BIO: David H. Kimmel, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                             CHAPTER XXXIX. 

                        BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

420  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  COL. DAVID H. KIMMEL, proprietor of restaurant and private boarding 
house, Mechanicsburg, is one of the pioneer children of Cumberland 
County and is a representative of one of its oldest families.  His 
grandfather, Valentine Kimmel, born in Lancaster County, Penn., came to 
Cumberland County, Penn., when a young man.  His father was a native of 
Germany and one of the earliest settlers of Lancaster County, Penn.  
Col. D. H. Kimmel, was born in Shippensburg, this county, March 15, 
1835, the second son and seventh child in the family of two sons and 
seven daughters, of George and Mary (Swiler) Kimmel, natives of this 
county, members of the Church of God, in which the former was an elder 
and a deacon for forty-five years; he was a farmer by occupation.  Our 
subject attended school winters and worked on his father's farm until 
he was seventeen, when he came to Mechanicsburg, and learned the 
tinner's trade with George Bobb and Robert Wilson.  He worked at the 
trade seven years, then formed a partnership in the boot and shoe 
business with D. A. Holmes, under firm name of Kimmel & Holmes, for 
three years; then engaged at the tinner's trade until the breaking out 
of the Rebellion, when he was one of the first to shoulder a musket and 
enlist his services in defense of his country.  He raised Company H, 
Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Col. Ziegle, 
the first company organized for three years' service in the State of 
Pennsylvania.  He was mustered out, by an order from the War 
Department, for the purpose of raising Company H, of the Ninth 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was elected captain, and subsequently major, 
then lieutenant-colonel, and latterly colonel, remaining until close of 
the war, his regiment being one of the last mustered out.  He was in 
104 battles, besides skirmishes; was with Sherman in his celebrated 
march to the sea.  Col. Kimmel and his regiment composed of Cumberland, 
Dauphin, Perry, Lancaster and Schuylkill County boys, made one of the 
grandest charges on record.  This was at the battle of Reedyville, 
Tenn., September 6, 1864, when they charged Gen. Debarell, who had 
1,800 men and Col. Kimmel 240.  The Colonel charged the General eight 
miles, passing clear through the enemy's lines, capturing 400 horses 
and 200 men; of the Confederates there were 33 killed and wounded, 
while the loss in the Colonel's regiment was but 7 killed and wounded.  
A few days afterward Gen. Debarell sent Col. Kimmel word if he would 
meet him on an open field he thought that he (Debarell) and his 1,800 
men could whip the Colonel and his regiment.  The Colonel sent back 
word that he and his boys would meet him anywhere, and for him to 
appoint a place and date.  (The colonel's regiment rode gray horses, 
and was known as the "Gray Horse.")  Strange as it may seem, the 
Colonel, though a large man, weighing 200 pounds, never received a 
wound, though he had a horse killed under him at Raleigh, N. C., when 
charging Johnston's rear.  Of the original company of 106 men raised in 
Cumberland County, three-fourths were killed.  The Colonel has 
complimentary letters from Gen. W. H. Sherman, Gen. Stanley, Gen. 
Kilpatrick, Gen. Gordon Granger, Gen. Jackson, and others.  At the 
close of the war our subject returned to Mechanicsburg and formed a 
partnership with George Bobb, under firm name of Bobb & Kimmel, and 
engaged in the hardware business for three years; then opened his 
present hotel and restaurant.  November 26, 1857, he married Miss Kate 
Hoover, a native of Mechanicsburg, Penn., daughter of John and Mary 
(Martin) Hoover, old settlers of Cumberland County.  To this union have 
been born the following named children:  Frank H., born March 3, 1859, 
a traveling salesman for Powell & Co., wholesale grocers, Harrisburg, 
married to Miss Mary Welzel, of Carlisle; Minnie E., residing at home 
with her parents; John G., born March 3, 1868, assists his father in 
business; Sarah B., residing at home.  The Colonel is a member of Col. 
H. I. Zinn Post, No. 415, G. A. R.  He has in his possession a 
Confederate flag, captured at the battle of Milledgeville, Ga.  In his 
charge there he captured thirty-four guidons or small flags.  The 
colonel stands high in the estimation of all, as a brave soldier, 
honest business man, and good citizen.