A.W. KIMMONS, a leading citizen of West Alexander, and a well-known justice of the peace for that borough, is a native of Washington county, Penn., having first seen the light in West Finley township, September 20, 1829. He comes of vigorous Scotch-Irish lineage, his grandfather, John Kimmons, having shortly after his marriage emigrated from his native Erin to the shores of Columbia, settling on a farm in East Finley township, this county, at a very early day. The children born to this pioneer were John, Thomas, Samuel, Andrew and Anna (Mrs. Samuel McCoy). The tract of land Mr. Kimmons settled on was then all wild wood land, and this he and his family largely improved. Here he died, full of years and honor, a devout member of the Presbyterian Church, and a stanch Whig in politics. Samuel Kimmons, father of the subject of these lines, was also a native of East Finley township, born May 4, 1790, and was there reared to agricultural pursuits, his education being received at the subscription schools of the period. In 1813 he was married to Eleanor Ross, who was born November 11, 1790, in New Jersey, and they then settled down to co-partnership life on a farm situated in West Finley township, near the village of Good Intent. Here they remained until 1837, when they moved to Marshall county, W. Va., and there died, the father February 21, 1875, and the mother February 10, 1880. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was trustee, and his political preferences were Democratic until 186o1, when he donned the Republican toga. He was a very popular man, and was frequently called to offices of trust and responsibility by his fellow-citizens. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Kimmons were as follows: William (deceased), Anna (wife of James Potter, of Adams county, Ill.), Jane (wife of George Potter). Thomas (deceased), Deborah (deceased wife of Noah Trumbull), Abner (living in Dallas, W. Va.), A. W. (a resident of West Alexander) and Alfred (residing in Ohio county W. Va.). A. W. Kimmons passed his early boyhood at the home of his birth, receiving his primary education at the schools of the district. When eight years old he accompanied his parents to Marshall county, W. Va., where he completed his education, and carried on farming until 1858, in which year, on March 25, he was united in marriage with N. J., daughter of Martin Armstrong, a native of Donegal township, this county, and the children born to this union were Laura M. (wife of W. A. McCausland), Carrie L. (wife of Theodore Henderson), Annie N., Minnie B. and Emma I. James Armstrong, father of Martin Armstrong (above mentioned), was a native of Ireland, whence while yet a young man he came to the United States, settling in Donegal township, Washington Co., Penn., at a time when the country was entirely new. He married Margaret Martin, a native of Scotland, and reared a large family of children, as follows: High, Mary, John James, Joseph, David, Margaret (Mrs. Robert Stewart), Martin and Samuel. The father was one of the founders of the West Alexander Presbyterian Church, and was among the first trustees; politically he was an Old-line Whig, and at one time served the Government in the capacity of scout. Martin Armstrong, son of James, was reared to manhood in Donegal township, receiving his education at the local schools. He was married to Margaret, daughter of Samuel Jameson, of Marshall county, W. Va., and the young couple then settled on a farm in West Finley township, this county, where they passed the remainder of their lives. They were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a trustee. In politics he was first a Whig, then a Republican, and was a prominent member of the school board. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin Armstrong were Samuel, James, Mary M. (Mrs. O. P. Henderson), N. J. (Mrs. A. W. Kimmons), Thomas, Lura, Luther, Hattie N. (Mrs. John Kimmons), William J. (living in Linden, Kans.) and Chester, of whom Samuel, Thomas, Lura, Luther and Chester are now deceased. After marriage A. W. Kimmons settled on a farm in West Finley township, where he followed agricultural pursuits for twenty-eight years; he then moved into the borough of Washington, remaining one and one-half years, or until 1887, in which year he came to West Alexander, where he has since made his home. The family are all members of the Presbyterian Church, of which denomination at Dallas Mr. Kimmons had been an active adherent for twenty-five years. In his political preferences he is a straight Republican, and has served his township with much satisfaction in various offices of trust; in 1891 he was elected a justice of the peace, a position he is filling with eminent ability and sound judgment.

Text taken from page 265 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by Betty J. Stewart of Pittsburgh, PA as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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