W. W. KIMBALL for many years officiated as Deputy County Clerk of Jackson
County, resigning that position in April, 1894, in order to accept the chief
clerkship in the office of the Revenue Collector of the Thirteenth District
at Cairo, Ill. Competence has won him this responsible place and has
numbered him among the leading business men of southern Illinois. He was
born in Golconda, Pope County, Ill., January 16, 1860, and is the eldest of
eight children whose parents were John B. and Malinda H. (Phillips) Kimball.
The father was born in Indiana, and the paternal grandfather, William
Kimball, was born in the east and was of Scotch-Irish descent. By trade he
was a miller.
When a young man, John B. Kimball removed to Golconda, Ill., and in the fall of 1860 he went to Carbondale. The following year he came to Murphysboro, where he operated a mill until 1871. He was then elected County Sheriff for a term of two years, and he has also served as Alderman of this place. For a time he carried on milling, and also followed merchandising. He still makes his home in Murphysboro, and is a highly respected man. Mrs. Kimball was born in Union County, Ill., and was a daughter of W. H. Phillips, who located in that county at a very early day. Her death occurred in 1881. Mr. Kimball was again married, and has one child by this second union. Two sons and three daughters of the first marriage are still living.
In the state of his nativity W. W. Kimball was reared to manhood, and the common schools afforded him his educational privileges. From early boyhood he was familiar with the milling business, and for some years worked for his father along that line. He spent one year as book-keeper for the Jackson County Milling Company, then went to St. Louis and became book-keeper in a commission house.
Mr. Kimball was married in Murphysboro in October, 1887, the lady of his choice being Miss Eva D. Risling, a native of Jackson County and a daughter of C. C. Risling, one of the early settlers of this community. He was for years connected with the Mt. Carbon railroad shops as master pattern worker, and still follows that business. Mrs. Kimball has a very fine musical education and is a lady of high culture. The family now numbers two children, Thelma and Helen.
Mr. Kimball is a prominent Democrat, and for four years served as Secretary of the County Democratic Central Committee. He is a member of Mt. Carbon Lodge No. 434, I. O. O. F., and of Lincoln Encampment No. 109. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He aided in the organization and was a Director of the first Board of the Jackson County Building and Loan Association, and also of the Southern Illinois Building and Loan Association. In 1883 he was appointed Deputy County Clerk under John R. Kane, and held the office for seven years. In 1891 he engaged in the abstract business, and in December, 1892, became one of the organizers of the Jackson County Abstract and Title Guarantee Company, of which he was made Secretary. In November, 1892, he was appointed Deputy County Clerk by Edward Crawford, which position he held with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents until April, 1894. He then accepted the chief clerkship in the Revenue Collector's office of the Thirteenth District, at Cairo, Ill., under W. K. Murphy, and this place he is filling to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is an expert accountant, a very genial, courteous gentleman, and has a wide circle of friends.
Extracted 22 Sep 2016 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois, published in 1894, pages 488-490.