# Representative women of New England/Mary Elizabeth Kimball

​MARY ELIZABETH KIMBALL, Past President of the National Alliance, Daughters of Veterans, is a successful teacher in the public schools of Fitchburg, Mass., her native place. The daughter of General John White Kimball, of that city, and grand-daughter of Alpheus Kimball, who was born in Fitchburg in 1792 and died in 1858, she is of the fifth generation in Worcester County and the ninth in Massachusetts of the family founded by Richard Kimball, an early settler of Ipswich.
Richard* Kimball came over from England in 1634, and with his family took up his abode in Watertown, but was induced not long after to remove to Ipswich, where there was need of a wheelwright.
Thomas^ Kimball, born in Rattlesden, Suffolk, England, in 1633, son of Richard* and his wife, Ursula Scott^ married Mary Smith, and settled in Bradford, then a part of Rowley, Mass. Their son Thomas,' born in 1665, married Deborah Pemberton, and was the ​MARY ELIZABETH KIMBALL ​ father of Ephraim,$^4$ who married Anne Tenney. Ephraim,$^5$ born in Bradford in 1722, son of Ephraim and Anne, married Mary Wetherbee, of Lunenburg, Worcester County, in 1746, and resided in that part of Lunenburg which is now Fitchburg. Their son Ephraim,$^6$ born in Fitchburg, married Betsey White, of Lunenburg, and was the father of Alpheus,$^7$ above named, grandfather of Mary EUzateth" Kimball.
Alpheus Kimball was a scythe-maker, and carried on business in Fitchburg. He was a Whig in politics and became a Free-soiler, being a strong anti-slavery man. He married Harriet, daughter of Luther Stone, of Framingham, and grand-daughter of Josiah Stone, who was a prominent citizen of Framingham, serving as Selectman, Town Clerk, representative, State Senator, and Councillor. Josiah was of the sixth generation in descent from Deacon Gregory$^1$ Stone, who, coming to New England in 1635, settled in Cambridge. The line was: Gregory$^1$; John,$^2$ who settled at Sudbury; Daniel$^3$; Daniel$^4$; Micah,$^5$ who married Abigail Stone, of Lexington; Josiah,$^6$ born in 1724. It is interesting to note that a younger brother of Josiah,$^5$ namely, Eliab,$^6$ born in 1737, was "Parson Stone," of revered memory, who for more than sixty years was pastor of the old. parish church in North Reading.
The Hon. John White Kimball, of Fitchburg, was State Auditor for nine successive years, having been first elected to that office in 1891. He has served in various town offices; as Representative seven terms; on the State police and as Police Commissioner; as United States Pension Agent; and in the Treasury Department at Washington, D.C., as custodian in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. His service in 1846 as marker for the Fitchburg Fusiliers was the beginning of a military career which culminated in the Civil War, when his gallant and distinguished service in the field won for him the brevet of Brigadier-general of United States Volunteers, bestowed March 13, 1865. His military record is as follows: Captain of the Fusiliers, 1855; Adjutant of the Ninth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, 1858; Captain of Fusiliers, 1860, going with this organization into United States service in 1861. In the army his service was: Captain in Fifteenth Massachusetts Infantry, July 12, 1861; Major, August 1, 1861; present at Ball's Bluff; Lieutenant Colonel, April 29, 1862; commanded the regiment in all the battles of the Peninsular Campaign, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, and Antietam; Colonel of Fifty-third Massachusetts Infantry, November 10, 1862; nmstered December 3; served in Louisiana, participating in the Siege of Port Hudson which lasted forty-six days. The term of service of his regiment expired September 2, 1863. In January, 1864, Colonel Kimball was appointed superintendent of recruiting service for Worcester County, with headquarters at Worcester. He was one of the earliest Department Commanders of the G. A. R. for the State of Massachusetts.
John W. Kimball married July 15, 1851, Almira Melissa Lesure. Four children were born to them, and three are now living, namely—Emma Frances, Mary Elizabeth, and Edward Franklin. Emma Frances married April 17, 1878, Fred William Eager. Josephine White, the fourth child, died September 2, 1881. Edward Franklin Kimball is a charter member and Past Captain of Camp *No. 28, Sons of Veterans, of Fitchburg: and Mrs. Emma Frances Eager is a charter member and Past President of Tent No. 8, Daughters of Veterans.
Miss Kimball appears to have inherited from her father the qualities which made him a brilliant soldier and a successful statesman. She became interested in the Daughters of Veterans when Louisa M. Alcott Tent, No. 8, was organized in Fitchburg, and served as President of the Tent in 1892, accepting the honor of a re-election in 1893. Through her zealous and untiring efforts No. 8 is known throughout the State and nation as one of the leading tents of the order. Miss Kimball has served the Department of Massachusetts Daughters of Veterans as Junior Vice-President, Senior Vice-President, and in 1899 as President. Her administration was one of the most successful in the history of the department. Strongly imbued with the spirit of justice and right, she worked unceasingly for a just recognition of the Daughters of Veterans by the Grand Army of the Republic, The ​result was gratifying. At the thirty-fourth National Encampment of the G. A. R., held in Chicago in 1900, a resolution which was presented by John E. Oilman, Department Commander, was adopted, endorsing the order and giving to it the same official recognition as that previously accorded to the Sons of Veterans. The Soldiers' Home work under the direction of the D. of V. was perpetuated through her efforts, and has met with success. Ambitious to have the "Daughters" accomplish some work of permanent value in this line, Miss Kimball made the first donation, which resulted in establishing a Soldiers' Home fund. The convalescent ward of the Soldiers' Home is named the D. of V. Ward.
Miss Kimball was elected National President of the Daughters of veterans at the convention in Philadelphia, September, 1899. She organized many new tents, and was indefatigable in her efforts to promote the welfare of the order. During her administration the subject of official recognition by the Grand Army of the Republic was presented to all the departments of that body in States where tents existed. "Onward ever, surrender never," has been her motto; and with ever ready helpfulness she has brought the sisters of this grand organization into closer relationship. The daughters have been led to show the same fraternal spirit which actuated the "fathers whose record they proudly revere." The members of the entire order vie with each other in according to Miss Kimball thanks for the good work she has accomplished.