KIMES FAMILY

contributed by Ken Gower

Joseph Campbell Kimes ( 1854-1932) was born in Attala County to Campbell Edmunson Kimes and Elizabeth Ann Harris. He married Cora Matilda Guess and moved to Carroll County in the 1880's. They purchased their first twenty acres 17 February 1886 in Blackhawk Township and this became their homeplace. 

They had nine children: Emmet (1884-1900); Joseph Edward Kimes (1892-1952) married Frankie Alberta Noah of the Old Salem Community; infant daughter died at 2 months in 1893; Annie married Ed Corbitt; Mamie (1896-1901);Myrtle (1897-1989) married Joe Barthelemy; Kate (1898-1901); Ethan Allen (1898-1937) married Sallie Lou Bruce from the Gravel Hill Community; and Morgan Campbell (1901-1914). 

They successfully farmed bottom land in Carroll County and a section in Leflore County, raising cattle, cane, corn and cotton. The land adjoining Abaica Creek was very productive, and his children assisted in the farm work. 

Joseph Edward Kimes purchased adjoining land and built a home where eight children were born.

Joseph E. and Alberta Kimes children : Mamie Elizabeth 1919 married Albert Welch, deceased, and had 4 children: Donald, Myrtle, Charlotte, and Linda; Thomas Edwin (1921-1999) married Mary Wachter, deceased, and had three children: Nancy, Eddie, and Grace; Pauline (1923-1998) married Hershel McConnell Jr, deceased, had 2 children: Hershel III and Paula; Eunice 1926 married Otho A. Eubanks, deceased, and had 3 children: Jack, Richard, and Joy; Melvin Carroll, 1928 married Gennice Estes and had 5 children: Roger, Carl, Diane, Curtis, and Joseph; Alvin , 1930 married Ann Sisk, and had 2 children: Craig and Melinda; Grace June 1932 married Ken Gower and had 3 children: Susan, Donna, and Gayle; Rena Louise 1935 married James Lee and had 2 children: Dwayne and Regina.

After Joseph E. Kimes death, his children divided the original home land, which runs along the Pleasant Ridge Road, and seven of them developed their own homes or retreats. A 35 acre flood control lake offered good recreation on the property. Currently, Melvin and Grace live in Carroll County and Grace's husband is pastor of Harmony Baptist Church, where many of the Kimes family are interred in the cemetery. 

Three families of Great grandchildren from Joseph C Kimes now live on his original settlement.