1914 Biography - John L. Kimbell

Kimbell, John Lamar, M. D., of Shreveport, was born near Homer, La., January 12, 1862, and is a son of John and Mary Jane (Lewis) Kimbell. His father was born Aug. 13, 1806, in South Carolina, but was reared in Georgia. He was a son of Benjamin Kimbell, a native of South Carolina and a son of David Kimbell, who was a native of Massachusetts and of English lineage. This family of Kimbells in America is related to the same English family to which belonged the celebrated English actress, Fannie Kimbell, and actors, John and Philip Kimbell. John Kimbell came to Louisiana about 1848, and settled in Claiborne parish, and there established "Kimbell Hall" plantation, and became one of the largest upland planters of the state. In the fifties he served in the legislature from Claiborne parish, of which parish he afterward served as sheriff. He was often referred to as "Honest'' John Kimbell. In all of his private and public relations he maintained a strict regard for probity and was highly respected by all who knew him. He was twice married, his first wife bore the maiden name of Nancy McGowan, who died in Georgia, just before he came to Louisiana, and it was in the latter state that he married Mrs. Mary Jane Hobdy, nee Lewis. His second wife was born in Alabama, the daughter of John Lewis who was a direct descendant of an early family of Baltimore. John Kimbell died at "Kimbell Hall," his plantation, in 1888, and the mother of Dr. Kimbell died in 1897. She was possessed of strong force of character, with sterling qualities of heart and mind. Dr. Kimbell was reared at "Kimbell Hall" and educated in the schools and colleges of his native parish. Col. J. W. Nicholson was one of his teachers at Homer college, and after completing his literary education he took up the study of medicine under Dr. Joseph Atkinson, of Arcadia, and later graduated from the Hospital College of Medicine, Louisville, Ky., in 1884. He graduated in medicine with distinction and high honors, and began the practice of his profession in Caddo parish, at Bayou La Chute, where he remained several years, and thence removed to Howard, in the same parish, and a few years later he practiced and resided for 2 years at Homer, La. In 1907, Dr. Kimbell located in Shreveport, where he has built up a large and remunerative practice. In 1906 he was the first to call attention to the breath as being a diagnostic feature in all cases of appendicitis, which has attracted widespread interest in the medical profession. He is a member of the Shreveport City, the Louisiana State Medical societies and of the American Medical association. Fraternally, he is a Master Mason and a Knight of Pythias. In church faith, he is a Baptist. In 1891 Dr. Kimbell married Miss Ada Lety Mercer, daughter of William Judson Mercer, a lieutenant of the Confederate army. Mrs. Kimbell was born in Texas, and is a descendant of the Rev. Jesse Mercer, a Baptist divine and founder of Mercer college, Georgia. Her mother by maiden name was Clara Adelaide Prescott, a daughter of Dr. Prescott, of Lake Providence, La. Mrs. Kimbell is a Colonial dame and a Daughter of the Confederate States of America. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Kimbell were born the following children: John Lamar, Jr., Lewis Mercer, and Mary Jewell Kimbell. Dr. Kimbell has borne a prominent part in the promotion and organization of several industrial concerns, prominent among which is the Caddo Rock Drill Bit Co., and takes a commendable interest in movements which tend towards the betterment of the public weal.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches, edited by Alcee Fortier, published in 1914, volume 3, pages 234-235.