Veteran Bio

Captain Kimbro commanded the Eighth Company of the Second Texas Regiment at San Jacinto and received Donation Certificate No. 242 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. He received Bounty Certificate No. 996 for 320 acres of land for serving in the army from March 15 to June 15, 1836.

Reverend George L. Crocket in his book "Two Centuries in East Texas" stated that Captain Kimbro's Company joined the main army at Harrisburg. He wrote: "They came up with the Texas army opposite Harrisburg....., and after resting until 11 o'clock to recover from their long march, they followed the main body as a rear guard. On the day of the battle they were attached to the Second Regiment, under Colonel Sidney Sherman, and took part in the impetuous charge which overthrew the Mexican army and the victorious pursuit that followed."

Captain Kimbro's Company was organized at San Augustine and was disbanded there. Most of the men in the company lived in what is now San Augustine County.

Captain Kimbro was elected sheriff of San Augustine County in 1837 and served until 1843. He was again elected in 1847. Again quoting from "Two Centuries in East Texas": "He (Kimbro) was rather a stout man of undoubted courage, but unfortunately too fond of good toddy, which finally led to his undoing. He was elected (sheriff) again in 1847, but did not fill out the term, being succeeded by S. D. Thomas.

Captain and Mrs. Kimbro were the parents of two children Martha Ann and Benjamin W. Kimbro. Martha Ann married Poindexter Payne in San Augustine County. He sold his home in San Augustine November 9, 1853 to D. Thomas and with his wife, and probably their children, moved to Anderson County. There Captain Kimbro died September 14, 1856, survived by his widow and children. Before leaving San Augustine County he signed his will in the presence of W. W. Holman and R. W. Browning. A copy of it may be found in the Probate Records of Anderson County. The date of the will, however, is omitted in the copy. The will:

"Know all men to whom this may concern that I, William Kimbro being in good health and sound in mind do this day make this my last will and testament as life is uncertain and death is certain. I will here say as to debts thank the Lord I owe but few and consequently will give my Executors but little trouble on that subject. I will now proceed in my distribution, in the first place after all my just debts are paid, I give my wife Sarah Kimbro all of my property both real and personal to have and to hold the same in her own name, and to dispose of it as she may think proper between my two children Martha Ann Payne and Benjamin W. Kimbro so long as she remains my widow, and if she should cease to remain my widow then it is my request that my property be equally divided between my two children reserving to herself the Homestead and one negro girl and a liberal part of Stock, all my furniture to be equally divided. I am now done. I am at peace with all man kind, and like to be so with my God."

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