David A. Mims was born on April 18, 1833, at Pikeville, Ky., the son of John D. Mims and Pricie Adkins. He was educated at Emory and Henry College in what is now West Virginia.
He married Anna M. Frederick on April 8, 1858, at Cattlettsburg, Ky. They had six children of which three were living in 1901: Ida A., Margaret C., and David F. Mims.
He served as a Captain in Company C of the 14th before transferring to the 39th. According to the Garden City Imprint, he and General Garfield first met in the Civil War and were lasting friends. While serving in the 14th Kentucky Infantry at the Cumberland Gap he contracted chronic diaherrea that stayed with him throughout life. He moved to garden City in Finney Co., KS, in August, 1884, where he served as mayor, justice of the peace, and registrar of deeds. In 1888, he established, with partner E.N. Keep, The Garden City Imprint and remained editor until his death on August 29, 1901. His funeral was conducted from the home of Rev. Severance and at the cemetery by the Tyrian Lodge AF & AM and the Fulton Post, G.A.R.
David A. Mims is buried in the Valley View Cemetery, Garden City Kansas. His stone is a government military stone with the inscription "David A. Mims Col. 39 Kentucky Infantry." At the time of his death, Mims was the editor of the Garden City newspaper, The Garden City Imprint. The August 31, 1901 issue of the paper carried his obituary:
David A. Mims, aged 68y 4m 11d, editor of the The Imprint, Thursday, August 29, 1901. He was born on April 18, 1833, in Pikeville, Ky., and was educated at Emory and Henry College in W. Va. He married Miss Anna M. Frederick of Philiadelphia on April 8, 1858. Of six children, three survive.
In the Civil War he was a Capt. of Co. C, 14th Ky. Vol. Inf. and served under Gen. Garfield who became a lasting friend. Later he was a Lt. Col. in the 39th Ky. Mounted Inf. He came to Garden City in August, 1884. He served as mayor, justice of the peace, and registrar of deeds. In 1888, he established, with partner E.N. Keep, The Imprint and remained editor until his death. The funeral was conducted from the home of Rev. Severance, and at the cemetery by Tyrian Lodge AF & AM and the Fulton Post, G.A.R.