The tales of fiction present no more interesting story than the life record of the self-made man—the man who seizes his opportunity and uses it to the best advantage, who is the builder and architect of his own fortunes and while working for personal gain does not lose sight of his obligation and his duty to his fellowmen. Such is the history of Amos E. Kimberley, who, devoting his life to the basic industry of agriculture, became one of the wealthiest residents of Cedar county and one of the best known men in eastern Iowa. For almost half a century he was a resident of this portion of the state, making his home on one of the finest farms in Iowa township.
A native of Ohio, he was born December 21, 1837, at Austintown, Ohio, and passed away in West Liberty, Iowa, April 21, 1910. His parents were Samuel and Mary Minerva (Lantimer) Kimberley, who spent their entire lives in the Buckeye state. The father owned extensive mining interests and factories in both Ohio and Pennsylvania, together with gold mines in the Black Hills and in Mexico. Much of his life was devoted to the development and management of those properties. In the family were three sons: Amos, of this review; German, now deceased; and Peter Lantimer, who was a very brilliant business man, extensively engaged in mining, with interests all over the United States. He died in June, 1905, and his estate was valued at ten million dollars. It was said he never forgot the minutest detail of a business transaction nor did he have to refer to any books or data, for he possessed a remarkable memory.
Amos E. Kimberley was reared in Ohio and in 1857 was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Flick, by whom he had five children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are: Charles W., a resident of Los Angeles, California; Nellie Sankey, of Kittaning, Pennsylvania; Viola D. Lantimer, of San Francisco, California; and Samuel O., a resident of Washington, D. C.
Four years after his first marriage Mr. Kimberley came to this state and took up his abode upon a farm in Iowa township, Cedar county. As the years passed by he prospered and became one of the most extensive land owners of this section of the state. He had over five hundred acres in his home place and at one time was the owner of more than one thousand acres of fine farm land in Iowa township. The Kimberley farm was noted throughout the west because of the fine thoroughbred horses and shorthorn cattle there raised. No better stock was produced in this state. Mr. Kimberley dealt heavily in both and during his lifetime undoubtedly handled more money than any other man who has ever resided in or near West Liberty. During the long years spent on the farm the old homestead was practically a country inn where all callers, regardless of their standing or station in life, were entertained with a lavish hand for any length of time they might desire to remain. About twelve years prior to his death financial reverses compelled him to relinquish his magnificent home. Undaunted, however, he built another and began to accumulate another fortune. When his second residence was destroyed by fire in 1908 he left the farm to the care of his sons and came to West Liberty to spend his declining days. He then purchased the Eli Elliott property on the corner of Fifth and Clay, thoroughly remodeling it and adding to its equipment until he had the finest residence in the town.
After losing his first wife Mr. Kimberley was married in 1877 to Miss Mary Wilson, who was born in Ireland in 1849, and when seven years of age went to Scott county with her parents. After residing there for about eighteen years the family settled on a farm three miles northwest of West Liberty and upon that place both the father and mother, David and Jane E. (Wilson) Wilson, passed away. Unto the second marriage of Mr. Kimberley there were born seven children, three of whom passed away ere the father’s death. David Wilson, who was born August 6, 1878, in the Black Hills while his parents were there supervising their mining interests, has always resided in Iowa township. He was educated in the high school of Springdale, and the Chicago Business College, and the high school at Des Moines, and has since carried on farming, his home being now on section 14, where he has over two hundred acres of the old homestead property. He married Elsie King, of Chicago. Amos E., born Mary 25, 1881, is represented elsewhere in this volume. Peter Lantimer, born June 13, 1883, was graduated from the Springdale high school and was a student of the State Agricultural College at Ames, when he was killed in a railroad accident on the 25th of October, 1902. Wilson C., born December 24, 1886, resides with his mother, and Mary Marie, born October 15, 1889, is also at home.
In his political views Mr. Kimberley was a stanch republican but was never an office seeker. At the time of his death one of the local papers wrote of Mr. Kimberley: “He had a rugged exterior and a manner that impressed a stranger as cold and austere, but within his breast beat the kindest of hearts and no man more enjoyed the rendition of loving service to the poor and needy or more gladly reciprocated the kindly acts of friends and neighbors.” In all of his business life he was honorable and upright and ever dealt justly with those with whom he was associated. Those who know him well entertained for him the highest regard and while he never blazoned his good deeds abroad, there are many to bear testimony to his kindness and to his timely assistance.
--- Submitter's note: Names are typed as spelled in the book.
