Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-12-20

end came that he would recover.
Stephen Webb Kimball was born in
Salem Mass, May 49, 1927 and was a
direct descendant of Richard Kimball,
who came from England and settled in
Ipswich, Mass, in 1894. His father, was
John Kimbal and his mother was Han
nah Potter. He was one Of family of
four boys-Jacob, sailing master;
stephen w, tanner; Joseph, ship
caulker; and John Henry, who was kill
ed in California. At the age of IL years
he was put to work in a rope walk In
Salem his hours of labor in the summer
months being from a. m. until dark.
He remained at this work about a year
and a half, until he had an attack of
scarlet fever. Just before he was IA
years old he became an apprentice to
tanner in Braintree, Mass, serving I'M
til he was 81. Six months later he went
to East Concord, N H.. where he re-
came to West Brattleboro and bought,
with a Mr. Potter, the tannery owned
by jeremiah and Benjamin Beals, later
owning the entire property. He carried
on a tanning and currying business
there until the tannery was destroyed
by freshet in 1869. The building stood
on the site of the Knight & Walker mill,
which was burned a few years ago.
In 1872 Mr.. Kimball moved to this
village, buying of p. B. Francis an in
terest in the Lawrence watercure es-
tablishment on the south side of Elliot
street, once noted health resort. The
property included what are now known
as the watercure. Van Doom, Russell
and Bushnell buildings. He had charge
of the work of converting the buildings
into tenements and occupied one of
them until 1882. Then he sold his inter-
est to Mr.. Francis and in the summer
of 1888 bought and moved into the old
Tyler homestead on North Main street.
once owned by the late Chief Justice
Royal Tyler, afterwards repairing and
improving the property. While in West
Brattleboro he built the house now &C.
cupied by B. s. Miller
For time Mr. Kimball solicited life
insurance and acquired a wide know
ledge of the people of Windham county.
ne ne united with the Centre Congrega-
tlonal church in 1873. For % years he
served as clerk of the church, and In
the annual meeting on Jan. 49, 1909. he
would nave been reelected had he not
expressed desire to retire from the
once with the completion of a quarter
OF century of service. During his
clerkship 1884 persons became members
of the church. His statistical renorts
We're interesting features of the annual
church meetings. In his last report he
reviewed the whole church history
showing that in the first 45 years of the
churchs existence Is persons were ex-
communicated, while in the period of his
clerKshlp only one was thus dropped
from the list. For 20 years he was the
efficieW clerk of the incorporated school
district No. 2, which includes the high
school, and in the work of that position.
winch included the enumeration of
children of school age, he had expert
ences and acquired information which
formed the basis of many an interesting
N nnA 90
! occasions in the later years of his life
was surprise visit of neighbors. rela-
tives and intimate friends on his 18th
birthday anniversary, when 80 or more
sat down to supper.
Mr.. kimball married Lizzie Atwood
OF Chester in 1873. Besides his wife he
leaves a son by former marriage. r.
p. Kimball of Greenfield. Mass He
leaves four grandchildren, Henry Kim
ball of Springfield, Mass, and Mrs.
Nellie Staples of New York, children of
e. +. kimball, and Ernest Vaughan and
Robert Vaughan of Whitman, Mass,
children of E. p Kimbans sister,
Mrs. Ellen Vaughan. who died about
TWO years ago; also three great
grandchildren. Paul and Mildred, child
rem of Henry Kimball, and Ruth, daugh-
| ter of Mrs. Staples.
While Mr., Kimballs early DAYS at his
| trade both as apprentice and journeyman,
were laborious ones with long hours,
| and human muscle performed all the
work now so largely done by machinery,
| ne always recalled those days with
pleasure, and In his later years of leis-
| ure described with zest and evident en-
joyment the scenes and incidents of the
| primitive life amid which he grew up.
His predominant personal characters
| tic was his unalloyej kindness of heart
| and his undisguised friendly and helpful
| interest in all community affairs, and in
| the life and welfare of those about him.
In 1880 Mr. Kimball administered the
| estate of his longtime friend, the Rev.
| Augustus Chandler, then the editor and
publisher of the Vermont Record and
Farmer of this village. He had charge
! of that papers editorial and business
management for some months, and It
was by his good services that its list
was finally merged with that of The
Phoenix Through this connection he
became "a member of The Phoenix
family" as he was wont to say, and In
all the years since his visits to the office
to bring items of news or for a few
minutes chat on current events, had
been of almost daily occurrence. He was
man of simple and sustaining religious
faith. He found his greatest pleasure In
his home, and his domestic life In the
Well known homestead on North Main
street was ideal
His final Illness. from neuritls may
probably have been induced by fall
which he sustained several weeks
ago, though no serious results were ap.
parent at the time. He suffered severely
In the early part of his Illness but IL
was his great comfort that he could be
cared for by his wife and his son from
Greenfield. and at the last his long life
faded away peacefully and almost i'm
perceptibly.
The funeral was held in the home at
o'clock Tuesday, Rev. Roy M. Hough-
ton. pastor of the Congregational church,
officiating. Many beautiful flowers were
sent by relatives and friends. The burial
took place In the West Brattleboro GEM
etery. and the bearers were r. p. KIM
ball, Henry Kimball, Frank Ware Of
Chester and Irving G. Crosier of Brat
tleboro. Among those who attended the
funeral were Mr.. and Mrs. e. p. KIM
ball and children, Henry Kimball and