Lake County IN Archives Biographies.....Kimmet, John A. 1856 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 25, 2006, 10:56 pm

Author: T. H. Ball (1904)

JOHN A. KIMMET.

    One of the most prominent and energetic business men of Lowell and Lake
county is John A. Kimmet, the vice president of the State National Bank at
Lowell, a director of the First National Bank at Dyer, and a dealer in grain,
lumber and building materials. His business career has been characterized by
consecutive advancement along modern lines of progress, and his ready
recognition and utilization of opportunity have formed the basis of his present
success. His activity touches so many lines of business that he has become a
most important factor in commercial and financial circles, and while promoting
his individual success he has at the same time contributed to the general
prosperity. He is a self-made man, and one who deserves great credit for what he
has accomplished, since he started out in life empty-handed, but, brooking no
obstacles that could be overcome by determined purpose and honorable effort, has
steadily worked his way upward.

    Mr. Kimmet was born in a log stable in Seneca county, Ohio, on the 25th of
April, 1856. His father, Jacob Kimmet, was born in Bavaria, Germany, near the
river Rhine. After establishing his home in Seneca county, Ohio, he became
prominent and influential there, and although he was in very limited financial
circumstances during the period of his early residence in that portion of the
Buckeye state, he improved his opportunities and through earnest labor won a
comfortable competence. His ability and loyalty to the general good made him a
recognized leader in public affairs, and one who aided in shaping public thought
and action. In political circles he was particularly influential, and he
delivered campaign addresses throughout the state in connection with Charles
Foster. He also held local positions in Seneca county. His wife bore the maiden
name of Catherine Scheiber, and was born in France. She came to America when six
years of age, and was reared among the Indians who lived in Seneca county, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Scheiber, the maternal grandparents of Mr. Kimmet, lived for the
first six months of their residence in this country in a house built with only
four posts, and later used to shelter cattle. Mrs. Catherine Kimmet made all the
clothes for her children from raw wool, which she spun and wove, and from the
cloth she manufactured coats, pants and even hats and caps. Like her husband,
she bravely met the conditions of pioneer life, but as the years advanced all
the comforts of civilization were introduced and the family were enabled to
enjoy better privileges and come into possession of many of the luxuries of
life. Mr. John A. Kimmet has eight living brothers, all of whom voted for
William McKinley as the presidential candidate of the Republican party. Seven of
the number are residents of Ohio, and one, George Kimmet, is now a merchant of
Lowell, Indiana. The only sister, Tillie, is the wife of Anthony Deponet, of
Seneca county, Ohio.

    John A. Kimmet was but seven years of age when his father removed from the
log stable in which the son had been born into a house built after more modern
plans. His early education was acquired in the common schools, but afterwards,
he enjoyed excellent school privileges, attending Heidelberg College at Tiffin,
Ohio; St. Vincent College in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania; and St. Francis
College near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was his intention to prepare for the
ministry of the Catholic church, and he studied Latin, English and German,
devoting five years to the mastery of the first named language. When but sixteen
years of age he began teaching, and followed that profession for five years in
Ohio. He was also principal of the Dyer school in Lake county, Indiana, for
three years. In the meantime he abandoned his intention of becoming a member of
the priesthood, and on the 10th of July, 1881, he removed to Lowell, where he
has since been an active business man. He assisted in building the elevator
here, and is now well known as a grain merchant at this place. He was the
business manager for the Du Breuil and Keilman firm from 1881 to 1892. When the
senior partner of that firm died Mr. Kimmet purchased a half interest in the
firm, which is now conducted under the firm style of L. Keilman & Company, the
partners being L. Keilman and John A. Kimmet. Mr. Kimmet also owns a farm of
twenty acres, on which he resides and which is located within the city limits of
Lowell.

    In 1893 he became a director of the State Bank of Lowell, and later, upon
the consolidation of the State Bank with the First National Bank, the name of
State National Bank was chosen. Upon the death of A. A. Gerish, vice president,
Mr. Kimmet was appointed vice president, and holds said position now. He is also
a director of the First National Bank at Dyer, is engaged in the milling
business, and is dealing in grain, lumber and building materials. His business
interests have assumed extensive and profitable proportions, and his activity
has reached out to many lines of trade that affect general progress.

    On the 24th of June, 1880, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kimmet and Miss
Maggie Keilman, a daughter of Leonard and Magdalena (Austgen) Keilman. Mrs.
Kimmet was born and reared at Dyer, and by her marriage has become the mother of
eleven children, seven of whom are yet living: M. Tillie, M. Lena, Rose, Charles
F., Ida V., Celia M. and Hilda. Those who have passed away are Elizabeth, Rose,
Leonard, and one that died in infancy.

    Mr. Kimmet is a gold Democrat, and cast his ballot for William Mc-Kinley in
order that he might support the gold standard, the money question being at that
time the paramount issue before the people. He is a member of the Catholic
church, and was active in the building of the house of worship at Lowell in
1897, contributing more largely to this undertaking than any other resident of
the community. In public affairs he is very prominent, and his aid and
co-operation might be counted upon for all measures that have for their object
the public welfare and general advancement. He is now treasurer of the Three
Creek Monument Association, a monument being erected at Lowell in memory of the
soldiers of the three townships of West Creek, Eagle Creek and Cedar Creek. He
is also a trustee of the high school at Lowell. He possesses untiring energy, is
quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their
execution. His close application to business and his excellent management have
brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is to-day his, but while he
has gained wrealth it has not been alone the goal for which he is striving, for
he belongs to that class of representative American citizens who promote the
general prosperity while advancing individual interests.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF
Genealogy and Biography
OF
LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA,
WITH A COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY 
1834—1904

A Record of the Achievements of Its People in the Making of a Commonwealth and
the Founding of a Nation.

REV. T. H. BALL
OF CROWN POINT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO   NEW YORK
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1904


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