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Below is a family biography included in The History of McLean County, Illinois published by Wm. LeBaron, Jr. Co. in 1879.  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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JAMES KIMLER, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Le Roy; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Loudoun Co., Va., Aug. 16, 1811; he emigrated with his father Moses Kimler, when quite young, and located in Bourbon Co., Ky., where he was raised upon a farm, until 1827, when he removed to Montgomery Co., Ind., living here until he emigrated to Illinois, in the year 1832; during the three years following, he was employed by his uncles John and Calep Kimler, near Bloomington; in the winter of 1835, he went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he engaged in stock-dealing, buying his cattle in McLean and surrounding counties, driving them to Milwaukee, where they were disposed of, when he would return for another drove; he followed this business several years, the last three years of which he was engaged in partnership with Benjamin Cox; in 1836, he, with Benjamin Cox, located a claim of 865 acres, in Milwaukee Co., Wis., which they entered, upon its coming into market in 1839, and sold the same in 1843; a portion of this claim is now built up with solid buildings; a part of the city of Milwaukee now standing upon the same; in 1843, he purchased seventy-six acres upon Sec. 17, Empire Township, where he lived until 1848, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived, and where he now owns 260 acres of land, within one mile of Le Roy. He was married to Cassandra Jane Clearwater, Jan. 28, 1838; she was born in Putnam Co., Ind., Oct. 22, 1821; their children were, Mary J., born Nov. 10, 1838; Elizabeth, born May 13. 1840, died Oct. 22, 1843; Martha E., born Aug. 24, 1842; Harriet B., born Feb. 13, 1845; Sarah C., born Dec. 17, 1847; Elizabeth A., born March 23, 1850, and Caroline, born May 20, 1853. Mrs. K., was daughter of Reuben and Jane Clearwater; her father was born in North Carolina, March 6, 1781; died April 9, 1865, in McLean Co.; her mother was born in Tennessee, June 20, 1781; her maiden name was Jane Miller; she died June 3, 1864; in 1835, Mr. Kimler’s father, Moses K., came to Illinois and located upon Sec. 29; he died in Le Roy, February, 1850; Mrs. K. died at the residence of her son in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. K. have taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having joined the M. E. Church in Le Roy in 1840.

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This family biography is one of 1257 biographies included in The History of McLean County, Illinois published by Wm. LeBaron, Jr. Co. in 1879.  View the complete description here: The History of McLean County, Illinois

View additional McLean County, Illinois family biographies here: McLean County, Illinois Biographies

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