Jackson County, Illinois

"K" Biographies

Philip Kimmel, Sr. and his twin sister Sarah, were two of eight children of Abraham and Elizabeth Heiple Kimmel.

On May 4, 1832, in Somerset County PA, Philip married Mary Gertrude Will, daughter of Daniel and Magdalena Graeff Will. Eleven children were born of the union: Mary Ann, James Madison, Elizabeth, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, Eliza, Joseph, Julia, John Quincy Adams, Sarah and Josiah.

Philip Kimmel settled in Somerset Township, Jackson County, c.1841, becoming a landowner and farmer. It has been reported that at one time he owned one thousand acres. He became active in politics, and served in numerous official capacities. For three years he was Supervisor of Somerset Township as well as Treasurer of the township, filling that position for twenty consecutive years. At one time, he served as a Commissioner of Jackson County Court, accounting for his being known as Judge Kimmel. For several years he was President of the Jackson County Agricultural Society and Joint Stock Association, being one of the charter members of that organization. He served two terms as County Superintendent of Schools.

Philip and Mary Gertrude Will Kimmel were active in the church community also. On page 48 of THE HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY 1878, Mrs. Mary Kimmel is listed as one of the original members of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, organized 1843. Further on page 50, Rev. A. L. Yount furnishes a history of the church, of which he was pastor. He writes "the persons who were the original members of Zion's church, only two survive, Mrs. Mary Kimmel, wife of Judge Kimmel, and John Will. I cannot close this sketch without a word of commendation of the noble service rendered Zion's church by Judge Phil. Kimmel, who united with the church under the Rev. Mr. Omstead, upwards of thirty years ago. He has been an office bearer, has often represented the church in Synod as Lay delegate, and in keeping the house in order, and in the work of the Sunday-school and seeing after the comfort of the minister's family. He stands the peer of his fellow-members. Soon the Master will say, 'Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord. "

Submitted by Carol Kimmel Allsup, great, great granddaughter

Southern Illinois Herald
Carbondale, IL
10 Feb 1894
p 1, c. 3

[Murphysboro Independent, Monday]
Donated by ©Nancy Attey
 

OCTAVIA JOHNSON KING  

 PIONEER ENJOYS STURDY OLD AGE

Somerset Township woman lives on the same farm 68 years, sleeps on same bed.

 Octavia King, pioneer of Jackson County, has lived on one farm in Somerset Township for 68 years.   Grandma King is 86 years old. She was born in West Virginia and came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson, to St. Louis about75 years ago.  Afterward moving farther south, Ava stands on her fathers old farm site.  At this place Miss Johnson married Moses King and moved to section 2, Somerset Township buying 160 acres of land  at one dollar and a quarter per acre of land, in timber, but a small tract. Mrs. King is from a family of five children, two girls and three boys. the two girls are still living.  Mrs. King being the oldest in the family and her sister Mrs. Ida Cheatham, the youngest.  Grandma King like a majority  of our pioneers brought with them little we call wealth, but they brought what to the settlers in an unbroken wilderness is more value and industrious hearts.  How changed is the scene since first her eyes beheld this country woodsman and its wild beast, before his rifle.  Sleeps on cord  bed.  Mrs. King has much of the same furniture that she began housekeeping  with, when she was a girl of 18 years old.  She has a small stand table with a drawer in one side that is nearly 100 years old today.  She is using  the same bed that had for years called the Cord bed, probably the only one in use in Jackson County.  The ladies have in their possession their Grandfathers the Rev. Taylor's family leather bible.  (leather bound) with  many markings in it.  It contains the old family record, written with a  goose quill pen.  It can be read very readily.  Mrs. King was a great  horseback rider in her days and has run many races, both with women and men  riders.  She is the mother of eleven children, three boys and eight girls.  She has thirty-four grand-children and five great-grand-children the oldest  one being 19 years.  

Submitted by Lauri Gray Stoewsand  

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