Histories

Joseph Kimberling (abt 1788 Bath Co, VA - 1848 Mason Co, WV)

Unsourced bio found in his FindAGrave profile. My guess that it is from "Kimberling Kin from East to West 1750 to 1983." - RR

Joseph, son of Adam Kimberling and Nancy Davis, was born in Bath County, Virginia between 1786-90. He moved to Mason County, West Virginia in 1803. Around 1810 he married Francis (Fanny) Malinda Johnson, daughter of Benjamin Johnson of Eastern Virginia, who was an early settler of Mason County, West Virginia. It was 1837 before Joseph purchased the land on Thirteen Mile Creek where the family settled. We do not know if he was a squatter or a renter prior to that time. Parents of three children:

Joseph Nathanial Kimberling, b. SEP 6 1812, d. APR 22 1848

William Kimberling, b. 1814, d. FEB 26 1849

Belinda or Malinda Kimberling, b. 1816,

Joseph died, of cholera April 22, 1848 in Mason County, West Virginia, where his will was probated. Francis or Fanny as she was called, died after 1860, for she was listed in the census of Mason County for 1860. Both are buried in the family cemetery on the "home place" - Kimberling Cemetery.

Joseph Kimberling, a native of Bath County about 1812, settled on a farm where he spent the remainder of his days. When Joseph came to Mason County there were many Indians, but few white people there, so that the latter were obliged to live close together for protection. Joseph was a farmer all his life, and at his death, owned about 600 acres of land. He was drafted for the War of 1812, escaped active service by the Proclamation of Peace.

Their house was the first to be built in this part of the country. The house had two open fireplaces that were built of flat rock. There was no saw mill at this time so the rafters were made of poles and the boards were sawed by hand. The house consisted of two rooms and a loft.

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(Note: Other sources show Joseph Jr living until 1896. I suspect that Joseph Sr's death date was mistakenly attributed to Joseph Jr. in this bio. - RR)