Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 550.

C. N. Kimball [Editor inserted: Charles N. Kimball]

C. N. Kimball is one of the prominent ranchers of Saticoy, Ventura County, California. He was born at West Boxford, Essex County, Massachusetts, September 17, 1843. His father, C. F. Kimball, was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1818. He was a shoemaker and a farmer. Mrs. Kimball, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was nee Hannah Tyler, born in Boxford, Massachusetts, in 1817. She was a daughter of Flint Tyler, a native of the State of Vermont. C. N. Kimball was the second of a family of seven children, all of whom are living at this writing. He was reared and educated in his native place, and his first work was as a machinist. His country's claim in its time of need caused him to enlist, and he was placed in unattached service on the coast of his native State, doing duty in the fortifications. he was mustered out on the 4th of July, 1865. Then for two years he worked in the factories of Lynn and Haverhill, engaged in the manufacture of shoes.

December 31, 1867, Mr. Kimball sailed from New York for California, at which place he arrived January 22, 1868. He accepted a position on the Central Pacific Railroad, remaining in railroad employ nine months. On Christmas of that year he came to Southern California, and bought a band a sheep which he took to Eastern Nevada and traded for a ranch in Lamoille Valley. He there engaged in farming, raising potatoes and barley; and from that place he went to Eureka, same State, where he burned charcoal for the smelting furnaces. After he had been there a year and a half he was taken sick with pneumonia. At that time he returned to California and worked near Gilroy two years. In 1876 he came to his present locality and purchased seventy-five acres of land. Here he has built a tasteful home and planted trees and flowers, making a very attractive place. In farm products his specialty is Lima beans, which proves to be a bonanza for many of the farmers of Saticoy. Mr. Kimball's crop last year averaged 1,600 pounds to the acre, the price being from three to four and a half cents.

Mr. Kimball was married in February, 1884, to Miss Carry Duval, a native of the State of Maine, and a daughter of E. A. Duval, a prominent citizen of Saticoy, whose history appears in this book. One child, a daughter, born October 4, 1888, died November 4, 1889. Mrs. Kimball is a member of the Union Church. In political views Mr. Kimball is a Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., is a good citizen and a man of worth and integrity.

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Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 274.

G. E. Kilson [Editor inserted: George E. Kilson]

G. E. Kilson was born in Iowa, January 29, 1857. His parents, Lewis and Caroline Kilson, were natives of Bergen, Norway. They emigrated to America in September, 1838, and went to Cincinnati, the journey at that time being a most arduous one. They soon afterward settled in Adams County, Illinois, on a farm they bought and improved. Later, they sold it and moved to Wisconsin, and, after a year spent in that State, removed, in 1855, to Butler County, Iowa. They entered 240 acres of land for a homestead, and this they developed into a fine farm. They built a nice home, and there resided until their deaths, which occurred, the mother's on November 10, 1881, and the father's November 28, 1889.

The subject of this sketch was the fifth of a family of seven children. He was reared in Bristow, Butler County, Iowa, and received his education in the public schools of that town. He assisted his father on the farm until the age of twenty-one years. At that time he came to California to carve his own destiny in the land that offers so many inducements to the worthy citizen, arriving in the Golden State February 7, 1882. He had already obtained some knowledge of telegraphy, and his first move was to finish learning that business, at Pino, Placer County. He was afterward sent to Arizona and at different times had charge of several stations: was three months at Yuma, one year at Dragoon Summit, the highest point on the Souther Pacific Railroad, and was two years at Nelson.

Mr. Kilson was married to Miss Laura F. Williams, December 17, 1886. She is a native of California. From nelson Mr. Kilson moved to Saticoy on the 20th of November, 1887. Here he has the position of ticket and station agent. He is an active and capable business man, and at once became identified with the best interests of Saticoy; has bought property and built a neat and pleasant home, where he resides with his family. Mr. and Mrs. Kilson have two children: Lewis, born at Nelson, and Elmer, at Saticoy.

In his political views, Mr. Kilson is a Republican. He is a member of the K. of P., Eden Lodge, No. 101, at Nelson, Butte County, California.

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Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.