From Proud Heritage, Vol. 1 by DCPA, not currently in print
The Kimmel family ancestry can be traced from Michael Kimmel, who was born October, 1629 in Boland, Germany.
Daniel Kimmel was a fifth generation descendant of Michael Kimmel. He and his parents came to America during the time of the American Revolution. They settled in North Carolina and later moved to Union County, Illinois, where he married Catherine Hunsaker on 16 September 1809. They had two sons and five daughters. Three daughters died in Illinois.
In 1845, following the death of her husband, Catherine, a courageous newly widowed pioneer woman, migrated to the Republic of Texas with her children (Philip, Anna – age 14, and Melvira). They traveled by horse and wagon to their newly purchased empresario land grant. It was issued from W. S. Peters and Associates, which was operating as the Texas Emigration and Land Company. The Kimmels settled north of the Trees tract, being approximately the center of the Peters Colony. This location was more specifically associated with the communities of Duncanville and Cedar Hill.
Philip Kimmel married Susan Henderson. He was murdered 21 August 1856 and was the first person to be buried in Trees Cemetery in Cedar Hill. Melvira Kimmel married John Henderson. Anna Minerva Kimmel married Crawford Trees, Sr. Catherine Kimmel continued to live near Anna until her death on 11 May 1861. Catherine was buried at the home site of her daughter, Anna. When the home site was sold in 1973, the tombstone was moved to Trees Cemetery.
By Bradley C. Hodge, Dallas
