Erastus Stevens Kimball comes of a family distinctively American in its lineal and collateral branches through many generations, for the family was established in Connecticut in 1634, Richard Kimball coming from Ipswich, England, and settling at Watertown, Massachusetts, on the 10th of April of that year, his home being near what is now the corner of Huron avenue and Appleton street. In 1637 he removed to Ipswich, Massachusetts, where he conducted business as a wheelwright until his death, which occurred in June, 1675. He was numbered among those who aided in reclaiming the district for the purposes of civilization and did his share in laying the foundation upon which has been builded modern progress and prosperity. His sixth son, Benjamin, was born in Watertown in 1637 and afterward became a resident of Rowley-Bradford. He wedded Mercy Hazeltine. He served as cornet of a horse troop and was known as Cornet Kimball. He, too, was a wheelwright by trade and he became a wealthy man. He died June 19, 1695, and his gravestone is still to be seen. David, of the third generation, was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, in 1671 and departed this life in 1743. He was married twice and had twelve children. Among the number was Aaron, who was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, June 7, 1710. He removed to Hopkinton, New Hampshire, and in 1731 married Susanna Smith. He built a fort at Hopkinton opposite the present home of James Story and was a very prominent and influential resident of that locality. He died July 30, 1760, and a tablet in the. grave-yard still marks his resting place. Abraham, a direct ancestor of Erastus S. Kimball in the fifth generation, was born at Hopkinton, New Hampshire, April 18, 1742. He was the first white child born at that place and on that account received a grant of five hundred acres of pine land. He participated in the battle of Bunker Hill and was wounded in the battle of Bennington. When a lad of only eleven years he was captured by the Indians but was rescued the following day. His death occurred at Beacham, Vermont. John Kimball, of the sixth generation, was born at Hopkinton, New Hampshire, December 7, 1761. His son and namesake, John Kimball II, was born at Hopkinton, July 17, 1785, and died in Orange, New Hampshire, October 3, 1841. He was the father of Alfred A. Kimball, who was born in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, July 31, 1819. He went to California by way of Cape Horn in 1850 and in 1854 returned to Illinois. He was killed by being thrown from a wagon in July, 1863, when his son, Erastus Kimball, was but two years of age. His wife, Mrs. Hannah Kimball, then returned to Danbury, Connecticut, where her girlhood had been passed and she, too, has now departed this life.
     Their son, Erastus S. Kimball, was born at Lisbon, Illinois, April 29, 1861, and when only two years of age was brought by his mother to Connecticut, the family home being maintained in Danbury, where he acquired a public school education, reaching the tenth room. He began work as a delivery boy in the employ of a butcher and later he followed various pursuits which would yield him a living until he entered upon an apprenticeship in the machine shop of Belden & Company at Danbury. Connecticut. He then learned the machinist's trade, after which he went west and was employed at that kind of work at several places for two and a half years. Returning to Danbury, he again entered the employ of Belden & Company and after this plant was destroyed by fire he spent a period in the employ of the Danbury Ice Company.
     Mr. Kimball came to New Haven in 1890 and for fifteen years was in the employ of the Winchester Arms Company, continuing with that corporation until 1905. He afterward worked in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and in Boston, Massachusetts, until January, 1908, when he started upon his first independent business venture, opening a small place on Webster street in New Haven. He continued at that location until July, 1909, when he removed to Orchard street, securing somewhat larger quarters. In March, 1911, he secured a still larger place at No. 328 Dixwell avenue and in November, 1913, came to his present location, where he secured still more space. His interests were carried on under the name of the Oxy-Carbi Company until September, 1917, when the business became Kimball's Incorporated, with E. S. Kimball as president. When he started in business he had no employes, but now has seven men and could use more if he could secure larger quarters, which he hopes soon to do.
     On the 4th of March, 1889, Mr. Kimball was united in marriage to Miss Anna E. Barnum, of Danbury, and to them have been born three children: Leo B., who attended the Peekskill Military Academy of New York and was later a student in the Carnegie Institute at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but is now a member of the United States Aviation Corps; Norma, a graduate of the New Haven high school; and Anita, attending school in New Haven.
     Mr. Kimball in his political views is an independent republican. His has been an active, useful and well spent life. He has worked diligently and persistently to gain a start and is now controlling a business which is becoming steadily more and more extensive and important.