Orange

KIMBALL, Robert Jackson

1st Biography of Robert Jackson KIMBALL

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 233-234 
(portrait p 234)

Robert Jackson KIMBALL, of Randolph, was born 16 February 1836 in Randolph 
[Orange County, Vermont], son of Hiram and Jerusha (BRADISH) KIMBALL. His 
ancestors were English and his grandfather and great grandfather both served 
in the Revolutionary War with Col. Samuel B. WEBB's Third Connecticut 
Regiment. His grandfather removed from Pomfret [Windham County], 
Connecticut, to Randolph [Orange County, Vermont] about 1795. The subject 
was educated at the West Randolph Academy and commenced business at the early 
age of thirteen as a newsboy on the Vermont Central Railroad; was afterwards 
telegraph operator and expressman, and has been interested in telegraph and 
railroad enterprises to a considerable extent ever since, and is now director 
of the old Vermont & Boston Telegraph Company. He engaged in banking 
business at Toronto [Province of Quebec], Canada, in 1862, and in 1865 
established a banking house in New York, which still continues as R. J. 
Kimball & Company.

In 1872, owing to a great decline in securities, he was unable to meet his 
engagements in full and settled with his creditors within forty-eight hours 
after his failure by the payment of twenty-five cents on the dollar and 
received his discharge from any further obligation. In 1881 he paid the 
other seventy-five percent together with nine years interest at six percent, 
the whole amounting to many thousands of dollars. He was an aid-de-camp on 
Governor DILLINGHAM's staff, 1888-1890; represented the town of Randolph in 
the state legislature in 1890 and 1891, and served on the committee of ways 
and means, banks, and special joint committee on the World's Columbian 
Exposition, and was consular agent at Toronto in 1864. He is vice president 
of the State Republican League, also the Republican Club at Randolph, and a 
trustee of the State Normal School at Randolph.

For many years Mr. KIMBALL has been a member of the Baptist Church, but his 
liberal support has not been confined to that denomination. He has shown 
his generosity and public spirit in many ways in differing enterprises in 
this native town. He has a home in Brooklyn [Kings County], New York, where 
he was instrumental in forming a flourishing society of Vermonters, of which 
he was made president, and is connected as a trustee in various important 
religious, charitable, and other institutions in that city. He has 
maintained his home in West Randolph since 1864. In 1865 he [Robert Jackson 
KIMBALL] married Martha L., daughter of Charles A. MORSE.



2nd Biography of Robert Jackson KIMBALL

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p 243

Robert Jackson KIMBALL, banker, late of Randolph, was born 16 February 1836 
at Randolph [Orange County], Vermont, son of Hiram and Jerusha (BRADISH) 
KIMBALL, and [Robert Jackson KIMBALL] died 03 October 1903. He was educated 
at the West Randolph Academy. In early life was a telegraph operator and 
expressman, and all through his life had been interested in telegraph and 
railroad enterprises. In 1865 he established a banking house in New York 
City, which still continues as R. J. Kimball & Company, 7 Nassau Street. Was 
a member of the New York Stock Exchange from 1869; Director of People's Trust 
Company, Brooklyn, for several years; and President of the Iowa Central 
Railroad Company. Republican; was aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel on 
the staff of Governor DILLINGHAM, 188-1890; represented Randolph in the state 
Legislature, 1890-1891; vice president of the Republican state league; 
president of the Republican Club of Randolph. Baptist; president of the 
board of trustees Emmanuel Baptist Church, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. 
Was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution; Society of Colonial Wars 
in the State of Vermont; president of the Brooklyn (New York) Society of 
Vermonters, member of the Hamilton Club, Riding and Driving Club, and trustee 
of Arts and Sciences, of Brooklyn. In 1864 Robert Jackson KIMBALL was 
married to [Miss?] Martha L. MORSE in Toronto, Canada. They had three 
children: Clara Louise, Annie Laura, and William Eugene.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly