David G. Kimes was born the 8th of March, 1844 in Wayne County, Missouri, USA, the second son of Valentine Kimes, Jr. and Martha Stell. His middle name may have been Griggs. Valentine Kimes, Jr. had a friend named Griggs he mentions in his journal. David enlisted the 14th of May, 1862 in Cassville, Missouri. He was eighteen when he joined Co. A of the 1st Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers in service of the United States during the Civil War. He was discharged the 23rd of August, 1865 in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas, USA. David was a farmer in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA all of his life. He was five feet seven inches tall and weighed about 160 pounds. He had blue eyes and brown hair. His complexion was dark and his left cheekbone had been broken. David married 1) Nancy Evalyn Elkins the 22nd of August, 1867 at the home of her parents in Arkansas. They were married by elder Joseph S. Lane. Their witnesses were Furibin Elkins and James M. Kimes. Nancy was born the 15th of November, 1838 in Wayne County, Virginia, USA (now West Virginia) to Darby Kelly Elkins and Lydia Evaline Adkins. Nancy was previously married to John P. Reed. He was born about 1842 to Samuel Reed and Mary Ann Burnett. In 1860 Nancy (Elkins) Reed was listed as living in the household of Samuel Reed during the Crawford County census. John died of disease in the Union 1st Arkansas Cavalry the 19th of February 1864. He served with other Reed brothers, David G. Kimes, and a few Elkins, and Adkins. David and Nancy had nine children all born in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA: James Elsworth born in 1868, Joseph Leander born in 1869, Viana Eveline born in 1871, William Furibin born in 1873, Nancy Viola born in 1874, Henry Valentine born in 1875, Charles Louis born in 1877, David Francis born in 1880, and Jacob Kelley born in 1884. David and Nancy's homestead was near his parent's property, about seven miles from Chester, Arkansas, between Chester and Armada. It included a 40 acre parcel that Samuel and Mary Ann Reed sold to David in 1869 for 300 dollars in "money trade and a note." It was the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 14, in Township No.12, North of Range 31, West in the District of Lands formerly subject to sale at Fayetteville, later Huntsville, Madison County, Arkansas, USA. A second parcel of the David Kimes farm was the 160 acres that he homesteaded under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Homestead Act of June 8, 1872. This property was located in the East half of the SW quarter and the West half of the SE quarter of Section 14, Township 12, north of range 31 West. In his application David says he built his house in 1876 and established residency on the property before December 16, 1876. It appears he first began the homestead paper process the 16th of December, 1876. More paperwork was done March 3, 1881 and the application was approved the 9th of June, 1882. In 1881 he lists a home, cribs, stables, and an orchard on the property. He was cultivating about 6 acres of wheat and potatoes. David and his family probably resided on the property for quite some time before the formal homestead application began. The house, barn, and other farm buildings on the homestead were built by David and his three oldest living sons, James, Joseph "Land," and Henry, and the men of the community who came to a house and barn raising. David and the boys cut the logs and sawed them into lumber. They built a cabin for his elderly parents, Valentine Kimes, Jr. and Martha Stell Kimes, on the property as well. His parents lived here after they sold their own homestead in 1887. Valentine died here in 1892. It is said that Martha died in 1908 at the home of her son, Thomas Henry. A third parcel, #7664, is entered as a cash entry at the Land Office at Dardanelle, Arkansas the 30th of August, 1880. This was another 40 acres in the SE of NE quarter of Section 14, in Township 12, North of Range No. 31, West. The homestead was thus a total of 240 acres. Gladys Nellie (Kimes) Berg said, "Uncle Dave Kimes' place was seven miles west of Chester. It was a mile west to what they call the Cross Roads, where five roads all went into five different directions. That is just a little ways from the #12 school house. His place was a mile or more north of that. I have forgot just how far, but I'll bet I could find it. It is off from the main road. The old cemetery is a mile from the cross roads. You go up a hill and turn to the left. The Kimes Tower is torn down and gone." Virginia Kimes Pierce lived on her grandfather's farm for three years between the ages of ten and thirteen (1926-1929). She says, "We received our mail from the mail carrier riding a horse." The land was sold in the 1930's. The buildings were torn down and the well was filled in. A new home now stands back of the cleared area near the woods. Nancy died the 27th of January, 1899 in Armada, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. She is buried in the Kimes Cemetery (also known as Westview Cemetery), Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. After Nancy's death David married 2) Sophia Catherine Hoke the 18th of March, 1900 in Washington County, Arkansas, USA. She was born the 5th of October, 1839. She was formerly married to _______ Farley. She was an Indian and her Indian name was Strong Maiden Horse. Sophia died the 12th of June, 1909 in Arkansas. She is buried in Freedom Cemetery in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. David then married 3) Armindie "Arminda" Elasabeth Spencer the 11th of September, 1910 in Blackburn, Washington County, Arkansas, USA. She was born the 14th of January, 1862 in Cass Creek, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. Armindie had previously married James G. Allen the 15th of July, 1877. James died the 19th of August, 1909. She died in Arkansas after 1920. David G. Kimes died the 13th of November, 1916 in Armada, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. He was buried the 14th of November, 1916 in the Kimes Cemetery (also known as Westview Cemetery), in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. David had children only with his first wife Nancy. Their nine children were all born in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. Sources: Most dated information on David G. Kimes and his wives is from documents to the Bureau of Pensions filled out by David G. Kimes the 19th of April, 1915 Letter from Edith Burrell to Patricia (Pierce) Brockett about information from Deanna (Kimes) Jay Washer of New Mexico. Military service information is from Declaration for Pension filled out by David G. Kimes the 29th of May, 1912. Physical description is from Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions document filled out by David G. Kimes the 8th of April, 1901. Nancy Evalyn's middle name is sometimes written Evaline. The Kimes family bible. Copy of the Land Office records of sale and hand written letter on the sale by Samuel and Mary Ann Reed. U.S. Homestead papers for David G. Kimes. According to Beda and Meda Mayner of Texas, their mother Viola Kimes Mayner told them about the raising of the buildings on the David G. Kimes homestead. Land Office records, Pat. Nov. 20, 1880, Rec. Vol. 15, page 15. Letter from Gladys Berg to Edith Kimes Burrell dated March 3, 1982. Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions document filled out by David G. Kimes the 8th of April, 1901. (Pension papers give marriage date for David and Sophia as the 18th of March. Marriage records on Ancestry.com give it as the 12th of March.) Sophia’s birth and death dates are from a Virginia Pierce e-mail dated the 25th of January, 2000. Declaration for Widow’s Pension filled out by Armindie E Kimes the 14th of June 1920. Compiled and written by Susan Kimes Burgess -- Susan Kimes Burgess Fremont, CA suekbee@comcast.net