Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-10
THOMAS |, KlMBALL IS DEAD
Form er Official of the Union Pacific Road
Passes Away Suddenly.
USEFUL LIFE COMES TO ABRUPT END
sketch of the Career of n Man who
for Many Years FILLED II Prom
incnt Place in Western Rail-
road Circles.

Thomas Lord Kimball, one of the most
prominent railroad men Of the west If not in
the entire country, died Monday afternoon az
his home, 1921 Park Wild avenue. The end
came quite Unexpectedly, and as the end
of what was considered only a slight illness,
lasting not more than two weeks.
About that long ago Mr.. Kimball suffered
fall in his own yard, striking his head
against a stone walk and suffering a rather
painful bruise. Nothing was thought of the
injury at the time and no serious effects
were apparent. But MIR Kimball began to be
troubled with some affection of the stomach
and was also troubled with insomnia. Then
he began to complain of severe pains in
the intercostal muscles, which were attribut-
ed to neuralgia. The troubles continued
in about the same degree until Monday
morning, when Mr.. Kimball seemed some-
what worse. Early in the day he was sur
fering considerably and a physician was
called, who relieved him for a short time
About l o'clock the physician was again
called and in order to relieve the pain in
the patients sides administered an injec-
tion of morphine and Immediately Mr.. kim
ball passed into sound sleep. Members
of his family who were in the room noticed
that his breathing was natural and reassur-
ing Suddenly he gasped twice and the
summoned as quickly as possible who at
tempted resuscitation, but informed the
family that there was slight hope of re-
Covery. The restorative measures had no
effect and Mr.. Kimball died in a short time.
Death was attributed to neuralgia OF the
heart, which the morphine had controlled
while its effect lasted.
Life of the Deceased.
Mr. Kimball was born in Buxton, Me, in
| 1881, of Puritan stock. His father was a
| faseler and 1t was on the farm that he first
began his efforts at self-education, reading
by the light of pine knots. He began fitting
himself for college with the intention OF
studying medicine, but gave up the plan
when his health failed. He subsequently be-
came the possessor of vigorous physique
He conducted a jewelry business in Biddeford
for several years, leaving it in 1867 to enter
the service of the Pennsylvania railroad al
| Cincinnati He soon became the southwest
| ern passenger agent of the road and later
| was stationed at Chicago, in charge of al
| the passenger business OF the road west o.
| Pittsburg.
In 1871 when Thomas A. Scott became
| president of the Union Pacific railroad, aftel
having been director Of the Pennsylvania
he induced Mr.. Kimball to come to Oman;
and enter the service of his new road as tht
general passenger and ticket agent. Afte
| ten years service Mr. Kimball became as
sistant manager, later general traffic man
aser and then the close assistant of Genera
Manager Potter. At the latters death h
succeeded to his duties and in short tim
to his title When General Manager Hol
comb came in Mr.. Kimball became third vic
president of the company and also presiden
of the Union Depot company, which was or
ganized about that time.
While Mr.. Kimball was third vice presiden
Of the company he was a very active fore
| in its management sustaining its interest
through the absence and sickness of man
superior officers and remaining from on
administration to another. His vice presi
Gency was terminated by the receivership G
the road, but he continued at the head @
the depot company until the plans of bot
the Union Pacific and the Burlington re
garding depot changed radically and tn
company was dissolved.
Other business interests.
Mr.. Kimball was identified with some
the most important business establishment
of Omaha. In 1897 he was elected presiden
of the new Omaha Thomson Houston EleC
trio Light company, having been directo
y
became president of the American Nationt
bank, which has since disposed of its bus
ness to another banking house, Mr. Kimba
remaining in charge of and settling up il
affairs. In church and benevolent work h
was also an effective participant, as tn
Unitarian church, of which he was a men
ber, and the Associated Charities, of whic
he had been president for six years, coul
well testify.
After coming to Nebraska Mr.. Kimba
, took a certain part in politics, though
was never a candidate for any office an
never enjoyed a single advantage secure
in a political way. His political work
said by his friends to have been in II
nature of an acceptance of the respons
bilities of citizenship. Temperamentally l
was calm and self-possessed. Those WI
have been associated intimately with hi
for years say that no man ever saw hi
> angry or excited They held him as the
a hero.
Mr.. Kimball's wife and four children a
survive him. The children living in Omal
: are Mrs. George W. Holdrege, Thomas
| Kimball, formerly of Walker G. Kimbal
l and Arabel NJ. Kimball. son, Richard,
i the manager OF Riverside farm at Merce
g Neb Complete arrangements for the funer
I have not yet been made, but interment vi
DO in Omaha.