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Archiver > OHFAIRFI > 2003-03 > 1046619886


From: Marguerite Crist Calvin <>
Subject: [OHFAIRFI-L] Fwd: [IOWA] bio John Thimmes (Martha Jane Kohl) Mechanicsville, IA
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2003 10:44:46 -0500


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>Subject: [IOWA] bio John Thimmes (Martha Jane Kohl) Mechanicsville, IA
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>Mechanicsville, Iowa
>Rip Van Winkle Centennial
>1855-1975
>
>John Thimmes, Sr.
>The Thimmes farm located northwest of Mechanicsville has been in the
>family for 122 years. It was purchased on July 20, 1853 from Pryor
>Scott by William and Hannah Fetterling* Kohl, who had migrated to
>this area from Reading, Pa. Thirteen children were born to this
>family. Five of the boys served in the military service during the
>Civil War. On June 30, 1861 the farm buildings, including the log
>house, were destroyed in a great tornado. Two of the Kohl children
>had narrow escapes as a result of that storm--Martha Jane was only a
>baby and was found unharmed in her crib under the logs of the
>destroyed house; Duane was later found in a cherry tree in the farm
>orchard located nearby. The farm buildings were later rebuilt with
>much lumber being procures in Minnesota, floated down the
>Mississippi River, and transported by wagon to the family farm. The
>original barn still stands.
>
>In 1880, Martha Jane Kohl and John Thimmes, Sr., who had migrated to
>the area from Lancaster, Ohio, were united in marriage and moved to
>the farm which they later purchased from William Kohl on Feb. 22,
>1898. Five sons were born to this family: George, Anthony, John Jr.,
>Leo and William. All of the Thimmes children continued to reside in
>the Mechanicsville area. George and Anthony were unmarried; John Jr.
>married Mamie Scott and they had one daughter, DeLoris; Leo Married
>Maggie Mulligan and they had two daughters and three sons, Lola and
>Verna, Forest, Paul and Merle; William married Ruby Gibson of Onaka,
>S.D., and they had two daughters and three sons, Marjorie, Betty,
>Gene, Melvin and Mervin.
>
>John and Martha Jane Thimmes retired from farming and moved to
>Mechanicsville in 1909. For a number of years Mr. Thimmes owned and
>operated a meat market and later a theater in Mechanicsville.
>
>Leo and Maggie Thimmes purchased the family farm from John Thimmes,
>Sr. on March 1, 1920. Paul and Merle Thimmes purchased the home farm
>in 1957; Merle Thimmes and his wife, Doris, currently reside there.
>Their son Tommy, born Dec. 5, 1971, has the distinction of being the
>fifth generation of the family to live on this farm.
>
>*Fitterling
>
>Martha Jane Kohl my Great Grand Aunt
>Marthann Kohl
>Defiance, IA
>
>
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