In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902), History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
JONATHAN F. KIMERLINE.
In no other phase of life can a man better demonstrate his fealty to his country and his loyalty to its interests than in the political arena, for therein is invested the vitality of the nation's power, the mainspring of its internal machinery and the keynote to its progress and prosperity. Among the patriotic citizens of Crawford county who have been closely identified with the Democracy none is better known or more higiily appreciated than Jonathan Frederick Kimerline, who is now occupying the position of county auditor. He believes that it is the duty and privilege of. every American citizen to give his time and attention to some measure or party interest and to carry out this principle in life by taking an energetic part in political canvasses, and is a firm believe in the write saying, that "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
Mr. Kimerline was born in Wooster, Ohio, December 6, 1855, and is a son of John and Maria (Derr) Kimerline, both of whom were natives of Germany, the father having been born in Wurtemberg, while the mother's birth occurred in Baden. They were married in that country and came to America in 1854, locating in Wooster, Ohio, whence they removed to a small farm in Wayne county, upon which they spent their last days.
Mr. Kimerline, of this review, pursued his education in the public schools of Wayne county until fifteen years of age and afterward spent one year as a teacher in Smithville Academy. He then became identified with educational interests as an instructor, following the teacher's profession for five or six years during the winter months, while in the summer season he continued his own studies in the Ohio Normal, at Ada, Ohio, where he was graduated with the class of 1882. He has had to depend entirely upon his own efforts, not only for his advancement, but for the educational privileges which he received beyond those of the common schools. His labors enabled him to pursue a college course and thus prepare for his chosen profession. In 1874 he was employed as a teacher in the schools of Chatfield, Ohio, and the following year was made superintendent of the public schools of Xew Washington, where he remained for a period of twenty years, retiring from the office in 1895 with the confidence and good will of the people,, for he had labored untiringly and effectively for the improvement and promotion of the schools of that town. In 1895 he was elected to the office of auditor of Crawford county, and after serving through his first term was re-elected in 1898, so that he is the present incumbent. This is, however, not the extent of his public service, for he was a member of the county board of school examiners from 1880 until 1888.
In Wayne county, Ohio, Mr. Kimerline was united in marriage to Miss Ida May Breneman, a daughter of Dr. J. H. and Lydia (McNary) Breneman. His wife was a very successful and prominent teacher in Wayne county for ten or twelve years, a part of which time she had charge of the Congress schools. She also taught in the Xew Washington schools. Their marriage is blessed with two living children,— Harry Breneman and Louise Marie. Mr. Kimerline is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, an active worker in its interests and has served as trustee and a member of the official board. For three years he was a member of the Northwestern Ohio Teachers' Association. In 1899 he was elected secretary of the State - - 20
Auditors' Association, a position which he held for two years. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Order of Ben Hur. In November, 1895, he took up his above in Bucyrus and he and his wife there enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes of the city.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JONATHAN F. KIMERLINE,* formerly county auditor of Crawford county, O., for many years has been prominently identified with public affairs and business interest of Bucyrus as well as other places of former residence, and may be said to bear a name that is a household word in educational circles throughout the county. And yet no man ever had to face more difficulties or overcome harder conditions than he in his efforts to secure an education for himself. He was born December 6, 1855, at Wooster, O., and is a son of John and Hannah (Derr) Kimerline.
John Kimerline was born at Stuttgart and his wife at Baden, Germany, and after their marriage in the latter place and the birth of four children — 'william, Louis, John and IMargaret — they decided to emigrate to America. In 1854 they left Hamburg, Germany, on board a sailing vessel which landed them, 52 days later, in the harbor of New York. A brother had already established himself at 'foster, O., and to that place the German family proceeded. John Kimerline followed the shoemaking trade during the rest of his active life at Wooster. He came to Bucyrus in 1804 to spend his last days with his son, Jonathan F., and died there in 1895 his
79th year, having survived his wife since 1881. Both he and wite were members of the German Lutheran church. They had seven children, three having been born in America. William, the eldest son, became a confectioner at Findlay, O., where he died in 1865. Louis, who is a retired drove and butcher, resides at New Washington, O., and has a family of two sons and four daughters. John died at Cleveland, O., in 1889. He had been assistant cashier for 14 years with the Cleveland Provision Company. Margaret married Anthony Gillis, a provision dealer at Half Moon Bay, Calif. Christina died at New Washington, Crawford county, while her parents were visiting there. Jonathan F. was the sixth in order of birth. The youngest child, Elizabeth, died in 1866, when aged seven years.
Jonathan F. Kimerline was the one member of the family that determined to have a thorough education and living in a college town but stimulated this ambition. He attended the common schools regularly until he was 16 years of age but his father was not able to help him on the way to further education and for a time the youth had to contend with many obstacles. However, he later made arrangements by which he was able to clothe himself recently and pay his way through college, and long ago has settled all the obligations he then assumed. He passed through Smithville College and then took a course in the Ohio Normal School at Ada, O., and in 1874 was called to Chatfield township, Crawford county, to become principal of the schools and this position he satisfactorily filled for two years and then became principal of the schools of New Washington and for 20 years thereafter he was principal and superintendent. During this time he made many changes all progressive ones and when he left that city a fine school building and many graduates testified to his educational an executive ability. In 1895 i"- Kimerline was elected county auditor of Crawford county and served efficiently in that office for six years and afterward for seven years was deputy auditor, under his brother-in-law, J. I. Smith. Later he became clerk of the board of county commissioners, an office he holds at the present time. While still engaged in educational work he was a member of the State Board of State Examiners and at present is clerk of the Bucyrus Board of Education. He is interested in everything along educational lines and for the past five - years has been a member of the Public Library Board. For four years he has had charge of the educational department of the Crawford County Agricultural Society and is a member of the board of directors of the Bucyrus Y.
As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.