Biographies K
Ezekiel V. Kimbley
Ezekiel V. Kimbley, Ohio County, was born in Muhlenberg County, KY, March 1, 1817 and is a son of Francis E. and Esther B. (Vanlandingham) Kimbley, the former of whom was a native of KY and the latter of MD and were of German and English descent, respectively.
At the age of 13, in 1804, Francis E. Kimbley removed with his parents from Nelson to Muhlenberg County, KY, then almost an unbroken wilderness. There his father, Andrew Kimbley, who had immigrated to America during the Colonial period, and served in the employ of the Continental government during the war of the Revolution, bought some 400 acres of wild land on the Green River, near the present village of Paradise, and subsequently improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death.
There Francis E. was educated and married; after attaining his majority he bought wild land in the neighborhood of the old homestead and improved a farm, upon which he remained for many years; afterward he sold this place and bought another in Ohio County, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in August 1861 in his seventy-first year. He and wife were from early life members of the United Baptist Church.
Ezekiel V. Kimbley received such an education in youth as the schools of the time afforded. He was employed on his father's farm until he attained his majority, after which he bought 215 acres of wild land near Ceralvo, Ohio County, KY, and subsequently improved the farm upon which he now resides. In 1869 he left the farm and engaged in general merchandising at Ceralvo, in company with his son. Some five years later, they also engaged in the tobacco business in connection with the same. In the fall of 1884, he sold out the store and returned to the farm, but still continues the tobacco business in company with his son in connection with farming. For four years he held the office of police judge at Ceralvo.
He was first married in July 1840 to Margaret Graves, a native of Muhlenberg County, KY. Six children were born to them, only one of whom, William A.J., is living. Mrs. Margaret Kimbley departed this life July 15, 1879. She was a member of the United Baptist Church for over 40 years.
Mr. Kimbley was next married May 1, 1883 to Mrs. Elizabeth (McConnell and Fulkerson) Dexter, also a native of Muhlenberg County, and a daughter of James McConnell, who was one of the early pioneers of Muhlenberg County, and was a veteran of the war of 1812, having gone into the services at the age of 18 and served under Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans and under Gen. Harrison at the battle of Tippecanoe. Mr. Kimbley and wife are and have been for many years, members of the United Baptist Church. Mr. Kimbley's paternal grandfather was a veteran of the Revolution. Mr. Kimbley is a Democrat.
Source: Battle, J.H., W.H. Perrin, and G.C. Kniffen. Kentucky: A History of the State. Louisville, KY: F.A. Battey, 1885. Page 967-968.
Contributed by Dorann O'Neal Lam
Updated July 9, 2018