The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-10-18
> soorrespondence Of the Boston Traveller. 81
Death Of an Eccentric Character.F
HANOVER. n. H., Sept. 23. 1856.

HANOVER. N. H., Sept. %, 1856. :
That venerable an---Increase Kimball-
known for half century to all the gradu-
ates of Dartmouth College, died at Hanover
on the 10th inst, at the age of eighty. At
the age OF thirty, he manifested signs of de-
rangement, which became permanent, and
continued in moderate degree till his death.
In 1872 the controversy in til. College be-
gan, which resulted in the estab ishment OF
the University, afterward annulled by the
decision of the Supreme Court at Washing
ton. This controversy agitated the church
to which Kimball belonged, and he took an
active part on the side of the University.
Affairs going contrary to his mind, be seced-
ed from church under VOW. He let his
beard grow at full length, in testimony, and
so wore it till his death. Upon this sue
ceeded the hallucinatipn that he was jew,
and through life would ncvereat pork or any
article into which the product OF the hog
entered, not even a cake prepared with lard
For several years before his death he wore
long white robe grt about his loins. This
with his long hair and long beard, both
hoary, together with the effect of paralytie
shock which depressed slightly one SIDE Of
his mouth, gave him apeculiar appearance.
Many things in his history show him to
have possessed, naturally, strong mind
which, but for the insanity, would have made
him useful and distinguished In 1904 he
invented the first machine for making cut
nails, and took out for it patent. For this
he was offered large sum, but he refused
to sell. Improvements were made by others
on the machine, and patented, which threw
him out of the whole benefit, and the disap-
pointment is thought to have been the prox,
innate cause of his arrangement. With nc
education but the common school, he at
tanned to considerable power OF language
both in conversation and writing.
Feeling the W mt of educ tion himself, he
bore the principal expenses Of brother
twelve years younger than himself, in col.
lege and professional education. lie also
held on to the last to his fvorite idea Of
preserving intact his lite prop rty to be-
queath it to Dartmouth College, for Which
he never lost his strong affection; SO that in
intention, if not in fact, he was one of its
most liberal benefactors. Many years ago q
widow lady of worth in the village lost hel
all in the confagration of her house. Mr.
Kimball Immediately started subscription
and raised $500 to erect another, and be-
slowed the labor of a whole summer in build
ing it. He went to Piermont, purchased
the standing timber, felled it, floated it down
the river, prepared it and erected the frame
and perseyered till the house was restored
and the widow, no way connected wit him
made whole as before.
His consclentiOusness was so great, uni
formly, as to excite admiration. Whatever
his alterations in Judgment and insane VIC
lations of property, none denied him the in
tention of doing right. For this he exer-
cised selfdenial remarkable, and willing.
ness to suffer wrong rather than do wrong
which did the highest honor to his heart
These principles controlled him in his most
insane periods. His religious experience be.
gan about the year 1875, and notwithstand.
ing his mental alienation, the Christian pub
lie unite in awarding to him the character o.
consistent and undertaking Christian piety
Before the commencement of his religious
life he was addicted to the vice of gambling
and was more successful in winning thar
most. After his moral revolution, he sought
out with much pains-taking and long jour
neys, those from whom he had won, and
made restitution to the extent of his ability
Tee last ten years of his life, when age
and bodily infirmities increased, were spent
in great deprivation and misery. His insan-
ity suffer ell no abatement all plans and eff
forts OF S friends were rendered Intellectual
His home was burned, and yet lie insisted
on living alone on the spot, in poor shanty,
the relics of the fire. For the past two
years, however, a better provision was made
by the Intervention of the town authorities.
His insanity begat distrust Of all around
him, till at length he refused to eat, lest lie
Should take poison, or e It something in his
view unlawful. This soon ematiated him
beyond help, and after three weeks prostra-
ton on his bed, death came to his relief
truly relief for during those last weeks, no
ray of hope for the present or future lit up
on him. All was despair. And yet none OF
his acquaintance could doubt of his transi-
ton to better world.