought two hundred acres in section 20, Clear Creek township, where he made his home till his decease, and where his widow now resides. Mr. Langley was a life-long farmer, giving his attention to gen- eral farming and stock-raising, and by his practical and syste- matic methods achieved gratifying success. He was a man much respected by his neighbors, and highly esteemed by all who knew him, . for his upright, sterling character, and his death was mourned as a great loss to the community. In political opinion he was a Democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Langley had nine children, viz .: Mrs. Fred P. Johnson, who was born November 30, 1875 ; Roy E., who was born March 28, 1878, and on February 22, 1906, married Miss Josephine Conway, a native of Missouri, born April 23, 1881, to Frank C. and Mary (Stevens) Conway, and who has two children, viz .- Raymond, born November 21, 1906, and Ethel, born January 25, 1911 ; Mrs. Otis Goodwin, born February 15, 1880, and was mar- ried in 1900, has two children-Marguerite, born in 1904, and Alberta, born August 9, 1906; Miss Mamie Langley, born Decem- ber 12, 1881; Arthur F., born January 17, 1884; Ruth M., born, September 3, 1885; Homer R., born April 29, 1888; Walter H., born March 31, 1891, and Hazel E., who was born August 6, 1897.
James F. Leonard, an enterprising, well-to-do farmer of Vernon county, was born in Webster county, Missouri, January 4, 1867, and is the eldest of six survivors of a family of seven chil- dren born to Mathias P. and Harriet Leonard, the former a native of Perry county, Missouri, and the latter of Michigan. The father
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served three and a half years in the Confederate Army as a member of Company "M," Fifth Regiment, South Missouri Cavalry. His death occurred at Liberal, Mo., August 28, 1910, and his widow passed away April 25, 1911.
James F. attended the common schools in Vernon county till he was eighteen years old, and lived with his parents till after attaining his majority. After leaving home he worked as a farm laborer till his marriage, being united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Leatherman, on April 22. 1894. Going to Montana, he was seven years engaged in the butchering and meat business, then returned home and soon afterward moved with his family to Vernon county, and after working one year on leased land his wife received eighty acres of the Leatherman estate. and he bought 160 acres, making in all 240 acres in Harrison township, in section 32, well cultivated and stocked and handsomely im- proved. Mr. Leonard is a staunch Republican in political opinion and takes a commendable interest in the affairs and success of his party. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of the World.
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