The Journal and Republican

Lowville, N. Y.

December 23, 1908

 

GEORGE H. KIMBALL

Death of the Last Survivor,

But One, of the “Patriot War” in Canada

in 1838

 

In the little village cemetery at Dexter last Saturday afternoon was laid to rest the last survivor, with the exception of one, of the desperate struggle that took place just seventy years ago last month near Prescott, Canada, known as the “Battle of the Windmill.”

George H. Kimball of the town of Brownville, whose death occurred Thursday night and whose funeral was held Saturday, was a member of the “Patriot” band of less than 150 men, who in the old stone tower that sentinels the bank of the St. Lawrence opposite Ogdensburg, defied for five days the might and power of Britain and took deadly toll of twice their number from the red-coated ranks before they were captured. The last surviving member of that heroic, though misguided battle, since the death of Mr. Kimball, is the venerable Nelson Truax, of Watertown, who was about of an age with his departed comrade, being in his 90th year.

Mr. George H. Kimball, who died after a short illness at the home of his daughter and only near surviving relative, Mrs. William Knox of the town of Brownville, was born in Chester, Vt., April 3, 1818, and was the son of William and Lucy Kimball. When he was four years of age, his parents emigrated to the Black river country, settling in Brownville. In his youth Mr. Kimball married Alvira Baker, of Dexter, whose mother, Nancy Waite, was the first white child born in the town of Watertown, when the present city was a struggling settlement and Public Square a swamp. Of the four children born to the couple, but one, Mrs. Knox, survives.


Return to Patriot War Index

Return to Shirley Farone's Homepage