KIMBEL, Richard

Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=museum_quilts&id=I3313

Richard Kimbel's father.

KIMBEL, Richard. (Saxony, Germany, May 20, 1840--Kimbel Park, WI, June 18, 1910). Richard grandfather, Johann Valentin Kumpel, was born in Wernshausen, Samein, Thuringer (Germany) on December 30, 1759. His son, Richard's father, George, was born on November 5, 1796 and changed the spelling of his last name to Kuempel. After arriving in the United States in the early 1880's, the name had again been changed to Kuembel. The great grandson's kept up the tradition and changed the spelling of their last name to Kimbel. (1)

The family first settled in Galena, Illinois where it is assumed Kimbel first learned the ferrying trade along the Galena River. At the age of fourteen following the death of his mother, he left home to work aboard boats traveling the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. (2) At a very early age, Richard started a delivery service in town using horses and wagons. He also married his first wife, Anna Watry, and began his family. (3) The 1879 History of Jackson County, Iowa listed him as a livery and feed stable operator, a proprietor of a river ferry and a dealer in fine stock. He operated the only dray in the community. Although elected constable, he did not accept the position. He was listed as a contractor of the river road and distributed the ties from Gordon's Ferry to Sabula. (4) While living in Bellevue, Kimbel owned 220 acres in Illinois.

Kimbel's "Line Hanson" ferry.

Richard Kimbel's Ferry. Photo courtesy: http://www.genealogywise.com/group/kimbel]]

Kimbel's "Eagle Point" ferry.

Moving to Dubuque around 1886, Kimbel operated the last HORSE FERRY in this part of the Mississippi using a team of two horses to turn a treadmill. Although the boat could not be operated in reverse, careful handling could slow one horse allowing the boat to be gradually turned. He later purchased the steamer "Eagle Point" and used it to transport goods and people between Dubuque and Dunleith (later East Dubuque), Illinois. For several years after the "Eagle Point" was no longer in operation, he also operated two tow boats. (5) In 1898 Kimbel petitioned the city council for $400.00 to assist him in operating the Eagle Point ferry. (6)

Kimbel purchased land north of the present EAGLE POINT PARK and across the river. Owned by Henry and Josepha Vogt, the ten-acre site was located at the convergence of Fairplay and Kieler roads. (7) Once the owner, he began the construction of a dock, a building for his business, a 13-room home for his family, a large dance hall and a saloon that offered food. (8) On Wednesday, weekends, and holidays free fish was served to bar patrons with their order. The oldest child, Adolph, was nineteen at the time and helped establish the business after Richard purchased his first steamboat. (9)

Richard's first wife died and he remarried, Catherine Weigand. (10) Some of the older children worked in the dance hall and tavern. Younger children as early as five-years-of-age were assigned jobs. Boys worked on the boats by day and ran the tavern at night. (11) All the boys learned how to pilot boats at an early age and did not stay around long after they were able to find work elsewhere. The girls kept up the family house, cared for the younger children, and cooked in the tavern at night. Kimbel's steamboat business increased so fast he purchased a second boat.

As KIMBEL PARK developed, Richard Kimbel began referring to the site as "Kimbel Island." (12) It featured many free attractions including two white diving horses, hypnotists, a band shell, bowling alley, and dances. Couples paid five cents per dance, the same price charged for a 20-ounce mug of beer or the fare from EAGLE POINT to the "island." The park had a cell-like structure in which intoxicated people were placed temporarily to regain their senses. (13)

Kimbel had seventeen children by his first two wives. The third wife, Francis Mayr, died in 1895. Married four times and outliving all but his fourth wife, Josephine Bischoff, Kimbel was the father of twenty-three children. (14) He received a personal letter and gift of $100 from the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, to recognize the birth of his 23rd child. (15) In 1902 upon the birth of his fourth grand-daughter, the Bellevue Leader reported:

              Adolph Kimbel is feeling more than proud 
              today. He is the father of twin girl babies. 
              A day or two later Mrs. George Fengler presented 
              her husband with twin girl babies also; and now 
              Capt. Kimbel, who is father of Adolph and Mrs. 
              Fengler, says he doesn't care whether the ferry
              boat runs or not next summer. He is the grandpa
              of four girls. (16)

The success of the Park and his ferrying activities made Kimbel a very rich man. He added to his wealth by constructing government dams and hauling cut wood on his barges. He partnered with dredge boat inventor, Mr. Hinman, of Bellevue in a clam-harvesting venture. (17)

Family burial site in Bellevue.

Tombstone of Richard Kimbel.

Kimbel's death was attributed to asthma and heart failure. (18) His body was brought to Bellevue on the steamer "Potosi" with internment in the north cemetery. (19)

The creation of Eagle Point Park, UNION PARK, and the ability to travel outside of Dubuque across the HIGH BRIDGE proved too much competition to keep Kimbel Park in operation. Five years after Kimbel's death, the park was sold. Later the land was purchased by the federal government prior to the construction of the ZEBULON PIKE LOCK AND DAM. (20)

See: Albert L. KIMBEL, Roy KIMBEL, Adolph KIMBEL

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Source:

1. Jungblut, Lyn. Five-Generation Ancestry Chart and Capt. Richard Adam Kimbel

2. "Captain Kimbel, Pioneer River Man," Telegraph Herald, July 19, 1916

3. Jungblut

4. The History of Jackson County, Iowa, Chicago, Western Historical Company, 1879, p. 667

5. "Captain Kimbel..."

6. "City Council," Dubuque Daily Herald, April 13, 1898, p. 2

7. Day, Mike. "The Lost 'Island' " Telegraph Herald, September 3, 2017, p. 1A

8. Liddle, Olive Stewart, "Captain {Grandpa) Richard Adam Kimbel" unpublished family history

9. Ibid.

10. "Capt. Kimbel No More," The Bellevue Herald, June 23, 1910, p. 1A

11. Liddle

12. Ibid.

13. "Action Line," Telegraph Herald, March 21, 1977

14. "Capt. Kimbel No More..."

15. Dahlinger, Mark, "Shoot-Em-Up Shell Games in the Mid-Mississippi,"

16. "Adolph Kimbel Proud Father," Bellevue Leader, February 27, 1902 Online: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=museum_quilts&id=I3902

17. Day

18. "Captain R. Kimbel Dead," The Belleve Herald, June 21, 1910, p. 1

19. Dahlinger

20. Day