Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - Francis M. Kimes

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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Francis M. Kimes, proprietor of the Van Buren Carding Mills, was born 
in St. Francis County, Ark., January 14, 1842, and is a son of 
Valentine and Martha (Stell) Kimes. The father was of German descent, 
born in Virginia in 1811, and when fifteen went to Overton County, 
Tenn., with his father, Valentine. In 1831 he moved to Wayne County, 
Mo., where the father died, and in 1839 went to St. Francis County, 
where the following year he married the mother of our subject, who was 
born in South Carolina in 1821. In 1843 he returned to Wayne County, 
Mo., and in 1851 located in the northern part of Crawford County, 
where he and his wife still live. They have nine children living: 
Francis M., David G., James M.; Jane, wife of L. Elkins; Hiram N., 
Thomas H.; Louisa A., wife of Mr. Lester; Martha, wife of Thomas 
Trible, and Mary, wife of James Snell. Our subject came to Crawford 
County with his parents when nine years old, and here grew to manhood. 
In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, First Arkansas Cavalry, United 
States Volunteers. Among others he was present at the fights at 
Fayetteville and Perry Grove, and was captured near Bentonville in 
October, 1864, being retained at Tyler, Tex., until the surrender, and 
was discharged August 23, 1865. September 15, 1865, he married Miss 
Louisa A. Elkins, who was born in Virginia in 1844. This marriage has 
been blessed with eight children: Ulysses S., Abraham L., John W., 
William S., Virginia, Francis M., Lizzie and Thomas. Mr. Kimes farmed 
until 1877, and then moved to Van Buren, and established the wool 
carding mills, which he has since operated with success, running them 
about eight months during the year. He received the patent of the 
Kimes Cotton Planter in 1881, and has since been interested in the 
manufacture of that article, having made about 300 machines, which 
give general satisfaction. In politics he is a Republican, and he has 
served as treasurer of Crawford County two years. He is a Mason, and 
himself and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

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