Résumé

Principal, William D. Kimball, Architect, Milwaukee, WI, c. 1872. In 1891, Kimball practiced in Room #45 of the Colby and Abbot Building in Milwaukee. (See Wright's Business Directory of the City of Milwaukee for 1891, p. 985.) Between 1895 and 1899, Kimball maintained an office in Room #64 of the same building. (See Milwaukee, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1895, p. 1067 and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1899, p. 514.)

Partner, [H.N.] Wilson and Kimball, Architects, Minneapolis, MN, c. 1883. In 1883, Wilson and Kimball had an office at 408 Nicollet Avenue in Central Minneapolis. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1883, p. 622.)

Principal, William D. Kimball, Architect, Minneapolis, MN, c. 1884-c. 1887 . Kimball maintained his practicei in the previous Wilson and Kimball office at 408 Nicollet. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1884, p. 375.) He occupied Room #6 at 408 Nicollet in 1885. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1885, p. 435.) KImball moved his practice to Room #14 of the Collom Block in 1886. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1886, p. 454.) He had an office at 27 South 4th Street in 1887. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1887, p. 558,)

Periodic moves by an architect to new offices can suggest some financial instability of his or her practice. The three moves between 1885 and 1887 by Kimball in Minneapolis may have reflected his financial difficulties.

Draftsman, Herzog Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, MN, 1888. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1888, p. 785.) His practice may have declined in later years in Minneapolis, as he worked for the Herzog Manufacturing Company as a Draftsman in 1888. In 1886, an "E.A. Kimball," perhaps a relative, also worked at the Herzog Manufacturing Company as a Draftsman, and it is possible that he assisted William to obtain work at the same place soon thereafter. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1886, p. 454.)

Principal, W.D. Kimball, Architect, Seattle, WA. In 03/1901, Kimball had an office in the Pioneer Building's Room #518. (See Classified Ad, Seattle Times, 03/25/1901, p. 15.) He had an office in Room #313 of the New York Block in 1902. (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company Seattle City Directory, 1902, p. 752.) By 1904, Kimball had moved to an office in Room #313 of the New York Building in Seattle. (See Kimball classified advertisement, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 06/12/1904, p. 6.)

Polk's Seattle Directory Company Seattle City Directory, 1904, (p. 752) indicated that Kimball had also become Vice-president of the Independent Telephone Company.

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Washington Chapter, Seattle, WA, 1906-1907.

Chair, AIA, Washington Chapter, Committee on Papers, Seattle, WA, 1906-1907. Other members of this committee included Augustus W. Gould (1871-1922) and R.C. Kerr. (See "Washington State Chapter A.I.A.," American Architect and Building News, 01/06/1906, p. vii. )

Relocation

William Donaldson Kimball was born in the lakefront city of Kenosha, WI, 40 miles south of the expanding metropolis, Milwaukee, nearby to the Illinois border and located 66 miles north of Chicago. He grew up in Kenosha, where his family had deep roots, his father having been a pioneer in the city. He was listed living with his parents and four siblings in Kenosha's Ward 1 in the 1860 US Census. At this time, his father Julius H. Kimball worked as a banker in town, and had an estate worth $15,000. Also living with William's family was his paternal grandmother Caroline Kimball and two servants, Mary Quigley (born c. 1825 in Ireland) and Margaret Quigley (born c. 1843 in Ireland). Mary maintained an estate of about $3,000, according to the census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Kenosha Ward 1, Kenosha, Wisconsin; Page: 298, accessed 05/11/2021.)

WIlliam D. Kimball's mother Camilla died when he was about 17, in either late 1867 or very early 1868. The 1870 US Census indicated that William owned $7,000 worth of real estate, as did each of his siblings, possibly a disbursement from his mother's will. She and her family owned a number of parcels of land in Baltimore. Additionally, the census also recorded that Julius H. Kimball owned property with a value of about $40,000. So, by the standards of the time, the Kimballs were quite comfortable. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Kenosha Ward 1, Kenosha, Wisconsin; Roll: M593_1720; Page: 205B, accessed 05/11/2021.)

After Camilla's death, Julius remarried another woman from Maryland, Emily Nelson Maulsby, also from a well-heeled family. About 25 years younger that Julius, she bore him seven children, creating a large household.

Kimball lived in Milwaukee, WI, by 1872, where he practiced architecture. In that year, he resided at 531 Cass Street in Milwaukee. (See Milwaukee, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1872, p. 172.).

In 1880, the Kimballs lived on Prairie Avenue in Kenosha with his family, according to the US Census. His father worked as the superintendent of a local gas plant. Evidently, they owned a large residence, as fifteen people lived there when the census was taken. At this time, William lived with his father, step-mother, siblings Henry, George, Richard, and Catherine and half-siblings Caroline, Maulsby, Emily, Anna and Roger. Additionally, his paternal grandmother Caroline Kimball (born c. 1798 in PA), and likely a cousin, Katie Swift, (born c. 1865 in WI) also lived in the Prairie Avenue house. (Katie Swift was listed as a "servant" in the 1880 Census, but given her last name, it is quite possible that she was a relation.) Finally, the family did employ at least one household staff member, Sarah Sullivan, (born c. 1862 in WI). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Kenosha, Kenosha, Wisconsin; Roll: 1431; Page: 23A; Enumeration District: 076, accessed 05/10/2021.)

Newly married, Kimball and his wife Jean moved to Minneapolis by about 1882. Between 1883 and 1884, they resided at 1826 4th Avenue South in that city. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1883, p. 356 and Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1884, p. 375.) Their child Ashley was born here in 1888. They remained in MN until about 1890, when they returned to Milwaukee, where he again set up an independent architectural practice. The Kimballs moved to 1603 Clinton Avenue in the Stevens Square neighborhood by 1885. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1885, p. 435.) By 1886, they relocated again to 1619 Mt. Curve Avenue on the southeast corner of Mt. Curve Avenue and Irving Avenue South, and remained here in their last year in Minneapolis in 1890. (See Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1886, p. 454 and Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1890, p. 712.)

He relocated to Seattle, WA, by 1901. In his first year in the city, he boarded at 1200 Marion Street, in the city's First Hill neighborhood. (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company Seattle City Directory, 1901, p. 686.) The following year, Kimball lived at 520 Broadway, also in First Hill. (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company Seattle City Directory, 1902, p. 752.) By 1904, with his acceptance of the job as Vice-president of the Independent Telephone Company, Kimball moved into a residence at 527 Harvard Avenue North in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company Seattle City Directory, 1904, p. 752.) He and his family rented Apartment #F at 1220 Boylston Avenue in 1906. (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company Seattle City Directory, 1906, p. 679.) His six years in Seattle were marked by frequent household moves.

Kimball died in Seattle on 12/30/1907. According to an obituary, Kimball died of heart disease. He and his wife were buried in her parents' plot at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee.

Parents

His father was Julius Henry Kimball (born 10/1818 in Montreal, QC, Canada-d. 01/26/1903 in Kenosha, WI), an early resident of Kenosha, WI, who became, by the time of his death in 1903, one of the wealthiest men in the city. The 1870 US Census listed his profession as "Gentleman," and indicated that someone in the household owned approximately $40,000 of real estate. Julius H. Kimball arrived in Kenosha in 06/1837, when the settlement was known as "Southport." His father had arrived a year earlier from Canada, and had purchased a land claim on which he built a log cabin. During his lifetime, Julius had worked as a clerk, farmer, builder, banker and real estate investor. He had invested in banks, railroads and the telegraph, making good money but not astronomical sums. His hometown newspaper, the Kenosha News, summarized his life: "Few men in Kenosha have been so universally known as J.H. Kimball and he has been closely associated with the development of the city in the past sixty-six years.”(See “J.H. Kimball Dead,” Kenosha News, vol. 9, no. 80, 01/26/1903, p. 1.) The Topeka State Journal added in its obituary: “Julius Henry Kimball, a pioneer and one of Kenosha’s wealthiest citizens, died at this residence Monday morning, aged 84 years. Mr. Kimball was almost the oldest of the pioneers. His father settled here in 1836, took up a section of land and built a log house. His son followed him next year, coming to Milwaukee by boat and then staging to Southport. From then until the day of his death he resided here and became wealthy, always keeping the home which his father erected to follow the old log house. In this log house he lived over 60 years, and it is a notable fact that it was never closed for the duties of hospitality during all that time.” (See “Wisconsin Pioneer Dead,” Topeka State Journal, 01/29/1903, p. 3.) Interestingly, short obituaries on J.H. Kimball's death appeared in newspapers all across the State of Wisconsin, the Upper Midwest and the Plains States.

J.H. Kimball was an avid yachtsman, and was also called an artist and musician in some obituaries.(See "Death of Julius H. Kimball," Appleton Post, 01/29/1903, p. 8.) He left an estate of more than $100,000 to his second wife. One account said: "The will of Julius H. Kimball was filed for probate in Kenosha. The will disposes of property estimated to be worth $100,000, and all of it is left to the widow. By this will four children of the decessed by a former marriage are cut off, and they probably wil contest the will." (See "All Over the State," Darlington Democrat, 02/19/1903, p. 3.) Children by his former marriage did not contest the will.

Willias's mother was Julius's first wife Camilla Almira Hammond Donaldson (born 1821 in Baltimore, MD-d. c. 1868 in Kenosha, WI), born to a wealthy, land-owning family. According to Camilla's will, she owned almost $14,000 worth of real estate in her native Baltimore. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Wisconsin, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1800-1987 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2015. Original data:Wisconsin County, District and Probate Courts, accessed 05/10/2021.) (Various spellings have been made of Camilla's first middle name in various documents, including "Almina," and "Almeria.")

Camilla and Julius had six children: William Donaldson Kimball, Henry Swift Kimball (born 1855 in Kenosha, WI-d. 11/25/1926 in Woodbury, IA), George T. Kimball (born c. 1858 in Kenosha, WI), Richard Stewart Kimball (born 1859 in Kenosha, WI-d. 1917 in Kenosha, WI), and Catherine Kimball (born c. 1862 in Kenosha, WI).

After Camilla's death, he wed Emily Nelson Maulsby (born 03/31/1845 in Frederick, MD-d. 05/05/1904 in Kenosha, WI) in 1870, with whom he had seven more children: Caroline Swift Kimball Rowe (born 1873 in Kenosha, WI-d. 04/03/1933 in Kent, England), Maulsby Kimball (born 10/24/1874 in Kenosha, WI-d. 05/18/1958 in Buffalo, NY), Emily Conti Kimball Forrest (born c. 1876 in Kenosha, WI), Anna M. Kimball (born c. 1878 in Kenosha, WI), Roger Nelson Kimball, Sr., (born 07/01/1879 in Kenosha, WI-d. 04/03/1934 in Kenosha, WI), John Ritchie Kimball (born 02/12/1881 in Kenosha, WI-d. 07/28/1958 in Williamstown, MA), and Norman Captive Kimball (born 10/03/1887 in Kenosha, WI-d. 1931 in Madison, WI).

WIlliam D. Kimball was only about six years younger than his step-mother Emily. Her family, like that of Camilla's, came from Maryland, and was also well-to-do. The wedding announcement of his half-sister, Emily, to the Chicago lawyer William S. Forrest, stated in 1896: "Miss Kimball comes of a blue-blooded race of Americans. She was a granddaughter of the late Col. William P. Maulsby, chief-justice of Maryland, and a great-granddaughter of Gen. Roger Nelson of revolutionary fame." (See "Kenosha Belle Weds," Watertown News, 07/15/1896, p. 6.) Nelson, who died in 1815, served in the Revolutionary War and reportedly had received 16 wounds in battle. (See "Mrs. Caroline S. Kimball Rowe," Lineage Book of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, Volume XI, Mary Jane Seymour, “Historian General,” ed., [Washington, DC: Daughters of the American Revolution, 1900], p. 112.)

By 1900, tracing lineage back to the Revolutionary War was very important for upper-middle-class Euro-Americans of Anglo-Saxon ancestry, serving as a great mark of distinction. To some extent, this intensified after America's Centennial celebration in 1876, as Americans became more aware of the nation's history and its rising economic status globally. Organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution became particularly potent at a time of increased immigration from places other than Northern Europe. Immigrant waves of Southern Europeans, Eastern European Christians and Jews and Asians during the last quarter of the nineteenth century, created something of a backlash by the already established immigrants from England, Ireland, France, Germany and Scandinavia, who wanted to demarcate themselves from the hordes of vulgar newcomers.

Spouse

He wed Jean Lansing Ashley (born 06/29/1855 in Syracuse, NY-d. 01/25/1914 in Seattle, WA) in Milwaukee, WI, on 06/20/1880. (See Ancestry.com, source Citation Milwaukee Public Library; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Milwaukee Vital Records; Call Number: 929.3, accessed 03/01/2021. The Wisconsin Marriage Index listed his marriage as occurring on 06/20/1881. See Ancestry.com, Source Information, Wisconsin, U.S., Marriage Index, 1820-1907 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2000, accessed 05/11/2021.)

Her father was the Reverend William Bliss Ashley (born 07/02/1811-d. 04/28/1893 in Milwaukee, WI) and Anne B. Rackett(born 10/29/1817-d. 04/09/1900 in Milwaukee, WI)

Children

They had at least one child, Ashley Kimball (born 07/16/1888 in Minneapolis, MN). (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Minnesota, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 03/01/2021.)

Biographical Notes

Kimball applied for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution on 10/14/1886. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Volume: 19 Source Information, U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 03/01/2021.) He was made a member of the Sons of the Revolution in Milwaukee, WI, in 10/1896. (See "Passed Good Resolutions," Kenosha News, 10/15/1896, p. 2.)

• Seattle, WA (Architect's Death)
  Seattle, WA 98104

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• Kenosha, WI (Architect's Birth)
  Kenosha, WI 53140

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