21660. Frank Henry Kimball Doctor
Frank Henry Kimball was a physician.
Rockford Daily Register
August 12, 1891
George S. Haskell DeadThe death of a man who has occupied such a position of prominence, not only at home but throughout the state and county, as has George S. Haskell, cannot come with but crushing force, even though it has been fully realized by friends for weeks that it must be inevitable. And so today many a heart of friends, neighbors, citizens, comrades in the republican ranks where he has served so long and faithfully, is bowed down with grief and morning for a loved and esteemed one gone.
The end came at 2 o'clock this morning. For fully a month against the most fearful odds, George S. Haskell, with vitality beyond belief, has fought a losing contest. The illness as is well known, originated with an attack of grip around a year ago and from which he never found restored health. He attended to his multifarious duties as president of the state board of agriculture and his seed business, traveling about on long and wearing journeys which racked his system terribly, but which never caused his undaunted spirit to weaken. Where many a less heroic soul would have given up, he has by excersize of his strong will, overcome the odds and kept at his tasks.
Even after an attack at Springfield last January, when making an address at the agricultural state board, where he was rendered unconscious with a fainting spell, more serious than anyone else realized, he still insisted upon attending to his duties, but the struggle was too unequal and at last the highly wrought up system relaxed and he was forced to take to his bed. Night after night for weeks it has seemed as if the feeble light would flicker out into eternal darkness, but day after day heroically he rallied and made mighty battle for life. For the last week or two his mind has wandered constantly and talk of business affairs, the seed trade, the Waltonians camp, of which he so long was the efficient manager and steward, fell in an unceasing flow of words from his tongue. The end was the simple wearing out of nature until there was no vitality left and so he entered into his rest.
The disease, which baffled the earlier judgement of the physicians to explain, later came to be clearly explained as the fatal Bright's disease. It was attended with dropsy and the worn frame was swollen with remarkable proportions. There was nothing in the province of medical science that could have averted the end, and friends have quietly, sadly seen him passing slowly into the unknown, daily looking for the final summons.
George S. Haskell was born in Rockford in 1838, he was a son of Dr. George S. Haskell, one of the earliest settlers who came here in the spring of 1838 and was one of the largest landownders on the present site of Rockford. Dr. Haskell arrived in a boat up the river from Alton. It's name was the Gypsy and it was the first steamer that ever stirred the waters of the Rock river.
Mr. Haskell's original home was Massachusetts. He bought from the government acres of land north of State street on the banks of the river and first lived in a house on the site of George Forbes present home. The only other house near was a small house, where the Beattie house now stands. Dr. Haskell was liberal in donations of land and in fostering the advancement of the little hamlet of Rockford. Together with his brother-in-law, Jonathan Edwards, he gave Haskell park to the city, a gift the value of which can now be fully appreciated by the populous community that has grown up about it.
George Haskell the son and Harry P. Kimball, the son-in-law organized the seed business, which has been such a large enterprise in the past few years. Acres on the Reynolds tract on North Main street were devoted to raising a great variety of seeds for the warehouse. For years Mr. Haskell served with efficiency and in the fullest interests of the city on the board of Aldermen. His late connection with the state board of agriculture, his present presidency of the Winnebago Agricultural society, his prominence far and wide as a worker in the republican cause is thoroughly well known. There was no man in Rockford who had a wider aquaintance with men of affairs and leadership in business and politics and they all had the highest regard for him as a man of integrity and the fullest appreciation of his business of his excellent business abilities. He was a born organizer, a natural leader in politics. His personality impressed itself on others so that without any element of ward bossism of obnoxious aggressiveness he could summon a large army of voters under his individual leadership probably. Than any other man in Rockford. He was a charter member of the Waltonian club, and that happy summer camp was never brighter or filled with livlier crowds than when he was the ruling spirit of fun. He was a member of Rockford lodge of Mason's, an early organizing member of Crusader Commandery K.T., as an Elk.
In his home the hand of affliction fell most heavily upon him. His only children, two splendid sons, the pride of his life, died in the early years of manhood's estate, just when he was looking forward with keenest anticipation's to a bright and promising career of business success and social position for them. George Haskell died in 1879, aged 19; and Mark in 1882, also 19 years old. The stricken parents had hardly felt the lessening of one grief by time's kindly hand, before another came to open the wound's anew.Mr. Haskell's business embarrassments were a severe trial. But, as out of evil good may come, it was tempered by the splendid confidence in his honor and the faith in his rising superior to the depression, and meeting its obligations ultimately, which was reposed in him by the entire range of his creditors. Very few were disposed to bear down upon him, and the kindliness and leniency with which he was met by those who had the most at stake, lightened the burden of his loss and infused in him fresh vigor to take up again the load of business cares and make a manly, irresistible fight against all odds. Had he lived, there is every reason to believe that the seed company which bears his name would have gone forward unto greater prosperity than attended his private business even in its palmiest days.
But he has gone. Words are but feeble expressions at best under the dark shadow of a sorrow like this, but there must come some consolation to the stricken wife and the sorrowing relatives to know that no man has ever gone out of this community into the mysterious unknown who bore a greater flood of affliction and appreciation or who will be more sincerely mourned. Open-hearted to a fault, outspokenly frank in his opinions, with no pretense of being better than other men, he did the right as he knew the right and was not swerved from his convicitions by any influences. Political honors were in his grasp but he put them by, content to be a leader in the ranks, without hope of other reward save that "consciousness of right which reaches the marrow in another world."
The funeral has been set for 4:30 Thursday afternoon from the residence. The obsequies will be under the direction of Crusade Commandery, who will attend in a body and conduct the services in the absence in the city of Dr. Kerr.
John Reeves Jones was a farmer.
William Breadley Haskell was a merchant.
Hiram Haskell was a farmer.
Abigail Louisa Lazelle is recorded as Louisa Haskell, wife of Hiram, in the 1870 Federal Census for Wilmington, VT.
Frank Sheridan Haskell died at age 11 years, 11 months of "dropsy of heart".
U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
Name: Newland M Haskell
Residence: Wilmington, Vermont
Enlistment Date: 9 Mar 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: Vermont
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company F, Vermont 16th Infantry Regiment on 23 Oct 1862.
Mustered out on 10 Aug 1863 at Brattleboro, VT.
Sources: Roster of Vermont Volunteers During the War of the Rebellion 1861-66
_____
Civil War Pension File
Invalid cert # 886243
Newland married Martha Elizabeth Harris November 12, 1868 at Wilmington, Vermont
Children Waleter Harris Haskell born May 7, 1871, died February 26, 1893
Herbert Warren Haskell born November 13, 1872
Edith Maria Haskell born September 25, 1878
Edna Louisa Haskell born April 15, 1880
Newland was born March 15, 1839 at Wilmington, Vermont
U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865
Name: Orson Swift
Residence: Wilmington, Vermont
Class: 1
Congressional District: 2nd
Age on 1 July 1863: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Place of Birth: Vermont