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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lincoln County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William C. Kimbro, M. D. In tracing the footsteps on the sand of time left by great men, the name of William C. Kimbro has a prominent place. He not only adds credit to the county in which he resides by means of his business ability and marked success along that line, but is also a very popular physician at Tyro, Ark. The parents of this gentleman were James and Elizabeth P. (Ray) Kimbro, both of whom owed their nativity to North Carolina, and died in that State. The father was a farmer by occupation. The mother belonged to the Presbyterian Church, and by the example of her consecrated Christian life, gave to her children the principles of true nobility and firmness of character which never, under any circumstances, fail to reap good results. The family were of Scotch descent, and of their union were born six children, five of whom are living at the present time. The subject of this sketch was the third child, and the only son. He passed his school days in North Carolina and Georgia, attending school at the Madison Male Institute, and having reached the age of eighteen years commenced the study of medicine. In 1855 he located at Weston, Ga., in which place he pursued the practice of his chosen profession for a period of two years, when on account of his ill health he was obliged to seek recuperation by rest and travels. During the next two years he visited a great many cities, towns and places, and as he had opportunity associated with the physicians of the various locations, availing himself of whatever information could be had. In this way he did not neglect to improve himself in his profession. In 1860 he came to Drew County, Ark., and made Collins his home, boarding with the late Hon. Benjamin Collins of that place. During the late war Dr. Kimbro served for a short time, at the beginning, in the Confederate army, in the Third Arkansas Infantry, but on account of extreme bad health, he was discharged. After a few months’ treatment and rest, though not quite recovered as to his health, he returned to Arkansas, where he was strongly solicited and largely petitioned by the citizens of those townships named Bearhouse in Drew and Ashley Counties to engage in the practice of medicine to supply the great need that had been created by the absence of so many young and patriotic physicians who had gone to the war, from that county. Seeing he was held in sincere esteem, he consented to their request, with a determination to do the best he could, and with this determination and the regaining of better health, he proved adequate to the demand. In a short time Dr. Kimbro so endeared himself to the people that to this day he is affectionately remembered by those living in that part of Drew and Ashley Counties in those perilous days. After the close of the war he located at Midway, and continued to practice from that place until the autumn of 1883, a period of nearly seventeen years. During all this time he kept the confidence and held the practice of the people, being the family physician and friend of over 120 families, eighty of whom did not call any other physician during this long time, so far as known. His patrons lived in only partly settled country, and they were scattered over a large territory one to ten miles in every direction, and it required a total travel (and it was mostly accomplished on horseback) of over 8,000 miles annually to visit them when sick. The number of sick persons visited and treated were more than 400 every year; the remuneration for services was but little more than expenses, yet the Doctor has a pleasant sensation that the one grand desire and purpose of his life to do good to his fellow-man has to some extent been accomplished. He also spent two years at Monticello, where he enjoyed a lively practice. He then, in 1886, settled in Tyro, where he has had a good patronage from the first. He had attended the medical college at Augusta, Ga., in 1854-55, and in 1883-84 attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, where he received a diploma. Success crowned his efforts in the medical profession from the commencement, and he has always held a high position in the esteem of his fellow-citizens. Dr. Kimbro has devoted some attention to farming, and is the owner of 360 acres of land in Drew County, sixty acres of which are in an excellent state of cultivation. He also owns about forty acres near Tyro, Lincoln County, over half of which is in cultivation. Here he teaches his sons the science and art of farming when out of school. On January 8, 1863, he married Miss Lou J. Pritchard of Drew County, Ark. She has been the faithful partner of all his joys and sorrows, and the mother of nine children, six of whom are living: Barton T., John W., Annie L., Charlie H., Haywood A. and Silas O. Those dead: Eula J., Eugean R. and Claud. Our subject and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the former is an elder of the same, being called to ordination by Mount Olive Regular Baptist Church of Christ, Ashley County, Ark., of which he was a member. He was ordained to the gospel ministry on the fourth Lord’s day in May, A. D. 1870, and for more than ten years, while at Midway and Monticello, he, in addition to his practice as a physician, labored in the ministry, preaching once and often twice a day, as many as half of the Sabbaths and Saturdays before. As a preacher, he has a peculiar way of his own to deliver his messages, which is attractive. He presents forcibly and earnestly the teachings of God’s Word, taking the whole Bible as the only infallible rule of faith and practice. He is held in high regard among his brethren, as a correct Christian, orthodox preacher of the gospel, a sound teacher of the Bible. In a word, he is a good preacher, and the people like to hear him, and a respectable number have been called to Christ and added to the church through his ministry. Of late years, finding it was too great a strain on his constitution, he does not preach often, devoting his time almost entirely to the study and practice of medicine. He is also a Mason in good standing, having done considerable work in that line. Such being his claims to popularity, it will readily impress itself upon the reader’s mind, that he merits the good-will and esteem received from all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. In person, Dr. Kimbro is six feet three inches high, weighs about 155 pounds, has a high forehead and large blue eyes, and though not handsome, is good looking, with a bright, open countenance, and when in his presence one is at once impressed that he is a man of will power, judgment and principle, upon whom dependence can be placed. This brief sketch of Dr. Kimbro and his work will give some idea of what life is and what man can do. These historic facts have left little space for further remarks, but we will not omit noting that, although somewhat deficient in financial ability, excellent taste, mature judgment and professional tact have been displayed during all these busy years by this hard-working doctor.

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This family biography is one of 44 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lincoln County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Lincoln County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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