Tehama-San Francisco-Sacramento County CA Archives Biographies.....Kimball, Gorham Gates 1838 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 18, 2007, 11:10 pm Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) MAJOR GORHAM GATES KIMBALL is one of the most prominent of the business men of the city of Red Bluff, Tehama County, California. He was born in the town of Calais, Washington County, Maine, April 5, 1838. His father, James G. Kimball, was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Soon after the family removed to Newburyport. From there, in 1820, he went to Calais, Maine, where he married Emeline Gates, a daughter of Solomon Gates, one of the founders of the town of Calais. Our subject's father was a strict Congregationalist, and followed mercantile pursuits all his life. He was the son of James Kimball, son of Nathaniel, son of John, son of Caleb, son of Caleb, Sr., son of Richard Kimball, who, with his wife, Ursula, and six children, came from England in the ship Elizabeth, in 1634, lived in Watertown a few years and removed to Ipswich, where four other children were born to them. In 1605 Lord Viscount Kimball, of London, England, received as a seal of royal favor from his government the following coat of arms which descends to the name and family: "He beareth argent, an eagle displayed between two diamonds, azure, by the name of Kimball, granted arms 1605." An attested copy of this coat of arms was taken from heraldry and sent to Boston on the 7th of November, 1799. This copy is now in the possession of Mr. G. G. Kimball, he having received it from his father. It has been handed down through eight generations. It is a rare historical relic of the family and is highly prized by Mr. Kimball. He is the one hundred and eighty-second child and of the eighth generation born in the United States of America. No better ancestry could be given to a man than to be the seventh generation of hardy, liberty-loving New Englanders, reared to economy, honesty and industry, reared in the faith of the Puritans and reared in the love of liberty. Such are the sons New England has sent to the West. Their power for good has been felt in every State in the Union, and they have led the overland march of Empire until at last they have brought their enterprise to the shores of the great Pacific; and none have more ability to develop the resources of this great State than they. Mr. Kimball spent his boyhood in his native town and attended the common schools and the academy. Having a natural love for trade, in 1855, when only seventeen years of age, he prevailed upon his father to allow him to leave school and engage in business. He went to Boston, made his own purchase and embarked in his first business enterprise, and for two years was a popular young merchant in his native town. The glowing accounts of the gold mines on the Pacific coast filled him with interest and a desire for a new and wider field in which to operate. When he made known his desires the family gave their consent with great reluctance. His father took the business from him, assumed the debts, and furnished him the money with which to come to California. Also, to provide against a contingency, he gave him a draft of $600 to be used if sick or to pay his passage home, fully expecting to see him return disgusted with his folly. However, the young man exhibited his spirit and character by afterward returning with his thanks the canceled and unused draft. Mr. Kimball came to California with a number of other young men of Calais, whose names he takes pleasure in recording. They were: Thomas Horton, Daniel Smith, Leonard McAllister, Parker Hinkley and James Simpson, M. D. The latter has attained prominence as a physician in San Francisco. They went together to New York city. All agreed to start at "bed rock" by taking steerage passage. They made the Atlantic voyage in the Moses Taylor, and on the Pacific ocean they took passage in the Golden Gate. The journey was one of great risk and peril. The ship was packed with passengers and the small-pox broke out among them. Those on board who were victims to the scourge were consigned to a watery grave. It created a great panic among the passengers, but was fortunately checked. The ship subsequently caught fire and caused a fearful fright, but the fire was gotten under control, and they were all safely landed at San Francisco in October, 1857. Upon reaching California Mr. Kimball had $35 of his money left. His first work was piling lumber for Mr. Z. B. Haywood, a lumber dealer in San Francisco and an old friend of his father, to whom he had a letter. His wages were $2.50 per day. The young men kept "bachelors' hall" in a house on Pacific street, the basement being given over to midnight orgies and revelry as a dance house. While working with Mr. Haywood he visited his aunt, who was the wife of General Alfred Redington. The General was conducting the business of the California Steam Navigation Company at Sacramento, and was taking a prominent part in California affairs. He offered Mr. Kimball work. He, however, refused to accept it and returned to San Francisco, as he had not tired of that city. He then purchased a one-horse dray and the good will of the business from a man who was homesick and wished to return to the States; so he became a drayman and continued it for several months, clearing $100 per month. The former owner returned and bought back the dray from Mr. Kimball. At this time he accepted a position from General Redington as porter on one of the Navigation Company's steamers. He attended to his duties faithfully. His affable manners and good nature made him many friends, and the four bits and even larger coins came in freely; so that often he had twenty dollars at the end of a day's work. He was soon promoted to steward and afterward to clerk, and ran on all the boats of the company from Sacramento to Red Bluff, then the head of navigation on the Sacramento River. While thus engaged he made the acquaintance of many ladies and gentlemen, who still remember the efficient clerk, Gorham Kimball, of those early days of river transportation. During all this time, which brings us down to 1860, Mr. Kimball enjoyed the advantages of being an inmate of General Redington's home, which was presided over by his aunt, with whom he was a favorite and to whose kind influence for good he feels that he owes much. His health became impaired while steam boating, and he regained it by two, seasons' hunting and fishing on the Coast Range. His next business venture was a partnership with General Redington in the sheep business. They bought 700 head of sheep at $5.50 apiece. The price was high and the undertaking a bold one for a man without experience. The well-dressed steamboat clerk donned overalls and flannel shirt, became a shepherd, managed the business personally, experienced the mysteries of sheep-raising, successfully treated the "scab," fought off the coyotes, withstood the storms of winter and the heat and losses of summer and successfully followed the business with praiseworthy persistency for two years. He finally drove his sheep through Idaho to the Missouri the journey being attended with much hardship. He sold some of the sheep and traded a part for mules which he brought back and sold in Sacramento, getting out of the business with a handsome profit. The debts of the firm were paid off and Mr. Kimball loaned what money he had left to a friend who needed financial aid. This placed him back where he was when he first came to the State, out of money. For one year Mr. Kimball bought mutton sheep and drove to Virginia City, where he received a fair market price. The mines were being worked at that place and he dealt with the miners direct. Then for a short time he returned to steam boating, but again his health failed and his friend, Dr. Simpson, advised him to leave the river and engage in farming. He came to Tehama County and engaged in real-estate transactions. He studied the laws of the United States and the State governments, and interested himself in the location and purchase of government lands, being very successful and acquiring large tracts of cheap but valuable lands. In 1870 he formed a partnership with Mr. J. C. Tyler, and again engaged in the sheep business. They bought out Mr. Beers Guyre, of Tehama County, giving him $3 each for 2,600 ewes. Mr. Kimball took the management of the business and it grew to large dimensions. They made extensive additions to their lands, and have been instrumental in developing this industry in Tehama and Shasta counties. In 1875 Mr. Kimball formed a copartnership with Major L. S. Welton, in the mercantile business. Mr. Welton retired from the business in 1876 and the firm of Cone & Kimball was formed. The latter took the active management of the business, for which he has shown eminent fitness, as he is a born merchant. They largely increased their capital and became the leading merchants and wheat and wool buyers of Northern California. After several years occupying the old store which they bought when they began business, they, in 1886, built their present beautiful store, 100x115 feet, two stories and a basement, on the corner of Main and Walnut streets, in the business center of the town. The structure is an imposing and grand one, funished [sic] with a tower in which they have placed a town-clock. The building and its contents are a credit to the builders and owners and a most valuable acquisition to the city. They have also built three large warehouses on the railroad track, in which to handle their grain and wool. They are owners of a large branch store at Vina, where they are handling large quantities of dried fruit. Mr. Kimball owns several tracts of valuable land and continues to raise sheep and grain. In politics he has always been a Republican, and has been an active member of the Republican State Central Committee for years. In 1882 he was nominated for member of the State Board of Equalization and in his district ran far ahead of his ticket. He has taken a deep interest in local affairs, and never fails to aid in any enterprise that he thinks will promote the interests of his town. He has held the office of President of the Board of Trustees of the city, President of the Board of Trade, and is now President of the Agricultural Society of Tehama County. Upon his own request, Major Kimball was placed upon the retired list of the National Guard of California, with the rank of Major. Born under a lucky star, or, more likely, endowed with unusual executive ability, prosperity attends him in all his undertakings. In religious views his preference is given to the Congregational Church, the church in which he was reared, although he is not a member. The different churches of Red Bluff have received liberal aid from him. He respects the laws of God and man, and believes in that broad religion which feeds the hungry and clothes the naked and brings to the service of a friend absolute fidelity. Mr. Kimball was married, in 1875, to Mrs. Agnes Pond, a native of Philadelphia. Mrs. Kimball is an estimable lady and an active member of the Presbyterian Church, of which her husband is one of the trustees. Their home is a most delightful rose and vine embowered one. The lawn comprises three acres and is dotted over with choice flowers, shrubs and trees of various kinds. Its every surrounding evinces the taste and refinement of the occupants. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball are justly proud of their beautiful home, and they take a pleasure in sharing it with their hosts of friends. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/tehama/bios/kimball757gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 12.6 Kb