Ella/Ellen Robison and C. M. Kimball

Ella Robison, also known as Ellen, was born on July 20, 1868 and was the first child born to Henry and Lucy Robison who lived most of their lives in Troy Township, Whitley County, Indiana.

In 1870, two year old Ellen is living with her parents in Etna Township, Whitley County. The record shows that she was born in Indiana. In 1880, Ella is 11 years old, living with her parents in Troy township. That record also shows that she was born in Indiana.

On February 13, 1897 Ella Robison was married to C. M. Kimball in Whitley County, Indiana by Rev. D. W. Sanders. The application for marriage shows that C. M. was a 29 year old farmer born in Converse, Indiana. His father was A. D. Kimball and his mother's maiden name was Haupt. Ella was 27 years old with place of birth given as Three Oaks, Michigan. Her father is Henry Robison and her mother's maiden name is Straight. (In census records, sometimes Ella's place of birth is Indiana and other times it is Michigan.)

In the 1904 obituary of her father she is mentioned as Mrs. Ella Kimbal, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Three years later, the 1907 obituary of her mother stated that Mrs. Ella Kimmel was still living at Mt. Carmel (which is the county seat of Wabash County, Illinois). Up until two days ago, that was all the information I had on Ellen.

A search for Ellen Kimball, born 1868, in the 1900 census resulted in one likely candidate in Crane Township, Paulding County, Ohio (page 127a). A bit of a surprise since I expected to find them in Illinois!
Clyde M Kimball, head, Feb 1868, 32, married 3 years, born Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Illinois, farmer
Ellen, Wife, July 1868, 31, married 3 years, no children, born Michigan, parents born Ohio

In 1910 a search for Ella Kimball, born 1868, didn't bring up anything that was even close. A search for Clyde Kimball brought up an entry for Clyde Kiebel with a wife named Ella. Some kind soul had sent in a correction for Clyde with the surname Kimbel and it was the last entry for "Clyde" in the results list. They were in Lickprairie, Wabash County, Illinois (page 5a)
Clyde Kimball, head, 42, married once 13 years, born Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Illinois, farmer, own income
Ella, wife, 40, married once 13 years, 4 children 4 living, born Michigan, parents born Ohio
Henrietta, daughter, 9, born Ohio
A. D., son, 8, born Ohio
Louisa, daughter, 5, born Illinois
Mae, daughter, 1, born Illinois

1920 finds the family has moved again. They were found in Hay Township, Gladwin County, Michigan (page 2b)
Clyde M Kimball, head, 51, married, born Indiana, farmer
Ella, wife, 50, born Indiana
Henrietta S., daughter, 18, born Ohio, teacher
Admiral Daniel, son, 17, born Ohio, farm laborer
Louise C., daughter, 14, born Illinois
Mae E., daughter, 10, born Illinois

In 1930 they were still in Hay Township, Gladwin County, Michigan (page 2b)
Clyde M Kimball, head, 62, married, first married at age 28, born Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Illinois, farmer
Ella I., wife, 61, married, first married at age 27, born Michigan, father born Ohio, mother born New York
A. Daniel, son, 27, single, born Ohio, farm laborer

A WorldConnect database provided the dates of birth for Clyde, Ella, and their children as well as a reference to the "History and Genealogy of the Thomas J. and Henrietta Howells Powell Families by W. D. Shirk. Fairfield, Iowa Ledger Printing House, 1918, which is available online at Google Books. On page 140, in a listing of the four children of Abner Daniel Kimball and Hennetta [or Henrietta ?] Haupt, we find that Clyde Moses was born February 16, 1868. A little further on the same page is the information about his family: "Clyde M. graduated at State Medical college, Indiana, 1892, with post-graduate work in surgery at Physicians and Surgeons college, Chicago. Married Ella Robison Feb. 13, 1898 [sic], born July 20, 1868, daughter of Henry and Lucy Robison. To this union 4 children were born: Hennetta, May 8, 1901; Abner Daniel, July 29, 1903; Louise, Oct. 23, 1906; Mae, Feb. 13, 1908. Clyde is a good, kind husband and father, has a big heart in just the right place."

What I find odd about this little paragraph is the statement that Clyde graduated from medical school. Not only that, but he did post-graduate work in surgery. Why is that odd? Well, in each of the four census records in which he was found, Clyde's occupation is listed as farmer!

So, to summarize, this is what I have now on Clyde and Ella:

• Clyde Moses Kimball was born February 16, 1868 in Indiana.
• He married Ella Robison on February 13, 1897 in Whitley County, Indiana.
• Ella/Ellen Robison was born July 20, 1868 in either Indiana or Michigan.
• After their marriage they moved to Paulding County, Ohio.
• Between 1903 and 1906 they moved from Ohio to Wabash County, Illinois.
• Between 1910 and 1920 they moved from Illinois to Gladwin County, Michigan.

Clyde and Ella had four children:

1. Henrietta Kimball, born May 8, 1901 in Ohio
2. Abner Daniel Kimball, born July 29, 1903 in Ohio
3. Louise Kimball, born October 23, 1906 in Illinois
4. Mae Kimball, born February 13, 1908 in Illinois

As always, more Questions:

• Did Clyde ever actually practice medicine?
• Was Ella/Ellen born in Indiana or Michigan?
• Did Clyde and Ella stay in Michigan after 1930?
• What happened to their children?
• Where and when did they all die?

Henry and Lucy Robison

The first part of the Robison/Robinson Families of Whitley County, Indiana presented what was known about Henry Robison and his wife Ann. Census records indicate that they may have had eight children. Three children are named in Henry's will dated August 8, 1851 and the same children were also mentioned in a deed record dated August 15, 1855 where Ann and the children were selling land in Whitley County, Indiana. The children were Eliza Jane, Henry, and Emily.

According to his obituary, published in the Columbia City Commercial on December 14, 1904 Henry Robison (Jr) was the son of Henry and Ann Robison and was born in Champaign County, Ohio on January 7, 1833. "He came to Indiana at an early age and at the beginning of the civil war enlisted in Co L of the 80th Indiana regiment of volunteers for three years, and at the expiration thereof reenlisted and served until the close of the war when he was honorably discharged. During his faithful service he was hit by a piece of shell on the left shoulder causing his left arm to be helpless, but remained with his Company until the close of the war cheering by words and songs." For a number of years Henry and Lucy were the proprietors of the "Robinson House" in Lorane.

Whitley County records show that Henry enlisted in Company I of the 30th Indiana Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry (not Co. L 80th IVI). He was wounded on April 7, 1862 at Pittsburgh Landing.

On October 10, 1867 Henry Robison Jr. was married to Lucy Ann (Strait) Scott. Lucy had three children from her previous marriage to Charles Scott but only two were living at the time of her death in January 1907; they were Perry Scott of Marion, Indiana and Mrs. Harvey Waters of Lorane. Henry and Lucy had four children: Ella, Frank, Ida Anna, and Pearl Henry.


You can read this post to find out how the photograph above gives me my "link" to Henry and Ann Robison!

1. Ella was born about 1868 and married C. M. Kimball on February 13, 1897 in Whitley County. In the obituary notice of her father she is mentioned as Mrs. Ella Kimbal Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Her mother's obituary gives her name as Mrs. Ella Kimmel. Additional information on them can be found at Ella/Ellen Robison and C. M. Kimball. [Link added 09/18/2008]

2. Frank Robison was born about 1869. He married Cora B. Beard on August 23, 1891 in Whitley County, Indiana. The obituary notices of his parents stated that Frank lived in Marion, Indiana (Grant County) and that is where he was found in the census records for 1900 through 1930. Additional information on them can be found at Frank and Cora Robison of Marion, Indiana. [Link added 09/18/2008]

3. Ida Anna Robison was born January 17, 1872 and died November 22, 1899 in Whitley County, Indiana. Her obituary was found in my grandmother's papers. The clipping is not identified (no name of newspaper or date of publication). "On Friday of last week this community was called upon to pay their last tribute of respect to one that has been with us from infancy, attended our school and our social gatherings, and our pen cannot describe the sad parting. Ida A. Robison was born in Troy township, Whitley county, Indiana on January 17, 1872 and died November 22, 1899, aged 27 years, 10 months and 3 days. Anna was a patient sufferer for nearly four years of the dread disease consumption which has claimed her as its victim. Her last days were her happiest, fully realizing that the end was near she never complained but was pleased with what little could be done for her to relieve her sufferings and was submissive to the Lord's will in whose care she had placed her trust. Rejoicing in the hope of meeting kind parents, brothers and sisters in heaven she shook hands with all present and peacefully passed to the spirit world."

The photograph was identified by my grandmother as Ida Anna Robison.

4. The obituary of Pearl Henry Robinson was also found in my grandmother's papers: He "was born at Lorane, Indiana April 3rd 1880 and died December 19th 1901 aged 21 years, 3 months and 16 days. Pearl, as we best knew him came home sick from his work on the 19th day of March, just 9 months previous to his death. His illness proved to be that dreaded disease consumption, from which he was a long and patient sufferer following so closely his sister Anna, whom he so dearly loved and so frequently spoke of. In his death his parents have lost a dutiful son, the brothers and sisters a loving brother and the young people of the community, one of their number whose loss they deeply feel as their beautiful flower offerings testified. The funeral was held at the Free Methodist Church at this place on Sunday the 22nd. The house was filled with sorrowing friends who came to pay their last tribute of respect. Rev. J.M. Jolley, pastor of the church preached a very able and appropriate sermon. Interment in the Scotts cemetery."