Draft:David Everett Kimble

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David Everett Kimble (May 5, 1828 – May 2, 1908) was a prominent pioneer in Skagit County, Washington, and a significant figure in the early development of the Pacific Northwest. His life was marked by considerable contributions to the region and a complex family history.

David Everett Kimble
Portrait of David Everett Kimble with his wife Minerva Jane Bozarth
Born	May 5, 1828 Fayette County, Ohio, U.S.
Died	May 2, 1908 Mount Vernon, Skagit County, Washington, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation(s)	Farmer, pioneer
Known for	Pioneering in Skagit County, Washington
Children	12
Parent	Aaron Kimble (father) Nancy Kimble (mother)

Early Life and family background

David Everett Kimble was born on May 5, 1828, in Fayette County, Ohio, to Aaron Kimble and Nancy (Snodgrass) Kimble. His early years were characterized by several relocations, including moves to Indiana and Missouri as his family sought new opportunities. Aaron Kimble, David’s father, was a plasterer by trade who had migrated from New Jersey to Ohio and subsequently to Missouri, where he passed away in 1845. Nancy Kimble, David’s mother, was born in Virginia and died in Mount Vernon, Washington, in 1886.

Marriages and children

Kimble married three times in his life time.

First marriage

He married Catherine Post and they had one child:Mary Kimble (date of birth and death unknown)

Second marriage

He married Rebecca Wortman in 1844 and they had 7 children: Mary Kimble (1848–?), Child Kimble (1851–?), Marion Kimble (1854–?), Charles Henry Kimble (1856–1922), John Aaron Kimble (1858–?), Malinda Kimble (1860–?) and David Kimble (1862–?)

Kimble left Rebecca in early 1862 while she was pregnant with their last child, David, born in October 1862

Third marriage

He married Minerva Jane Bozarth in December 25, 1862 they had 12 Children: Balzora Kimble (1863–?), David Edward Kimble (1864–1943), Charles W. Kimble (1866–?), Minerva Elizabeth Kimble (1869–?), Elsie Kimble (1870–?), Joseph Kimble (1872–1920), Ida Kimble (1875–?), Zenia Kimble (1876–?), George Thomas Kimble (1879–1923), Harry Kimble (1881–?), Anna Kimble (1883–?) and Rufus B. Kimble (1886–?)

In total he had 20 children.

Migration and settlement

In 1868, David Everett Kimble and his family relocated to the Pacific Northwest, initially settling on Whidbey Island before staking a claim in Mount Vernon, Washington, on February 3, 1869. At that time, the Skagit Valley.

Move to Canada

Kimble spent a significant period in Canada, residing near Westminister, British Columbia(Now New Westminster), situated on the banks of the Fraser River. According to Mr. T.E. Turner, Kimble was noted for his large crop and extensive vegetable gardens. Turner described Westminster as a pleasant town and reported that Kimble lived about ten miles from Westminster, down the north arm. It is believed that Kimble resided in Canada until at least 1888 or possibly longer. Further records are being sought to clarify the exact duration and reasons for this move.

Pioneer life

Kimble was actively involved in the local community, contributing to the development of the Skagit Valley. Kimble’s farm in Mount Vernon was notable for its size and productivity, including over 1,000 fruit trees. His involvement in local community affairs included serving on the school board and participating in local celebrations.

His accounts include observations of Indigenous peoples and their cultural practices, including descriptions of Indian sham battles. These observations provide valuable insights into the interactions between settlers and Indigenous tribes during that era.

In 1869, Kimble, along with other pioneers, scouted the Skagit River and selected a site for settlement just below a log jam. This group, including Kimble, chartered a small steamer to transport their families and goods from Whidbey Island to their new homes in Mount Vernon. Kimble's early settlement in the valley, which was previously occupied by Indigenous families and scattered settlements, marked the beginning of permanent white settlement in the area.

Letters

Letter from David E. Kimble, December 15, 1906

A letter transcribed by Kimble descendant Judith Oldham, dated December 15, 1906, and sent from David E. Kimble to his grandson George Kimble of Toledo, Ohio, provides further personal insights:

Mt. Vernon, Washington

December 15, 1906 Well, Dear Grandson: I will try to answer your kind request. I was born in Fayette County, Ohio, May 5, in the year 1828. My family moved to Indiana when I was five years old, and lived there until I was in my 13th year. Then we went to Missouri when that was a wilderness. I lived there until the War. Then persecution drove me from home, and I became a rambler. I went from place to place. Finally I went to Indiana. There I met and married Minerva Jan Bozarth who has shared my hardship for nearly 40 years. We left Illinois in 1869, and came to Washington, and settled on the place where we now live. [He does not mention his first two wives and he confuses 1869 with 1868.] We settled here when there were only 16 (settlers), including me, in the county, and narry a white woman. We were surrounded by all sorts and sizes. I was a sample William Penn. I made my friends and I never had any trouble. We had hard times, and ups and downs, (but) we have always worked hard and pulled together. We have never had a quarrel in all these 45 years. We have a good home and are enjoying life as well as two old folks can. We are both enjoying good health. Now, for my father. He was born in New Jersey in 1803, and went to Pennsylvania, and from there to Ohio, where I was born. He was loaned out to learn a trade. He served his time. He was a Brick and Stone Mason. He died in Missouri in 1845. He had two brothers, Moses and Nathan. One was a tanner, and the other was a hatter. My grandmother on my father's side was a niece of Martha Washington. She was a Rose. Your Aunt Polly Snodgrass was a Kimble, and she named her first girl after my grandmother, and the name has come down to the fifth generation. My mother's side are of German descent. My mother was born in Virginia in 1812. Her maiden name was Snodgrass. She was the daughter of Joseph and Catherine Snodgrass. My grandmother's maiden name (on mother's side) was O'Neal. My aunts on mother's side went from Ohio to Kokomo, Indiana. One of them married James Will, one married a Pogue Pitzer, and the other married Henry Pitzer. This leaves all well, hoping this will find you all the same. Please excuse me for not answering your first letter, as you did not give me your address. As I wrote all I can think of, I will close. Hoping to hear from you soon.

— D.E. Kimble

Judith Oldham notes a discrepancy in the letter regarding David’s maternal grandmother, who was actually Katherine Gish, not O'Neal as mentioned. This discrepancy remains unresolved.

Historical accounts and community contributions

According to Chehachos All: The Pioneering of Skagit, the Skagit River was blocked by log jams above and below the future site of Mount vernon. A party including David E. Kimble, Jasper Gates, Augustus Hartson, Charles Washburn, Isaac Lanning, and William Gage scouted the river in 1869 and selected a site just below the lower jam. They chartered the sternwheeler Linnie in April 1870 to transport their families and goods from Whidbey Island to their new homes. This group is credited with establishing the first white settlement so far up the river.

An account by Ralph C. Hartson, grandson of Augustus Hartson, describes the preparations for settlement, including cabin construction, barn-raising, and community events. Notably, the first civic event in Mount vernon was the Fourth of July celebration in 1877, which included the erection of a flagpole made from a cedar tree and a flag sewn by local women.

In the Illustrated History of Skagit and Snohomish Counties, David E. Kimble recounted witnessing both inter-tribal and sham battles among Indigenous peoples. He described a particular sham battle held on his land by the Skagit tribe, which was intended to convey a challenge to their enemies and was a significant cultural event.

Later years and death

David Everett Kimble returned to Mount Vernon, Washington, where he lived until his death on May 2, 1908. His extensive family and his role in the early development of the Skagit Valley are significant aspects of the region’s history.

See also

• Skagit Valley
• Mount Vernon, Washington