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Alonzo Kimball
(1808 - 1900)
Mayor Alonzo Kimball 1871, 1873
Alonzo Kimball was born November 29, 1808, in the Town of Le Ray, Jefferson County, NY, the son of Ruel and Hannah (Mather) Kimball and was the fifth of a family of twelve children, most of whom reached old age and five of whom celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries.
He was reared on a farm but resolved to a higher education and worked his way through Union College, Schenectady, NY, graduating in 1836. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living graduate of the college.
Alonzo then entered the Andover Theological Seminary intending to study for the ministry but gave it up due to his health. He then took to teaching and was Principal of the Academy at Lee Mass when he met Sarah Weston, daughter of Rev. Isaiah Weston, and on October 1, 1840, they were married. They had six children: Mary C., Alonzo Weston, Charles T., Mather D., Sarah, and William Dwight.
He moved to Milwaukee in 1847 where he opened a general merchandise store in partnership with his brother-in-law. He moved to Green Bay on May 22, 1849, and engaged in teaching school in a building which was located where St Willebrord's Church now stands. He was in the general store business for several years, and in 1852, he started a hardware business which he ran until his death.
Junction Hotel located on the corner of Broadway and Mason Street, photo 1890.
He held positions of mayor and alderman and was a member of the school board for many terms. He was also treasurer of the committee in charge of the distribution of the funds when the Peshtigo Fire Relief Committee was formed. Alonzo Kimball was Postmaster from January 17, 1877 to December 18, 1884.
Interesting note: In the 1870 Census Alonzo listed his real estate value at $14,000 which in 2006 dollars is $223,114 and his personal estate as $12,000 which in 2006 dollars is $191,241.
Read about
life in the 1880s
Alonzo Kimball died in 1900. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.