From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 198, 199
FENNER KIMBALL, one of the prominent business men of Janesville, President of the KIMBALL Hardware Company, and also a member of the firm of THOROUGHGOOD & Co., manufacturers, is a native of North Scituate, Rhode Island, and was born Oct. 6, 1822. He is a descendant of Richard KIMBALL, who came to this country from Ipswich, England, in 1634, and settled at Watertown, Mass. In 1637 he removed to Ipswich, Mass. where he resided during the remainder of his life. A grandson of his settled in Johnston, Rhode Island. His name is supposed to have been Joseph. One of his (Joseph) sons, settled at North Scituate, Rhode Island. His name was Dean; he married Thankfull WILLIAMS, a great-grand-daughter of Roger WILLIAMS, founder of Rhode Island. Jarvis, a son of Dean, married Phebe IRONS, a lineal descendant of Roger WILLIAMS. Dean, son of Jarvis, and father of the subject of this sketch, lived in the city of Providence a large portion of his life, and died there in May, 1875.
Our subject enjoyed but limited advantages for securing an education, for at the age of fourteen years, he entered a cotton mill, where he remained until nineteen years of age, when he entered upon an apprenticeship to the trade of cabinet-making, painting, etc. He was thus articled for two years, receiving as compensation for his services $45 and his board. At the end of twenty-three months, having an opportunity to go to Fall River, Mass., and work as carpenter for $10 per month, he bought the remainder of his time - one month - of his employer for $12, that he might accept the more lucrative position at Fall River. He continued to work at the carpenter's trade for two years, when, in 1845, he left Fall River and went to East Greenwich, R.I., whither in the meantime, his parents had removed. There he engaged in the business of painting, continuing to follow that occupation in Greenwich for eleven years. In the spring of 1856, Mr. KIMBALL came to Rock County, and purchased a farm three miles south of Janesville, in the town of La Prairie. This was his first experience as a farmer since he was fourteen years of age, but he succeeded in the enterprise which he had undertaken, and for nine years lived the life of an agriculturist. At the expiration of that time, he removed with his family to Janesville, but continued to own his farm until 1868. Arriving in this city, he formed a partnership in the furniture and undertaking business with William B. BRITTON, under the firm name of BRITTON & KIMBALL, which connection was continued until July, 1888, when Mr. BRITTON sold out and was succeeded by James HALL, this firm still carrying on the business under the style of KIMBALL & HALL, the interest of Mr. KIMBALL however being under the management of his son, Frank B. Mr. KIMBALL also formed a partnership with E. W. LOWELL, in the hardware business, which was afterward incorporated under the firm name of the KIMBALL Hardware Company, in which our subject holds the office of President. In the firm of THOUROUGHGOOD & Co., manufacturers of cigar boxes and cigar umber, he is also a member.
In early life, Mr. KIMBALL was a supporter of the Democratic party, casting his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk, in 1844; but holding anti-slavery views, when the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, he joined its ranks, and has since voted with that organization. He has held various official positions among which is that of Representative, having represented his district in the State Legislature in 1878. He has been eleven years a member of the County Board, of which body he was made Chairman in 1889. In his religious belief he is a Unitarian. As a business man he ranks among the highest, and has done much toward the advancement of several of the leading business interests of Janesville. His fidelity to duty, his fair dealing and earnest desire to please his customers, has won for him the respect and confidence of all, and Mr. KIMBALL is regarded as a leading citizen of Rock County. [courtesy of sthurner]
FENNER KIMBALL, one of the prominent business men of Janesville, President of the KIMBALL Hardware Company, and also a member of the firm of THOROUGHGOOD & Co., manufacturers, is a native of North Scituate, Rhode Island, and was born Oct. 6, 1822. He is a descendant of Richard KIMBALL, who came to this country from Ipswich, England, in 1634, and settled at Watertown, Mass. In 1637 he removed to Ipswich, Mass. where he resided during the remainder of his life. A grandson of his settled in Johnston, Rhode Island. His name is supposed to have been Joseph. One of his (Joseph) sons, settled at North Scituate, Rhode Island. His name was Dean; he married Thankfull WILLIAMS, a great-grand-daughter of Roger WILLIAMS, founder of Rhode Island. Jarvis, a son of Dean, married Phebe IRONS, a lineal descendant of Roger WILLIAMS. Dean, son of Jarvis, and father of the subject of this sketch, lived in the city of Providence a large portion of his life, and died there in May, 1875.
Our subject enjoyed but limited advantages for securing an education, for at the age of fourteen years, he entered a cotton mill, where he remained until nineteen years of age, when he entered upon an apprenticeship to the trade of cabinet-making, painting, etc. He was thus articled for two years, receiving as compensation for his services $45 and his board. At the end of twenty-three months, having an opportunity to go to Fall River, Mass., and work as carpenter for $10 per month, he bought the remainder of his time - one month - of his employer for $12, that he might accept the more lucrative position at Fall River. He continued to work at the carpenter's trade for two years, when, in 1845, he left Fall River and went to East Greenwich, R.I., whither in the meantime, his parents had removed. There he engaged in the business of painting, continuing to follow that occupation in Greenwich for eleven years. In the spring of 1856, Mr. KIMBALL came to Rock County, and purchased a farm three miles south of Janesville, in the town of La Prairie. This was his first experience as a farmer since he was fourteen years of age, but he succeeded in the enterprise which he had undertaken, and for nine years lived the life of an agriculturist. At the expiration of that time, he removed with his family to Janesville, but continued to own his farm until 1868. Arriving in this city, he formed a partnership in the furniture and undertaking business with William B. BRITTON, under the firm name of BRITTON & KIMBALL, which connection was continued until July, 1888, when Mr. BRITTON sold out and was succeeded by James HALL, this firm still carrying on the business under the style of KIMBALL & HALL, the interest of Mr. KIMBALL however being under the management of his son, Frank B. Mr. KIMBALL also formed a partnership with E. W. LOWELL, in the hardware business, which was afterward incorporated under the firm name of the KIMBALL Hardware Company, in which our subject holds the office of President. In the firm of THOUROUGHGOOD & Co., manufacturers of cigar boxes and cigar umber, he is also a member.
In early life, Mr. KIMBALL was a supporter of the Democratic party, casting his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk, in 1844; but holding anti-slavery views, when the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, he joined its ranks, and has since voted with that organization. He has held various official positions among which is that of Representative, having represented his district in the State Legislature in 1878. He has been eleven years a member of the County Board, of which body he was made Chairman in 1889. In his religious belief he is a Unitarian. As a business man he ranks among the highest, and has done much toward the advancement of several of the leading business interests of Janesville. His fidelity to duty, his fair dealing and earnest desire to please his customers, has won for him the respect and confidence of all, and Mr. KIMBALL is regarded as a leading citizen of Rock County. [courtesy of sthurner]
From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 198, 199
FENNER KIMBALL, one of the prominent business men of Janesville, President of the KIMBALL Hardware Company, and also a member of the firm of THOROUGHGOOD & Co., manufacturers, is a native of North Scituate, Rhode Island, and was born Oct. 6, 1822. He is a descendant of Richard KIMBALL, who came to this country from Ipswich, England, in 1634, and settled at Watertown, Mass. In 1637 he removed to Ipswich, Mass. where he resided during the remainder of his life. A grandson of his settled in Johnston, Rhode Island. His name is supposed to have been Joseph. One of his (Joseph) sons, settled at North Scituate, Rhode Island. His name was Dean; he married Thankfull WILLIAMS, a great-grand-daughter of Roger WILLIAMS, founder of Rhode Island. Jarvis, a son of Dean, married Phebe IRONS, a lineal descendant of Roger WILLIAMS. Dean, son of Jarvis, and father of the subject of this sketch, lived in the city of Providence a large portion of his life, and died there in May, 1875.
Our subject enjoyed but limited advantages for securing an education, for at the age of fourteen years, he entered a cotton mill, where he remained until nineteen years of age, when he entered upon an apprenticeship to the trade of cabinet-making, painting, etc. He was thus articled for two years, receiving as compensation for his services $45 and his board. At the end of twenty-three months, having an opportunity to go to Fall River, Mass., and work as carpenter for $10 per month, he bought the remainder of his time - one month - of his employer for $12, that he might accept the more lucrative position at Fall River. He continued to work at the carpenter's trade for two years, when, in 1845, he left Fall River and went to East Greenwich, R.I., whither in the meantime, his parents had removed. There he engaged in the business of painting, continuing to follow that occupation in Greenwich for eleven years. In the spring of 1856, Mr. KIMBALL came to Rock County, and purchased a farm three miles south of Janesville, in the town of La Prairie. This was his first experience as a farmer since he was fourteen years of age, but he succeeded in the enterprise which he had undertaken, and for nine years lived the life of an agriculturist. At the expiration of that time, he removed with his family to Janesville, but continued to own his farm until 1868. Arriving in this city, he formed a partnership in the furniture and undertaking business with William B. BRITTON, under the firm name of BRITTON & KIMBALL, which connection was continued until July, 1888, when Mr. BRITTON sold out and was succeeded by James HALL, this firm still carrying on the business under the style of KIMBALL & HALL, the interest of Mr. KIMBALL however being under the management of his son, Frank B. Mr. KIMBALL also formed a partnership with E. W. LOWELL, in the hardware business, which was afterward incorporated under the firm name of the KIMBALL Hardware Company, in which our subject holds the office of President. In the firm of THOUROUGHGOOD & Co., manufacturers of cigar boxes and cigar umber, he is also a member.
In early life, Mr. KIMBALL was a supporter of the Democratic party, casting his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk, in 1844; but holding anti-slavery views, when the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, he joined its ranks, and has since voted with that organization. He has held various official positions among which is that of Representative, having represented his district in the State Legislature in 1878. He has been eleven years a member of the County Board, of which body he was made Chairman in 1889. In his religious belief he is a Unitarian. As a business man he ranks among the highest, and has done much toward the advancement of several of the leading business interests of Janesville. His fidelity to duty, his fair dealing and earnest desire to please his customers, has won for him the respect and confidence of all, and Mr. KIMBALL is regarded as a leading citizen of Rock County. [courtesy of sthurner]
FENNER KIMBALL, one of the prominent business men of Janesville, President of the KIMBALL Hardware Company, and also a member of the firm of THOROUGHGOOD & Co., manufacturers, is a native of North Scituate, Rhode Island, and was born Oct. 6, 1822. He is a descendant of Richard KIMBALL, who came to this country from Ipswich, England, in 1634, and settled at Watertown, Mass. In 1637 he removed to Ipswich, Mass. where he resided during the remainder of his life. A grandson of his settled in Johnston, Rhode Island. His name is supposed to have been Joseph. One of his (Joseph) sons, settled at North Scituate, Rhode Island. His name was Dean; he married Thankfull WILLIAMS, a great-grand-daughter of Roger WILLIAMS, founder of Rhode Island. Jarvis, a son of Dean, married Phebe IRONS, a lineal descendant of Roger WILLIAMS. Dean, son of Jarvis, and father of the subject of this sketch, lived in the city of Providence a large portion of his life, and died there in May, 1875.
Our subject enjoyed but limited advantages for securing an education, for at the age of fourteen years, he entered a cotton mill, where he remained until nineteen years of age, when he entered upon an apprenticeship to the trade of cabinet-making, painting, etc. He was thus articled for two years, receiving as compensation for his services $45 and his board. At the end of twenty-three months, having an opportunity to go to Fall River, Mass., and work as carpenter for $10 per month, he bought the remainder of his time - one month - of his employer for $12, that he might accept the more lucrative position at Fall River. He continued to work at the carpenter's trade for two years, when, in 1845, he left Fall River and went to East Greenwich, R.I., whither in the meantime, his parents had removed. There he engaged in the business of painting, continuing to follow that occupation in Greenwich for eleven years. In the spring of 1856, Mr. KIMBALL came to Rock County, and purchased a farm three miles south of Janesville, in the town of La Prairie. This was his first experience as a farmer since he was fourteen years of age, but he succeeded in the enterprise which he had undertaken, and for nine years lived the life of an agriculturist. At the expiration of that time, he removed with his family to Janesville, but continued to own his farm until 1868. Arriving in this city, he formed a partnership in the furniture and undertaking business with William B. BRITTON, under the firm name of BRITTON & KIMBALL, which connection was continued until July, 1888, when Mr. BRITTON sold out and was succeeded by James HALL, this firm still carrying on the business under the style of KIMBALL & HALL, the interest of Mr. KIMBALL however being under the management of his son, Frank B. Mr. KIMBALL also formed a partnership with E. W. LOWELL, in the hardware business, which was afterward incorporated under the firm name of the KIMBALL Hardware Company, in which our subject holds the office of President. In the firm of THOUROUGHGOOD & Co., manufacturers of cigar boxes and cigar umber, he is also a member.
In early life, Mr. KIMBALL was a supporter of the Democratic party, casting his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk, in 1844; but holding anti-slavery views, when the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, he joined its ranks, and has since voted with that organization. He has held various official positions among which is that of Representative, having represented his district in the State Legislature in 1878. He has been eleven years a member of the County Board, of which body he was made Chairman in 1889. In his religious belief he is a Unitarian. As a business man he ranks among the highest, and has done much toward the advancement of several of the leading business interests of Janesville. His fidelity to duty, his fair dealing and earnest desire to please his customers, has won for him the respect and confidence of all, and Mr. KIMBALL is regarded as a leading citizen of Rock County. [courtesy of sthurner]
Family Members
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