Person Page 83

Dr. John Thomas Kimsey, a physician of Lathrop, was born Jan. 11 , 1852 , in Platte County, near the Lanter school , west of Hampton, son of Wade H. and Elizabeth (Baber) Kimsey. Wade Hampton Kimsey was born Sept. 4, 1824 , in Howard County, the son of Thomas and Patsy (Morris ) Kimsey, the former a native of Green County , Tennessee, and the latter a native of North Carolina . The Kimsey's originally came from England . Patsy Morris Kimsey was of German decent. Thomas Kimsey came, when a young man, to Howard County, Missouri , about 1822. Wade Hampton moved with his father to Henry and Johnson counties and from thence , in 1842 , to Platte County. Later Wade Hampton moved to the Forks of Platte , about 1851 , three miles south of Ridgely . Elizabeth Ann (Baber ) Kimsey was born in Pulaski County , Kentucky, in 1823 , a daughter of John and Delila ( Davis ) Baber, the former born in Pulaski County and the later in Maryland , of Welch decent . They came to Missouri about 1842. The name Baber is of German extraction and thought to have come to America as one of the Hession soldiers .

Dr. John T. Kimsey was reared in Platte County and when a young man began the study of medicine in a drug store at Waldron, Mo. , afterward attending lectures at the American Med'cal College of St. Louis. Later he was granted a certificate by the State Board of Health to practice in Missouri. He later , in January , 1878 , located at Holt to practice his profession, where he built up a good practice . In January , 1884 , he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which calling he pursued for 13 years , returning to Holt in 1897 , and in the winter of 1898-9 attended the University Medical College of Kansas City, Mo. , graduating in the spring of 1899. In 1900 , removed to Macon County, where he practiced until January , 1905 , when he removed to Lathrop and has remained since in the practice of medicine and drug business .

On April 21 , 1885 , Dr. Kimsey was married to Jo Ella Blackwell of Macon County. To this union four sons were born, as follows : Howard Wade a vocalist in the City of New York ; Rolla Warren, Lathrop , employed as field representative of the Kiwanis Club International ; Edward Lewis in the employment of the Burlington Railroad ; John T. , Jr. , pastor M. E. Church , South , Gorham, Ill . All of these served in the World War. The youngest, John T., enlisted in the Navy April 19 , 1917 , and served on the battleships Texas , Pennsylvania , Maine and Minnesota , the latter being torpedoed in the Atlantic Sept. 29 , 1918. His life was greatly endangered as the explosion took placed on the opposite side of the ship from where he was sleeping, tearing a hole in the side 40 feet long, one foot below water line down to the keel . His life was only saved from the fact a large amount of potatoes were stored in the compartments between him and the explosion . Edward served one and one-half years at Camp Cody , N. M., and Astoria , Ore . , and because of physical defects was not sent to France . Rolla Warren being employed by the government as song leader did not enlist until late so had not time for preparation for overseas service . Howard Wade because of defective vision could not get in , but was employed in the different camps training soldiers in vocal music. He was married to Miss Lora Jean Orth of Spencer, Ia . , January , 1918 , Rolla Warren was married to Miss Rebecca Harrison of Tennessee, June, 1920 , and they have two children , Warren Harrison and Alden Franklin .

Four generations of the Doctor's family without a break have served in the wars of the country . Both grandfathers were with Jackson at the battle of New Orleans . His father enlisted in the Mexican War in 1846 , but was never called out as the war closed soon afterward . served nearly a year in the Union service during the Civil War. youngest brother Clay served in the Spanish - American War. His paternal grandfather served in the Creek Indian War and participated in the battle of the Horseshoe Bend on the Coosa River in Alabama , 1817. The Doctor has been a Mason since 1881. His early maternal ancestors were related to the tenth president , Tyler, as his third grandmother was a Tyler. In the early settling of Virginia it is recorded in history that a Mrs. Davis in defending her home against Indians after her husband had been shot and wounded stood in the doorway and killed seven Indians with an ax as they came one by one at the door . Of the eight only one got away. This Mrs. Davis was related to his maternal grandmother.

The Doctor's mother died when he was nearing his sixth year, there were six children by the first marriage, the Doctor being the oldest , and the only one living . His father married the second time , Mrs. Elizabeth Lutes , a native of Gordon County, Georgia . She made a splendid stepmother as the Doctor speaks of her in high terms . His father died in February , 1903. The stepmother is now nearing her nintieth year.