People came in from Illinois and especially from Chicago and from all over the country east of here and were astonished to find that potatoes could be grown here without irrigation. The impression had become general that this part of the country was so dry that nothing could be raised. Of course a few years later when the drouth came on this, it became true and only those who did not have money enough to move and had to stay, remained. Mother Lynch who had her boarding business to rely upon, said she always felt sorry for the other people in those dark days.

The first building in Kimball proper was the Hotel Martha, run by Schooleys from Illinois. This was on the Rodman building location. The Kimball hotel started about twenty-five years ago after Mrs. Lynch had started her hotel and boarding house. She says that her husband then had more to do than he could manage with the claim and stock, so he had induced her to start this hotel upon the site where Walker's garage now is located. After the Hotel Kimball started, the Hotel Martha closed up. Mr. Bickel bought the building in for taxes and closed it up.

The Storm ot 1873

Mother Lynch relates an incident connected with the storm of 1873, the biggest that this part of the country had ever known. She says a train got as far as Kimball and had to stop here. They faced starvation unless they could get succor from outside. The conductor worked his way over to Lynch's to get meals. With him he brought a lawyer from Chicago named Clayton. This "high-toned" lawyer at once said that their place looked like they could get a good breakfast, and asked if he could also get a breakfast for a lady.