This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: KIMPLE, SIEGLER, SMOCK, BEARD, GUNN, HUBBLE, COOK Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Cl.2ADI/925 Message Board Post: Philip S. Kimple, section 27, Benton Township, was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, June 16, 1823, a son of John and Mary (Siegler) Kimple, who were of German descent. His father is deceased, but his mother is living in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, aged eighty-three years. He was the eldest of eighteen children, and his parents being in limited circumstances he was early obliged to assist in the maintenance of the family, and his educational advantages were necessarily meager. In 1835 his father started with his family for Ohio, but when in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, one of his horses died and they were unable to proceed farther. Philip obtained employment, working the first year for $4 a month, and the second at $6 a month, giving all his money to his parents. In the fall of 1843 he wanted to leave home and therefore bought the rest of his time (about six months) of his father for $200 which he afterward paid, having only $1 when he left home. He met Henry! Kelts, with whom he walked to Virginia, and when they reached his uncle's, George Kimple's, he had 5 cents and Henry 10. They there took a contract of building a barn, which when completed netted them 7 cents a day a piece. They then took a contract for clearing some land, which netted them 16 cents a day, but in the meantime Philip cut his leg and was unable to work for four weeks. In the spring of 1844 he married Jane Smock, a daughter of Henry Smock, of Wheeling, Virginia. He had to borrow money with which to pay the minister and for the license. His grandfather had died a short time before and his grandmother had sent him a coat, and this with a pair of corduroy pants, a borrowed vest, and a pair of worn cow-hide shoes constituted his wedding suit. In 1845 he moved to Guernsey County, Ohio, where he rented land, and when not at work on it made rails and worked at grubbing at 37 cents a day. When he reached Ohio he had 87 cents with which he bought two walnut plan! ks, making a cradle of one and a table of the other. After working a year for $120 he moved to Jackson County, Ohio, in 1849, and entered eighty acres of land and fenced forty acres of it, carrying rails to his land on his back. In the fall of 1854 he came to Iowa and the following February settled in Benton Township, Wayne County, where he has since lived. He improved his land, adding to it from time to time till he now owns 700 acres, all well improved. His wife died in 1855. They had a family of seven children-Henry(deceased), Mary E., John(deceased), Alye A., Margaret, Charles W. and one that died in infancy. He was married in 1855 to Jane M. Beard, daughter of Anthony Beard, then of Vinton, but now of Hancock County, Illinois. To them were born nine children-Emily, Philip, Anthony L., Rebecca J., George T., Jacob O.(deceased), Elnora, David G. and Nellie(deceased). His wife died January 21, 1875, and June 28, 1875, he married Mrs. Margaret Hubbell, daughter of A! lexander Gunn, of Morgan County, Illinois. To them were born two children-Bertha and Bertie (twins); the former is deceased. Mrs. Kimple has also been married three times; First to Mr. Cook, and to them seven children were born-Samuel, Mary J., John A., Hester A., Lenore C., Vincent G. and David W., of whom but Mary J. and Vincent are living. Her second husband, Mr. Hubbell, lived less than a year after their marriage. Their only child is James W. Hubbell. Mr. Kimple's son, Henry, at his death left a family of seven children, all of whom have good homes in the neighborhood, the youngest, Clyde, living with his grandfather. Mr. and Mrs. Kimple are members of the Presbyterian church at Allerton, and are among the respected and influential citizens of the township. He takes an active interest in public affairs but has no aspirations for official honors. Biographical and Historical Record of Wayne and Appanoose Counties P-276-279 Interstate Publishing Co Chicago 1886