For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 280
WILSON C. KIMBERLEY....In this land of opportunity the younger men often come forward and, having possessed advantages of education and training not available to a former generation, have in many instances forged their way to the front. They represent the modern American spirit of enterprise and energy and it is doubtful whether a more creditable illustration of the possibilities for young men could be presented than is shown in the career of Wilson C. Kimberley, of West Liberty.Born in Cedar county, Iowa, December 24, 1886, he is the son of Amos Kimberley, who was for many years one of the best known men in eastern Iowa. The father was born at Austintown, Ohio, December 21, 1837, a son of Samuel and Mary Minerva ( Latimer ) Kimberley. Samuel Kimberley was a wealthy mine owner, operating in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and also in the Black Hills and in Mexico. There were three sons in his family, namely: Amos E., German., and Peter. The last named also became extensively engaged in mining, his estate at the time of his death, in 1905, being valued at ten milliom dollars.
In 1861 Amos E. Kimberley came to Iowa and settled in Iowa township, Cedar county. He was remarkably successful as a farmer and stock-raiser, and his farm embraced more then one thousand acres, being one of the most valuable landed estates in the county. About twelve years before his death he was visited by financial reverses, but he was not a man to be overcome by misfortune, and he began at once to accumulate another fortune. He spent his declining years at West Liberty, passing away April 21, 1910. He was twice married, his first wife being Rachel Flick, and there were five children by that union, one of whom died in infancy. The others were: Charles W., of Los Angeles; Nellie Sankey, of Kittanning, Pennsylvania; Viola D. Latimer, of San Francisco; and Samuel O., of Washington, D. C. After the death of his first wife Mr. Kimberley was married in 1877 to Miss Mary Wilson, who was born in Ireland in 1849 and came with her parents to this country at seven years of age. By the second marriage seven children were born, three of whom passed away ere their father's death, the others being: David Wilson, of Iowa township, who was born August 6, 1878; Amos E., of Cedar county, born May 25, 1881; Wilson C., the subject of this review; and Mary Marie, who was born October 15, 1889, and is now living at home.
Wilson C. Kimberley received his preliminary education in the public schools and later attended school at Springdale. When not occupied with his text-books he assisted upon the home farm, becoming familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the country boy. He continued at home until nineteen years of age, when he took charge of a farm which his father gave him, and being a young man of unusual industry and resourcefulness, he has been highly successful as an agriculturist and stock-raiser, applying up-to-date methods and thus attaining the best results at the least expenditure of time and energy. He has also built a substantial brick garage in West Liberty, forty-two by sixty-four feet in size, from which he derives a liberal income on the investment.
On the 4th of January, 1911, Mr. Kimberley was united in marriage to Miss Blanch L. Aker, a daughter of A. B. and Louisa ( Miller ) Aker, who are residents of this county. Her father was born in Nova Scotia, but the birth of her mother occurred in Cedar county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Kimberley now live with his mother.
Politically Mr. Kimberley gives his support to the republican party, and fraternally he is connected with the various Masonic bodies, and in 1910 was the youngest member of the Shrine in the state of Iowa. Although he is practically only at the beginning of his business life, he has attained recognition as one of the substantial and progressive men in his section. Having inherited his father's excellent business ability, his friends prophesy for him a highly successful and useful career.
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