William was married to Lucinda Roberts (daughter of Jackson Roberts and
  Frances Brown/Green) about 1868 in Florida. Lucinda was born around 1843 in
  Lee County, GA. She is found with her parents in the 1850 Lee County, GA census.10
  William and Lucinda were most likely married in Orange County, FL. Orange County
  marriage records were destroyed in 1869 due to a fire at the County Courthouse.11

> photo of Lucinda Roberts Mimbs <  

 William is in the 1880 Polk County, FL census.12 He is listed as a "laborer."
 Lucinda was a housewife. Both William and Lucinda were born in Georgia.
 William‟s parents were born in North Carolina, while Lucinda‟s parents
 were born in Georgia.

On October 14, 1882, William purchased 40 acres of land in Polk County southwest of Bartow
from the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund for one dollar per acre.13
It is interesting to note that William and Lucinda sold the same piece of land to M. W. Fuller
for $100.00 on October 5, 1882.14 The land was sold before they had a clear title to the land. 
It should also be noted that William‟s middle initial is known from these land transactions.

In the early 1880's in Polk County, bacon sold for 11 cents a pound; lard, 15 cents; flour,
6¼ cents; sugar, 12½ cents; coffee, 20 cents. Except for these staples, few articles of food were
sold in the local stores. Transportation was by horseback or wagon. A person could travel from
Orlando to Bartow by the mail buggy for $7. The fare from Tampa to Bartow by “private subscription”
was $10. The cost was only $2 by wagon if the passenger furnished his own rations. Lots in Bartow sold for
$30 to $50, while land three miles from town brought from $1.25 to $5 per acre.
The early 1880's brought considerable growth to Bartow. Mrs. M. L. Snoddy opened a ladies‟
store in 1882. Dr. J. P. Brookins, a dentist, opened the Bartow Drug House. T. M. Lybass opened
a “Liquor Saloon.” W. H. Pearce, near Bartow, had what was considered one of the most vigorous
and symmetrical orange groves in the State. By 1882, 500 letters were mailed from the Bartow community,
and probably as many received. On May 3, 1882, the town of Bartow was incorporated.15

Although there had been a jail in Bartow at one time, it did not exist in the early 1880's.
It had fallen into disuse and decay. However, it was said that one was needed. In 1881,
Hiram D. Ballard closed and sold the building and lot where the barroom had been.
The cost of a liquor license had been raised so high that business became unprofitable.
Drinking did not cease, though. Some citizens complained of “much firing of pistols at night
on the streets, and other disorders.”16

William and Lucinda are found in the 1885 Polk County, FL, Census.
They obviously avoided the “big city life” by living on 160 acres in the Polk County wilderness.
“The whirr of a covey of quail or the howl of a bobcat, in the shadows deer and panther, wild turkeys
and wild boars or maybe just the soft sound of wind through the pines and oaks – that was it.”17
William had improved four acres of land. 156 acres were still considered woodlands. His farm was
valued at $400.00. His farming tools were valued at $10.00, and his livestock was valued at $75.00.
In 1884, the farm produced $100.00 worth of produce. William owned one horse, one milk cow, and
eight chickens, which produced 52 dozen eggs the previous year. In 1884, two acres of land produced
300 bushels of sweet potatoes. William also grew five bushels of cowpeas, 20 pounds of tobacco,
and had planted one acre of land in orange trees.18 These were again difficult times in America.
The US entered a depression in 1884, the same year Grover Cleveland was elected President.
Farm prices collapsed in 1887.19

  William was baptized on September 14, 1887 in Peace Creek Baptist Church, Polk Co., FL
  (east of Bartow)  by Rev. J. M. Hayman.20 William was one of 6 people baptized at revival
  meetings led by Rev. Hayman.  The  following article entitled “Religious Revival” appeared
  in the Bartow Advance Courier21 on September 21, 1887: “Editor Advance Courier –
  I have just closed a very interesting series of services held at the Peace Creek Baptist Church
  8 miles northeast of Bartow. The meetings were continued for nearly a week
  – two services each day – during which time eleven persons united with the church,
  six by experience and baptism, and five by letter, and the interest manifested by the
congregation was not abated up to the last service, on Sunday last, at 11:00 AM. Several persons who did
not unite with the church, seemed to be very much concerned about their souls‟ interest, and I hope will soon
be converted and unite with the church. J. M. Hayman” It would appear Peace Creek Baptist Church
was the Mimbs Family church as other family members were baptized there on later occasions.

William died December 25, ca. 1887 in Polk County, FL.22 According to Ida Blount, William‟s granddaughter,
William died from cancer of the mouth. It is not known where in Polk County William was buried.
The two most logical places would seem to be either the Whidden Cemetery (near the Mimbs Homestead)
or Gandy Cemetery (where Lucinda is buried). In either case, his grave has no marker today.

Lucinda was granted a homestead land patent on December 1, 1890, on 159.54 acres in Polk County, FL.
It is assumed this is the same land mentioned in the 1885 census. On the land grant, Lucinda is listed as
William‟s widow.23 The Mimbs homestead was located outside of present day Lake Wales. At the time,
Lake Wales did not exist. While in other parts of the country Americans were enjoying the newest
luxuries, such as electric trolleys, which were introduced in 1891, the Mimbs family was working hard to
homestead in the undeveloped wild of Polk County. Lucinda is found in the 1895 Polk County Census.24
She was a widow and a farmer.

The Mimbs family is found again in the 1900 Polk County Census.25 According to this census,
Lucinda was the mother of 8 children. Since only 6 of these are known to have lived into adulthood,
it is assumed that two children died at birth or in early childhood. Their names are unknown.
Lucinda was still farming in 1900. The children were helping on the farm.

Lucinda began breaking up the homestead in 1902. She sold 20 acres to Charlie‟s wife, Alice,
on September 1, 1902 for $1.00.26 Alice and Charles sold their portion of the homestead to
W. E. Clark on October 5, 1903 for $50.00.27 Lucinda also sold 20 acres to her son, Jasper,
on September 1, 1902 for $1.00.28 Jasper sold his portion of the homestead to his aunt,
Malinda Smith, on April 30, 1904 for $75.00.29 As a historical note, the Ford Motor Company
was formed between 1901-1903. The first World Series was played in 1903.
One wonders what affect these events had on the family.

On February 23, 1904, Lucinda sold land 36 acres to her son, George W. for $1.00; 26 acres to her son,
Zebedee Calvin for $1.00; and 20 acres to her daughter, Lillian for $1.00.30 On August 8, 1904,
Lucinda sold 60 acres from the homestead to Andrew W. Taylor for $174.00.31 On the same day she
repurchased for $1.00 twenty of the 36 acres she sold to her son, George.32 On August 26, 1904,
Lucinda bought “Lots 5 & 6 of Block A in the Johnson Addition to Lakeland” from T. J.
and Mary H. Johnson for $44.00.33 These lots were sold to Henry W. Combee for $65.00
on February 13, 1905.34 Lucinda‟s last land transactions involved 20 acres she purchased for
$50.00 from her son, Zebedee, on November 20, 1906.35 This land was later sold to
Henry W. Combee on January 21, 1907.36

Lucinda has not been located in the 1910 census. She died on October 6, 1917, in Lake Wales,
Polk County, FL.37 Her obituary was published on October 11, 1917,
in the Lake Wales Highlander38 "Mrs. Lucinda Mims, seventy-eight years of age,
died Saturday at the home of her son, George Mims, at Peace Valley. Interment took place Sunday.
" Lucinda was buried on October 7, 1917, in Gandy Cemetery, Connersville, Polk County, FL.
Her grave is unmarked today.39