Removed as a child to Mason County, (West) Virginia. Served as a private in Capt. Andrew Bryan's company of Virginia Militia during the war of 1812. Settled in Clay Township, Wayne County, Iowa, during 1851, and removed to Washington Township, Wayne County, ca. 1861. Did not marry. (Note: Nathaniel retained an older spelling of a surname most commonly spelled "Kimberling" now.)∼Nathaniel Kimberling, son of Adam Kimberling and Nancy Davis, was born September 2, 1789 in Bath Co., Va. He moved with his family to Mason Co., Va. (presently West Virginia) in 1803. He was in the war of 1812. About 1850 he moved to wayne Co., where he died in 1877. Buried in Washington Twp., Cambria Cemetery, Sec. 27, Row #44; 4.10 next to his sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Morris Greenlee. Taken from JACKSON STANDARD - FEB 22 1877

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS
A short time ago I spoke of the death of my uncle, Nathaniel Kimberling. My mother always spelled the name KIMBERLIN, but I noticed that my cousins now living in Point Pleasant, West Virginia spell it Kimberling. The WEST VIRGINIA MONITOR published at Point Pleasant has the following aeticle, credited to the WAYNE COUNTY (IOWA) REPUBLICAN. It appears to have been written some time before Mr. Kimberling's death.

SOLDIER OF 1812 - NATHANIEL KIMBERLING
He was born Bath Co., Va., September 2, 1789, near the noted warm and hot springs, one of them being so hot that an egg would cook in a short time. Near the hot springs are several springs of very cold water, quite a contrast. His parents emigrated to Mason Co., W. Va. and settled on the great Kanawha River, nine miles above the mouth of the river, and was among the first settlers of that country. At an early age he had a taste for music, learned to play the violin, and was considered the best violinist, in his day, on the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers. Often times had the youth of the land tripped the fantastic toe to the sound of his violin. He related an incident
while traveling through Indiana, of stopping at a house to stay over night, there being a dance on hand an six well dressed young folks on the floor. He was requested to furnish the music and commenced on one of his best pieces. He played for a short time, but the dancers stood still in astonishment and when asked the reason they did not dance, they replied "they could not stand the music." His friends claim that he never excelled with the violin. At the age of 23, he enlisted in the service of the U. S., in September 1813, under Captain Andrew Bryan, at Point Pleasant, Virginia in 2nd infantry. Shortly after enlisting he marched to Camp Delaware, near Sanduskey,
Ohio, and went into winter quarters. During the winter he, with a number of others, got the privilege of hunting deer and wild turkeys; in their wanderings they got among the British and Indians, who were also out on a hunting trip. There was about 6 inches of snow on the ground and they were in imminent danger of being captured, as their trail could easily be followed. They started for camp on "double quick" and the enemy followed them witin a short distance of camp, but did not succeed in capturing any of them. While in camp the soldiers
suffered from exposure to the cold, having but scanty clothing and few blanks, (wages $8.00 per month) but they made the best of it by having an occasional dance in the snow, on the frozen ground, to warm up their chilly limbs, and Nat was always honored with the privilege of doing the fiddling on such occasions. When tired of dancing, singing was in order. Kimberling considered himself the best. While in Camp Delaware his elbow was dislocated by a fall on the ice. He was dischagred in March and returned home, but entered the service as a substitute as soon as his arm was well, and remained until the close of the war, which took place soon after his re-enlistment. His being a cooper by trade, he spent some time in making barrels for holding pine tar, also salt barrels, to be used at Kanawha Salt Works, the only works of its kind in the west at the time, and occasionally teaching school. He spent fourteen years boating up and down the Kanawha and Ohio rivers, The boats were then propelled by manpower as the steamboat had not yet distured the western water nor was the whistle of the locomotive heard in all the land. The boatmen were a jolly set of fellows and often indulged in the flowing bowl. He was personally
acquainted with most of the prominent boatmen, among which was the notorious Mike Fink, of whom he tells some amusing stories, being an eye witness to some of his daring exploits, such as setting a cup of whiskey on the head of some of his comrades, stepping back thirty or forty paces, and putting a rifle ball through the center of the cup. This would be considered dangerous sport in the day and age of the world. Kimberling now bears the mark of a cut finger that Mike gave him while preparing a mess of spareribs for super. Mike in one of his shooting exploits missed the cup and killed the holder, and was afterward killed in a row.

Kimberling came to Iowa about 20 years ago with A. D. Garton and made his home there for several years. He is now living in the home of A. _______ He never married and consequently never knew the joys and comfort of a home of his own, has not been able to work for a number of years, is lively and quite talkative, is extremely fond of children, is now quite deaf, has been losing his hearing since 1834, at which time he had a severe attack of cholera, which somewhat impaired his general health, rather singular in his notions and has his coffin now made of nice black walnut, and neatly trimmed and ready for use, is now drawing a pension of eight dollars a month for his services in 1812. It surely is a great comfort to the old soldier to feel that the government did not entirely forget him in his declining years. He is not a member of any branch of the Christian Church, but all through life has been noted for his uprightness in his dealings with his fellow- man, and has ever been a favorite among his neighbors and acquain- tances; is always made welcome by them; is a great smoker, has used tobacco from his youth, (some seventy-five years) is now in his 85th year, has good health as could be expected for one of his years; and has an excellent memory, is quite interesting in conversation; but the only way he can understand what you want is by making signs with the fingers which he can understand easily. As my parents came to Ohio before I was born, I never saw my uncle until I was near 14 years of age. This was in the summer of 1832. He was always known in the family as "Uncle Nat", and I had heard so much of his skill as a player of the violin, that I was much elated
when he came to pay us a visit. He arrived on Sunday, and several of the neighbors, who had formerly resided in Virginia, and who had known him there, came to father's house, and they had some good singing. As my parents were Baptists, there was no fiddling on the Sabbath. I have heard some among the best performers on the violin, but I am certain "Uncle Nat" could surpass any, or all, I ever heard. His music on the violin was so sweet - so heavenly, that I have ever since loved to hear this instrument, when in the hands of a good performer. Many and many a time have I noticed the scar made by the knife of Mike Fink. I used to watch his fingers while he was playing the violin. This scar was on the back of the finger, next to the little finger, about an inch from the end of the finger. Uncle Nat was a very fine looking man in the year 1832. He then was in the prime of life, being about 43 years of age. He was six feet in height, and very straight. He probably weighed 180 pounds. He was very graceful in his movements, and was remarkably polite and gentlemanly in his actions and conduct. He was a universal favorite, and I never heard of him having an enemy.