Elmer Leroy Kimsey
Elmer Leroy Kimsey was born in Sloan, Iowa, on September 26, 1885, to Wilson and Etta Kimsey, one of nine children. Bertha E. Smith was born to Josiah Allen Smith and Eliza Fox Smith on October 21, 1890 – she was also one of nine children.
Her grandfather, Josiah Smith, fought in the Mexican War as a private in the 5th Tennessee Volunteer Regiment, Co. C. He was 22 at the time, had been married for just one year and had no children. Yet another war came around and on November 1, 1861, he enlisted in the 5th Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate Army, under McKenzie. He was 36 years of age when he left to fight in the Civil War, the father of six children.
On February 4, 1908, Elmer & Bertha were married in Chariton, Iowa. Three children were born to this union (Dorothy, Mina Lee & Donald). They lost their son Donald as a baby – he was born in August of 1922 and died in 1923. Bertha died in 1962 – she was stricken with a stroke in the Vaughn-Ragsdale company store in Gillette a short time before dinner on Sep 4, 1962 and was taken to the hospital, where she died. Elmer moved into the Buffalo Soldiers & Sailors Home in 1966 and remained there until his death in 1969 at the age of 83.
Elmer & Bertha homesteaded on Arch Creek in Crook County in 1912 and remained on the ranch until 1955. During the rough Depression years he went to work as patrol operator for Crook County, maintaining roads and bridges. He became very well known due to this and the fact he owned his own threshing machine and threshed for a good many people. Anyone who worked with a threshing crew remembers the bountiful meals the ladies served at each ranch. How those men did eat!
Daughters Dorothy & Mina attended school at Pine Ridge which was between two and three miles from the ranch. They rode horseback sometimes, other times drove a horse and buggy. In winter their dad built them a sleigh which was enclosed – many mornings it was 35 below and lots of snow. Some of the early teachers the girls remembered were Pearl Tallman, Clara Harvey, Daine Holden, Marie Dorsett. The annual Christmas program was a community affair. Often other small schools in the area combined with us. The tree was decorated with strings of popcorn, cranberries, red and green paper rings, etc. all made by pupils. Candles were added on the night of the program. A bucket of water was always kept close by in case the candles ignited the tree. There was a very festive evening of singing, Christmas skits, poems, etc. and refreshments made by the teacher. Of course, Santa always arrived with his goodies at the end of the program. What a truly fine feeling of warmth and good fellowship existed among neighbors in those days. No one ever hesitated to pitch in and help someone else in time of need.
Upon retiring, Elmer & Bertha moved to a home just outside of Moorcroft where they lived until Bertha passed away in 1962 at age 72. Elmer lived until 1969, age 84.
Elmer Leroy Kimsey was born in Sloan, Iowa, on September 26, 1885, to Wilson and Etta Kimsey, one of nine children. Bertha E. Smith was born to Josiah Allen Smith and Eliza Fox Smith on October 21, 1890 – she was also one of nine children.
Her grandfather, Josiah Smith, fought in the Mexican War as a private in the 5th Tennessee Volunteer Regiment, Co. C. He was 22 at the time, had been married for just one year and had no children. Yet another war came around and on November 1, 1861, he enlisted in the 5th Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate Army, under McKenzie. He was 36 years of age when he left to fight in the Civil War, the father of six children.
On February 4, 1908, Elmer & Bertha were married in Chariton, Iowa. Three children were born to this union (Dorothy, Mina Lee & Donald). They lost their son Donald as a baby – he was born in August of 1922 and died in 1923. Bertha died in 1962 – she was stricken with a stroke in the Vaughn-Ragsdale company store in Gillette a short time before dinner on Sep 4, 1962 and was taken to the hospital, where she died. Elmer moved into the Buffalo Soldiers & Sailors Home in 1966 and remained there until his death in 1969 at the age of 83.
Elmer & Bertha homesteaded on Arch Creek in Crook County in 1912 and remained on the ranch until 1955. During the rough Depression years he went to work as patrol operator for Crook County, maintaining roads and bridges. He became very well known due to this and the fact he owned his own threshing machine and threshed for a good many people. Anyone who worked with a threshing crew remembers the bountiful meals the ladies served at each ranch. How those men did eat!
Daughters Dorothy & Mina attended school at Pine Ridge which was between two and three miles from the ranch. They rode horseback sometimes, other times drove a horse and buggy. In winter their dad built them a sleigh which was enclosed – many mornings it was 35 below and lots of snow. Some of the early teachers the girls remembered were Pearl Tallman, Clara Harvey, Daine Holden, Marie Dorsett. The annual Christmas program was a community affair. Often other small schools in the area combined with us. The tree was decorated with strings of popcorn, cranberries, red and green paper rings, etc. all made by pupils. Candles were added on the night of the program. A bucket of water was always kept close by in case the candles ignited the tree. There was a very festive evening of singing, Christmas skits, poems, etc. and refreshments made by the teacher. Of course, Santa always arrived with his goodies at the end of the program. What a truly fine feeling of warmth and good fellowship existed among neighbors in those days. No one ever hesitated to pitch in and help someone else in time of need.
Upon retiring, Elmer & Bertha moved to a home just outside of Moorcroft where they lived until Bertha passed away in 1962 at age 72. Elmer lived until 1969, age 84.