Francis Augustus Kimball was born in Contoocook, N. H., January 26, 1832, the son of Hannah Little and Asa Kimball, and grandson of Friend Little, a private in N. H. troops. He was raised on a farm, and became a carpenter and merchant in Contoocook.
He married Sarah, daughter of Zebulon Currier of Warner, N. H., April 19, 1857. They had no children
Frank Kimball came to California with his brothers, Warren and Levi about 1961. First working in construction in Oakland, they invested in land in southern California and the National Ranch, the land that was to become National City, was begun. To promote their new city, the Kimball brothers established a lumberyard, a wood mill and brick kilns to supply materials for new homes and barns. In February of 1870, they set aside land for a cemetery and thus La Vista was begun. It became apparent that a school was also needed so Frank Kimball sent for Elizabeth Starr, a teacher from San Francisco and then built a schoolhouse out of his own funds. Frank Kimball became a very wealthy man and in 1888 reported a net worth of $1.4 million. However, by 1897, due to a number of failed commercial interests he had lost it all and at the age of 70 was doing manual labor to support himself and his wife. Towards the end of his life he wrote in his diary, "I spent the best years of my life trying to make those around me happier and the result is unsatisfactory. I am confronted at every step by ungrateful people, but I look back and thank God I have lived. As far as I know, I have done my best."
He married Sarah, daughter of Zebulon Currier of Warner, N. H., April 19, 1857. They had no children
Frank Kimball came to California with his brothers, Warren and Levi about 1961. First working in construction in Oakland, they invested in land in southern California and the National Ranch, the land that was to become National City, was begun. To promote their new city, the Kimball brothers established a lumberyard, a wood mill and brick kilns to supply materials for new homes and barns. In February of 1870, they set aside land for a cemetery and thus La Vista was begun. It became apparent that a school was also needed so Frank Kimball sent for Elizabeth Starr, a teacher from San Francisco and then built a schoolhouse out of his own funds. Frank Kimball became a very wealthy man and in 1888 reported a net worth of $1.4 million. However, by 1897, due to a number of failed commercial interests he had lost it all and at the age of 70 was doing manual labor to support himself and his wife. Towards the end of his life he wrote in his diary, "I spent the best years of my life trying to make those around me happier and the result is unsatisfactory. I am confronted at every step by ungrateful people, but I look back and thank God I have lived. As far as I know, I have done my best."
Francis Augustus Kimball was born in Contoocook, N. H., January 26, 1832, the son of Hannah Little and Asa Kimball, and grandson of Friend Little, a private in N. H. troops. He was raised on a farm, and became a carpenter and merchant in Contoocook.
He married Sarah, daughter of Zebulon Currier of Warner, N. H., April 19, 1857. They had no children
Frank Kimball came to California with his brothers, Warren and Levi about 1961. First working in construction in Oakland, they invested in land in southern California and the National Ranch, the land that was to become National City, was begun. To promote their new city, the Kimball brothers established a lumberyard, a wood mill and brick kilns to supply materials for new homes and barns. In February of 1870, they set aside land for a cemetery and thus La Vista was begun. It became apparent that a school was also needed so Frank Kimball sent for Elizabeth Starr, a teacher from San Francisco and then built a schoolhouse out of his own funds. Frank Kimball became a very wealthy man and in 1888 reported a net worth of $1.4 million. However, by 1897, due to a number of failed commercial interests he had lost it all and at the age of 70 was doing manual labor to support himself and his wife. Towards the end of his life he wrote in his diary, "I spent the best years of my life trying to make those around me happier and the result is unsatisfactory. I am confronted at every step by ungrateful people, but I look back and thank God I have lived. As far as I know, I have done my best."
He married Sarah, daughter of Zebulon Currier of Warner, N. H., April 19, 1857. They had no children
Frank Kimball came to California with his brothers, Warren and Levi about 1961. First working in construction in Oakland, they invested in land in southern California and the National Ranch, the land that was to become National City, was begun. To promote their new city, the Kimball brothers established a lumberyard, a wood mill and brick kilns to supply materials for new homes and barns. In February of 1870, they set aside land for a cemetery and thus La Vista was begun. It became apparent that a school was also needed so Frank Kimball sent for Elizabeth Starr, a teacher from San Francisco and then built a schoolhouse out of his own funds. Frank Kimball became a very wealthy man and in 1888 reported a net worth of $1.4 million. However, by 1897, due to a number of failed commercial interests he had lost it all and at the age of 70 was doing manual labor to support himself and his wife. Towards the end of his life he wrote in his diary, "I spent the best years of my life trying to make those around me happier and the result is unsatisfactory. I am confronted at every step by ungrateful people, but I look back and thank God I have lived. As far as I know, I have done my best."
