JESSE P. KIMMEL, of Trotwood, Ohio, a successful farmer of Madison township, is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Montgomery county. Fuller mention of the Kimmel family will be found in the biography of Aaron Kimmel, in this volume.
Louis Kimmel, father of Jesse P., was born in Somerset county, Pa., August 24. 1804, and was a son of David and Barbara (Kroner) Kimmel. The founder of this family in America was David Kimmel, the grandfather of Louis Kimmel, he coming to this country from Switzerland in 1760. He settled in York county, Pa., and reared a family of eight children, as follows: Abram, Jacob, Isaac, Philip, David, Solomon, Michael and Lizzie. Of this family, David was the father of Louis Kimmel, who was the father of Jesse P. Barbara Kroner, wife of David Kimmel, was born in Somerset county, Pa., and they were the parents of six children.
Louis Kimmel had but limited educational advantages, though he made the best use of such as he enjoyed. His father came to Montgomery county in 1817, and settled on land in Madison township, Louis living at home until his father's death, which occurred September 25, 1827. David Kimmel was a Jacksonian democrat, and a member of the German Baptist church. His wife died November 28, 1840, a devout member of the same church with her husband. Louis Kimmel married, August. 28, 1828, in Clay township, Mary Niswonger, who was born May 26, 1808, the daughter of Levi Niswonger. Mr. and Mrs. Kimmel became the parents of twelve children, as follows: Michael, Sarah, Eliza. Joseph, Barbara, Mary, Susan, Levi S., Ellen, Jesse P., Louis C., and Charles, all of whom lived to mature years except Eliza, and all are now living except Eliza, Michael and Charles. Louis Kimmel settled on his father's old homestead, where the soldiers' home is now located, and assisted in clearing up the farm from the woods. He lived on this homestead, which originally consisted of 200 acres, and to which he added by thrift and industry until he owned 450 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Kimmel were members of the German Reformed church. Mr. Kimmel was a democrat of the Jacksonian type, and a typical pioneer. He lived to be about seventy-four years old, dying in 1878.
Jesse P. Kimmel, the subject of this sketch, was born May, 27, 1846, on the old homestead, and received the usual common-school education of the day. Reared a farmer, he adopted that occupation as his life work, and on March 28, 1869, he married, at Dayton, Ohio, Catherine Lingle, who was born November 8, 1847, in Miami township, a daughter of Daniel and Anna Mary (Long) Lingle.
Daniel Lingle was of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and when a young man came to Montgomery county, Ohio. He was a shoemaker by trade, and married Anna Mary Long, March 10, 1842. She was born June 14, 1812, at Annville, Pa., and was a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Grebil) Long. Henry Long moved by wagon as a pioneer to Montgomery county, Ohio, settling in West Dayton, where he entered 200 acres of land and cleared up a fine farm. He and his wife became the parents of the following children: Henry, Jacob, Christopher, Anna Mary, Katie, Susan and Barbara. Mr. .Long was a substantial farmer, a member of the River Brethren church, and lived to a good old age. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lingle settled on land in Van Buren township, where he worked at his trade until his death, which occurred in middle life. His children were Amanda and Catherine, and others who died in their infancy or youth.
Mr. and Mrs. Kimmel settled on land in Madison township, and at length he purchased a farm of 123 acres, to which by good husbandry he has added other acres, and made an excellent farm. He erected an attractive farm residence and other buildings, and now has one of the pleasantest homes in the township. His children are Edward B. and Ida M. Politically Mr. Kimmel is a democrat. Edward B. Kimmel, a farmer of Montgomery county, married, February 22, 1894, Susan Beachley, and Ida M. married Frank James, an attorney at law of Dayton, Ohio.
