KIMBEL, Richard

Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=museum_quilts&id=I3313

Richard Kimbel's Ferry. Photo courtesy: http://www.genealogywise.com/group/kimbel

KIMBEL, Richard. (Germany, May 20, 1840--Kimbel's Island, June 18,1910). Kimbel, at the age of twelve, and his parents immigrated to America and settled in Galena. Skills learned about FERRYBOATS he used in Bellevue, Iowa and later in Dubuque where he moved around 1880. (1)

Kimbel purchased the steamer "Eagle Point" and used it to transport goods and people between Dubuque and Dunleith (later East Dubuque), Illinois. For several years after the "Eagle Point" was no longer in operation, he also operated to tow boats. (1) In 1898 he petitioned the city council for $400.00 to assist him in operating the Eagle Point ferry. (2)

In 1890 Kimbel purchased an 80 acre island north of the present EAGLE POINT PARK. Once the owner, he began the construction of a large dance hall saloon and 13-room home for his family. When ready KIMBEL'S PARK was opened featuring new attractions each week such as diving horses, hypnotists, and dance bands. Couples paid five cents per dance, the same price charged for a 20-ounce mug of beer or the fare from EAGLE POINT to the island.

Married four times and outliving all but his fourth wife, Kimbel was the father of twenty-three children. He received a personal letter from the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, to recognize the birth of his 23rd child. (3) In 1902 upon the birth of his fourth grand-daughter, the Bellevue Leader reported:

              Adolph Kimbel is feeling more than proud 
              today. He is the father of twin girl babies. 
              A day or two later Mrs. George Fengler presented 
              her husband with twin girl babies also; and now 
              Capt. Kimbel, who is father of Adolph and Mrs. 
              Fengler, says he doesn't care whether the ferry
              boat runs or not next summer. He is the grandpa
              of four girls. (4)

Kimbel's body was brought to Bellevue on the steamer Potosi. Internment was in the north cemetery. (5)

See: Albert L. KIMBEL

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Source:

1. "Captain Kimbel, Pioneer River Man," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, June 19, 1910. Online: http://p8080-10.30.40.140.ezproxy.dubuque.lib.ia.us/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=76d75574-3467-4ecf-9df4-c2b7da149f1e/ResCarta/00000005/00000506

2. Tigges, John. "Richard Kimbel's Park Big Draw in Late 1890s," Telegraph Herald, July 19, 2005, p. 1C

3. "City Council," Dubuque Daily Herald, April 13, 1898, p. 2

4. Tigges

5. "Adolph Kimbel Proud Father," Bellevue Leader, February 27, 1902 Online: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=museum_quilts&id=I3902

6. "Capt. Kimbel No More; Well-known Riverman Died Last Saturday and is Buried Here," Bellevue Leader, Bellevue, Iowa, June 23 1910, p. 1