Wikipedia

User:SDPLPauline/Draft: Frank A. Kimball

< User:SDPLPauline
For other uses, see Frank Kimball (disambiguation).
Frank A. Kimball
Portrait of Frank Augustus Kimball, about 1897
Born
Francis Augustus Kimball

(1832-01-26)January 26, 1832
Hopkinton, New Hampshire
DiedAugust 11, 1913(1913-08-11) (aged 81)[1]
Resting placeLa Vista Memorial Park[1]
Known forBusinessman, horticulturalist
Spouse
Sarah Kimball
​
(m. 1857)​
[2]

Frank Augustus Kimball (born Francis, January 26, 1832 - August 11, 1913)[3][4] was an American businessman and horticulturalist.[5]: 1  He is often associated with bringing the railroad to San Diego Bay, though he was also a prominent horticulturist and businessman in developing the Mission Olive industry.[3]: 3 [6] He helped promote new entrepreneurs and was philanthropic in his donations of land for cemeteries, schools, and churches. [4] He was generally associated with the founding and continued success of National City.[4][7]

Early life

edit

Frank was born in Hopkinton, New Hampshire on January 26th, 1832.[8] His parents were Asa Kimball[a] and Hanna Little.[9]

Career

edit

Frank became a Mason when he joined a lodge in Aurora, New Hampshire.[10] In New Hampshire, Frank operated a merchandise store, but became in debt due to the Panic of 1857. Looking to repay his debt, he took out a loan, to travel westward.[11]

San Francisco Bay Area

edit

In 1861 Frank moved to San Francisco.[8] In December 1862, Frank's wife came to San Francisco aboard the Orizaba.[12] In San Francisco, Frank and his brothers began carpentry work, and was able to send money back to New Hampshire to pay off his debts there.[11] Frank and his brothers worked in construction as the Kimball Brothers in Oakland, California before moving to what would become National City. Levi became a partner of the Kimball Brothers briefly in National City, then returned to Oakland with his wife.[4] In 1867, Frank was diagnosed with a lung diseased and told to relocate to a place with a warmer and drier climate.[8]

National City

edit
 
Brick Row, A Ave. between 9th and 10th St. National City

Frank Kimball arrived in San Diego, California on June 1, 1868.[1] Frank had purchased the Rancho de la Nación on June 15th, but due to an error on the deed finalized the sale from François Louis Pioche on June 18th, for $30,000.[13][14][15] At the time of purchase, no one resided on the lands of Rancho de la Nación.[16] The Kimball House was built from August-September 1868 and this became the first house in National City.[17] That same year Frank had a hand in the founding of the San Diego Union.[18]

Frank promoted the fruit cultivation in National City, which led to others to plant fruit elsewhere in San Diego County.[19] In 1869, Frank Kimball received Mission olive tree cuttings from Mission San Diego de Alcalá in the San Diego River Valley. By 1872, his cuttings had begun to bloom.[3]: 4  He would later get mission olive tree cuttings from Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, and Las Flores Estancia.[3]: 5, 6  In 1873, Frank began to raise sheep.[3]: 5  In 1876, Kimball planted the first eucalyptus in San Diego County.[5]: 1  In 1879, Frank received French olive trees from the government, and planted them.[3]: 7  Frank also grew grapes and citrus crops.[11] Another orchard which Frank grew was White Pearmin, an apple cultivar, which originated from a sapling from New Hampshire.[20]

In 1880, was among those who helped organize the first San Diego County Fair.[21][22] He would later get other foreign olive cultivars, to include the Coricabra.[3]: 8, 9  By 1883, Frank's olive grove was 5,000 trees strong.[3]: 10  In 1884, Frank travelled to Philadelphia, and in 1885 to New Orleans, to advertise his productive horticulture business.[11] At the end of 1886, an olive oil mill was constructed; competing against the olive oil produced by Elwood Cooper of Santa Barbara, who in 1879 was the only domestic olive oil producer in the nation.[3]: 9, 10 

In 1870, Frank attempted to lure the Texas and Pacific Railway to build a transcontinental railroad Pacific terminus in National City, without success;[23] this was in part due to the efforts of the Central Pacific Railroad.[18] After traveling to Boston, Frank was able to secure a deal with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to build a transcontinental rail terminus in National City in 1880 in exchange for Kimball giving the railroad 16,000 acres (65 km2).[23] To accomplish this goal the railway established California Southern Railroad as a subsidiary.[23][24] In 1887, Frank funded the building of the Brick Row to house individuals connected to the Santa Fe Railway.[5]: 3  A result of all this the railroad funded the construction of the Sweetwater Dam, which secured Frank and the rest of National City a reliable water source.[25]

In 1880, the Kimball brothers purchased half of Rancho Janal. In 1887, Frank purchased the portion of Rancho Janal owned by his brother Warren. His Rancho Janal holdings were lost along with his other property.[26]

In 1889, Frank wrote a family history of José Antonio Estudillo.[27] That same year Frank was appointed the Commissioner of the State Board of Horticulture; in that role he lobbied for the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act.[3]: 15  [7] Also in 1889, Frank invested in the creation of the Otay Watch Company; when its factory was completed in Otay (now in Chula Vista) it was the only watch manufacturer in the United States west of the Mississippi River.[28] In April 1891, at their Victorian style home, Frank and his wife hosted the presidential party of President Benjamin Harrison, which included Secretary Jeremiah M. Rusk, and Ulysses S. Grant Jr..[29]: 4 [30] In 1893, he received a bronze medal for his olive oil exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition;[21] at the exposition Frank also displayed pickled and dried olives.[31]

At one point, Frank was considered the wealthiest man in all of San Diego County.[29]: 2  In 1893, Frank fell into debt again.[5]: 1  1894 all his property, and remaining debt, was purchased by Ralph Granger.[5]: 2  In 1901, Frank's holdings in the Otay Watch Company was sold, and the watch company's equipment were shipped to Japan.[32] In 1904, Frank was paid to travelled to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, where he hosted an exhibit on the agriculture of San Diego.[21] By 1905, Frank had recovered and returned to selling olive oil and pickled olives.[5]: 2  He also shipped the first oranges from National City.[33]

Personal life

edit
 
Frank Kimball House

In April 19, 1857, Frank married Sarah Currier.[9] They had no children. He had three brothers, George Little Kimball, Levi Woodbury Kimball and Warren Carlton Kimball.[34][2]

In 1882, Frank joined the congregation of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church;[35] Frank donated the land which the church was built upon.[5]: 5  Frank was also a founding member of the South West [sic] Masonic Lodge No. 283 in National City, California. He was elected chairman at its first meeting on September 15, 1886. His brother George's son, Augustus B. Kimball was also involved in the lodge.[36] On August 11,1913 Frank A. Kimball would pass away on August 13, 1913 he would be laid to rest in La Vista Memorial Park, where many other members of the Kimball were buried.[1][37]

Legacy

edit

The central park for National City is named for Frank Kimball.[38]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Asa served in the New Hampshire Militia with the 40th regiment.[9]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Mizony, Paul T., ed. (1956). Exerpts From the Diaries of Frank A. Kimball Founder of National City - California Years 1868 - to - 1912 (San Diego Public Library California Archive. Bound diary excerpt collection).
  2. ^ a b Phillips, Irene (1968). The Chula Vista Story. South Bay Press.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Phillips, Irene (1960). Mission Olive Industry and other South Bay Stories. National City, California: South Bay Press.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ^ a b c d Carnes, Marilyn; Nye, Matthew (2008). Early National City. Images of America. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub. ISBN 978-0-7385-5910-0.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Arden, Sylvia; Fabert, Wayne; Booth, Larry; Barron, Cia; Cartwright, Kathy; Cross, Linda; Kamerling, Bruce; Peterson, Sheri; Regan, Donna; Tarasuck, Pay (Fall 1975). "Viewing Victorian Vistas of National City" (PDF). sohosandiego.org. Save our Heritage Organization. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  6. ^ Hoyt, Franklyn (May 1954). "San Diego's First Railroad: The California Southern". Pacific Historical Review. 23 (2): 133–146. doi:10.2307/3634289. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Tompkins, Virginia, ed. (September 1989). "Historic Olive Grove Saved". Adelante: News of the Congress of History of San Diego. San Diego Public Library California Collection: Kimball Ephemera, Box1 Folder 3: 2.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. ^ a b c Abramo, Marisa; Allely, Mary (1997). "A Guide to the Kimball Family Collection". City of National City. National City Public Library. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Morrison, Leonard Allison; Sharples, Stephen Paschall (1897). "Kimball Family in American: From 1634 to 1898 and its ancestors The Kemballs or Kemboldes of England" (PDF). Boston: Damrell & Upham. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  10. ^ Linzey, Garnet "Lee" (June 28, 1987). "Kimball: A Mason with pioneering spirit". Star News. National City. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d Joey Ham (25 April 1976). "Frank Kimball: little man with big ideas". Chula Vista Star-News. Vol. 58, no. 34. Chula Vista, California. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Coons, Alana (December 4, 1986). "Voyage of the Kimballs remembered". Star News. National City. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  13. ^ Trook, Leslie (Fall 1993). "National City: Kimball's Dream". San Diego Historical Society Quarterly. 39 (4). Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Susan Forest (June 8, 1958). "Frank Kimball Diaries Reveal founding of National City". Star News. National City, California. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  15. ^ Schoenherr, Steven (Summer 2008). "National City in Pictures" (PDF). The Journal of San Diego History. 53 (3): 162–183. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  16. ^ Coons, Alana (April 5, 1987). "Local historian's response". Star News. National City. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  17. ^ Steve Schoenherr (October 8, 2014). "National City Heritage Square and Brick Row". SunnyCV.com. South Bay Historical Society. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
    Steve Schoenherr (April 20, 2008). "Kimball House". South Bay Historical Society. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Lowell, Douglas L. (Fall 1985). "The California Southern Railroad and the Growth of San Diego Part 1". The Journal of San Diego History. 31 (4). Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  19. ^ Schmid, Dorothy Clark (1963). Pioneering in Dulzura. San Diego: Robert R. Knapp. p. 33. LCCN 63-17392.
  20. ^ Wes Keat (September 4, 1958). "In Old National City". Star News. National City, California. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Carter, Nancy Carol (Summer 2008). "San Diego Olives: Origins of a California Industry" (PDF). The Journal of San Diego History. 54 (3): 137–161. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  22. ^ Finn, Pat (June 21, 2006). "Remembering the history of San Diego's county fair". KPBS. San Diego. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c McClain, Molly (Summer 2008). "A National City Investor: Theron Parsons (1805-1893)" (PDF). The Journal of San Diego History. 54 (3): 184–201. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  24. ^ Lesley, Lewis B. (March 1939). "The Entrance of the Santa Fe Railroad into California". Pacific Historical Review. 8 (1): 89–96. Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via University of Chicago.
  25. ^ Roseman, F.M.; Watry, P.J. (2008). Chula Vista. Images of America. Arcadia Pub. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-7385-5616-1. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
    Hansen, Brett (June 2007). "Stemming the Flow: The Sweetwater Dam". Civil Engineering. 77 (6): 36–37. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
    Lowell, Douglas L. (Fall 1985). "The California Southern Railroad and the Growth of San Diego Part 1". The Journal of San Diego History. 31 (4). Retrieved September 8, 2024.
    Trook, Leslie (April 14, 1988). "Sweetwater Dam: Foresight of Frank Kimball prominent in centennial". Star News. Chula Vista. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  26. ^ "Kimball Brothers Once Owned Proctor Valley". National City Star-News. Vol. 77, no. 48. July 28, 1960. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  27. ^ Mizony, Paul T. "Jose Antonio Estudillo: Framily History, From A Letter Written by Frank A. Kimball, National City, Calif., January 14, 1889" (October 15, 1959) [book]. California. San Diego Central Library: Marilyn & Gene Marx Special Collections Center, San Diego Public Library.
  28. ^ Schoenherr, Steve (May 10, 2017). "Otay Watch Factory". sunnycv.com. South Bay Historical Society. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
    NAWCC Bulletin. National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Incorporated. 1994. p. 507. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
    Carnes, M.; Nye, M. (2008). Early National City. Images of America. Arcadia Pub. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-7385-5910-0. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Victorian National City (PDF). San Diego, California: Save Our Heritage Organization. 1982.
  30. ^ Irene Phillips (June 24, 1957). "In Old National City". Star News. National City, California. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  31. ^ A History of the World's Columbian Exposition Held in Chicago in 1893 (PDF). 1893. p. 123.
  32. ^ Phillips, Irene (February 9, 1961). "Kimball was Interested in a Huge Mexican Ranch". Star News. National City. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  33. ^ "Daughter of Family Which Once Owned Big Land Tracts, Laura Kimball Today Earns Living Weaving Palm Fibre". The San Diego Sun. San Diego Public Library California Collection: Kimball Ephemera, Box 1, Folder 2. 1934.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  34. ^ "George Kimball Children". California Revealed. 1891. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  35. ^ Mizony, Paul T. "Reference Data on Early Churches of National City" (March 18, 1957) [book]. California, p. 4. San Diego Central Library: Marilyn & Gene Marx Special Collections Center, San Diego Public Library.
  36. ^ Mizony, Paul T. (1962). The Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of South West Lodge No. 283 F.& A.M. National City California. San Diego Public Library California Collection (published October 1962). p. 1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  37. ^ "City's Founder Passes Away". Star News. National City. August 16, 1913. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  38. ^ Little, Joe (September 26, 2023). "National City's history traces its roots back to one man: Frank Kimball". KNSD. San Diego. Retrieved July 29, 2024.

Further reading

edit
edit


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:SDPLPauline/Draft:_Frank_A._Kimball&oldid=1245717738"