George Fenner Kimball, former postmaster of Janesville, Wisconsin and for many years the head of the old
Thoroughgood Cigar Box factory, died at 7:30am, Saturday in his home at 420 South Third Street,
after an illness of several months.
Of the third generation of a pioneer Rock County, Wisconsin family, Mr. Kimball was born in Janesville on April
15, 1868 to Frank Dexter and Euretta (Burdick) Kimball. He was educated in the Janesville public schools and
attended Washburn College in Topeka, Kansas. He had lived in Janesville all his life and was one of the city’s
most illustrious citizens. For many years he was active in affairs of the Republican Party and for a period of
about 12 years, beginning in 1922, served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Rock County Republican Club. He was a
candidate for the state Senate in 1934 and several times was a delegate to State Republican Conventions.
His service as Postmaster began November 12, 1928 when he was appointed by President Calvin Coolidge as the
successor to A. E. Matheson, after the latter had become county judge. Mr. Kimball continued as
Postmaster for five year, his resignation taking effect in October, 1933. Mr. Kimball’s grandfather,
Fenner Kimball, who came to Rock County in 1855 and was first a farmer and then a Janesville merchant, was a
member of the Wisconsin legislature from Rock County in 1877-78 and again in 1892-93.
He was an active member in Masonic Orders, belonging to Blue Lodge #55, the Madison Consistory, the
Eastern Star and other groups. He was a charter member of the Janesville Rotary Club and for a time was
Secretary-Treasurer of the Western Cigar Box Manufacturer’s Association.
He was married on June 17, 1896 to Miss Abby Elizabeth Prichard and to them four children were born.
Several years after the death (1915) of his first wife, Mr. Kimball married Helen R. Lutz of Janesville in 1925.
Mr. Kimball was an extremely friendly man and was held in high esteem by his friends and associates. He was a
conscientious worker, especially in the many civic activities in which he was engaged.
Surviving are his wife; three sons, Dean P., Washington D.C., Lyman G., Milwaukee, and Robert G,. Janesville;
one daughter, Mrs. S. A. Freitag, Janesville; his mother, Mrs. Sarah Kimball, Janesville; a sister, Mrs. Ralph
Davis, Pittsburg, Pa., a brother, Frank Kimball, Milwaukee; and two grandchildren Robert Dean and
Elizabeth Madeline Kimball, Washington, D.C.
The funeral will be held at 7:30pm Monday in Kimball-Nelson funeral home. Christian Science and Masonic
services will be conducted. Cremated remains will be buried at Oak Hill Cemetery Janesville, Wisconsin.
Janesville Daily Gazette
November 12, 1938
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