Kimball, Louis R.

Louis R. Kimball; Livingston Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

Louis R. Kimball. Serving his second term as sheriff of Livingston Parish, Louis R. Kimball is one of the most successful and influential residents of this portion of the state, having given a good account of his energies and character in both the business and political field.He was born at Clio, in Livingston Parish, October 30, 1876.

His grandfather, Louis Kimball, while a native of Bayou Sara, in West Feliciana Parish, moved from that Section shortly after his marriage to Livingston Parish and was elected to the office of parish recorder. He left home to join the famous Walker Filibuster Expedition to Nicaragua, and never returned from that romantic enterprise, probably losing his life in some encounter along the way. His wife was Martha Kinchen, a native of Livingston Parish. Their son, George W. Kimball, was bore at Springfield, in Livingston Parish, December 23, 1847, and spent all his life in that community as successful farmer. He died at Clio March 25, 1893.

He was a democrat, and for twelve years served as a member of the police jury of the parish and for two years was a member of the parish school board. He was a strong supporter of the Baptist Church. George W. Kimball married Elizabeth Rownd, who was born at Clio April 3, 1852, and now makes her home with her son Louis. She was the mother of three children: J. Sheldon, a farmer at Ponchatoula; Louis R.; and George W., who died when twenty-one years of age.Louis R. Kimball acquired his education in private and public schools in his native parish.

He grew up on his father's farm and gave the years of his early manhood to its labors. He continued the operation of the home place after the death of his father until 1908, when the farm was sold. Following that he was engaged in logging and getting out timber in Livingston and Ascension parishes until 1910, and was then land and timber agent for the Springfield Lumber Company until 1915. Mr. Kimball was elected clerk of the Court of Livingston Parish in January. 1916, beginning his term of four years on June 17, 1916. In January, 1920. he was elected sheriff and was re-elected for a second four-year term in 1924. His offices are in the courthouse at Springville, but he owns a comfortable residence and has his home at Springfield and owns and operates a berry farm near that town.Mr. Kimball acted as a member of the draft board for Livingston Parish for twenty-three months during the World war, giving much of his official time to that duty.

He is a democrat, a Fellowcraft Mason, and a member of Maurepas Lodge No. 134, Knights of Pythias. On October 16, 1901, in Ascension Parish, he married Miss Harriett Sibley, daughter of William A. and Georgianna (Harvey) Sibley, the latter a resident of Springfield. Her father, who died at New Orleans, had his home in Ascension Parish and was a farmer and member of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball are the parents of a family of eight children: Milburn, who resides with his parents and is an employe of the State Highway Engineers; George Allen, a student in the Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge; Harvey Donald, at home; Wallace and Louis F., attending the Ponchatoula High School; Paula Augusta, Albert Eugene and Daniel, who are pupils in the public schools at Springfield.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 194, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.