Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-08
Death of Col. Robert j. KimbaII

We chronicle with pain the death of
Col. Robert ]. Kimball, one OF Mennonite
best citizens, which took pace, suddenly,
on Saturday at his home in Brooklyn, in
the CSth year of his age
Robert Jackson Kimball was born in
Randolph, Vt, February IS, 1886 His
grandfather, who was soldier of the
Revolution, serving in the Third Con-
necticut regiment under Col. S. Il. Webb.
moved from Pomfret, Connecticut. to
Randolph. about 1895, soon after the town
hundred years the family home in Ran
dolph has been maintained by the
kamballs. father. son, and grand
son. Robert Kimball was edu-
Gated in the district school and
West Randolph Academy He began
business for himself in his youth as an
operator on the lines of the Vermont ana
Boston Telegraph company being sta
toned first a ST. Lamberts, Z. O., and
later at Montreal In 1S56-7 he was in the
employ of the National Express COM
pany in their Office in burlington. While
here he was one of the fourteen vounp
men-of which number T. W. Peck, b. b.
Smallcy, q. 5. Wainwright, Sayles Nicn-
OILS and d. Il. Peck surVive-who organ
lied the Ethan Allen Engine company.
Nimhal was the first clerk and treas
urer of the company i'm 1857. He retained
lis interest in his old company through
out his subsequent life and made it mani
Law
Returning to Montreal he became a dealer
to some extent IN telegraph stocks. and
later in lSoj. he established himself as a
/ broker and banker in New York city. He
had for number of years somewhat init
mate business relations with the manage.
mcnt of the Western Union Telegraph
company, ana by honorable dealing and
| fidelity to the interests or his numerous
| customers he made the house of r. j
| kimball & Co widely and well known as
| among the best of it's class in the great
metropolis In the beginning of the pres
/ ent year he retired from the active man
agement of the business. which he turned
over TO his son, W: Eugene Kimball. who
had been his partner for severa! years.
hr. himball was always a genuine Yer
monter He frequently visited his nativ,
| town before resuming his citizenship anC
becoming Il voter there. as he becam,
in lS>G, when he built himself summer
/ residence in Randolph. lie has shown
! his public spirit and generosity by inter
esting himself IN town affairs and IN va
/ rous business enterprises Among tn,
latest marks of his interest in his tow
is the silt to it of Il building FOR the town
/ library which was crec,cd by him tw,
years ago. lie has been the prcsiden
and ior "a number OF years a member o
/ the executive committee of the BROOKLYN
y, \, Society of the Sons of Vermont
He was an aide dc camp on the staff o
Gov, Williams +, Dillingham;, with thu
rank of colonel, 1880 He representa-,
Randolph in the General Assembly. 1890
w. serving on the important committee
81 ways and means and banks and show
ing himself a useful and influential Iegis
Idloi. lie had been a member of tn
BOARD OF trustees OF the University o
Vermont since 1899, and a member o
'i'' '4l4il4N' N'HlHlIllte OF tNdl nOald AM
took an active and earnest interest in tn
university, He was a member of the
Baptist Church of Brooklyn and val
ued supporter of the activities of tn
church. His handsome city home O
Clinton avenue, Brooklyn. was frequent
~ the scene Of cordial and elegant hospi
taIiiy lie was connected as trustee an
otherwise with various religious. charita
bic and public institutions in that cit
and was held in high regard as citize
and man, there and wherever he wa
known. lie had a host of friends i
Vermont and his name has had prom
ncnt mention in connection with the 70
publican nomination for governor ncN
year. He, however lent no encouragement
to such use of his name.
Colonel kimball was married in 1868 t
Mary L., daughter of Charles a. Mors,
Esq. She survives him with two daugl
ters, Clara l.. and Annie Laura, and
son, w, +. Kimball. They will have til
, sincerest sympathy of wide circle {
friends in their crushing sorrow.
In the death Of Mr.. Kimball kind an
courteous Christian gentleman of who
heart. and upright life and ostimable
all the relations of life, has passed froi
earth. He will be widely missed an
mourned,