06/11/2026
In 1849, Mary Kimberly-Shirk's paternal grandfather, John Robbins Kimberly, moved his family (including Mary's 10-year old father, John A. Kimberly, future co-founder of Kimberly-Clark Company) from Troy, New York, to Neenah, Wisconsin. Traveling by way of the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes to Chicago, the family then continued on to Wisconsin. Little did anyone know of the future connection the Kimberly family would have with the Erie Canal—stay tuned for Part II of our Grandfather Series!
Known as the White House or Double House, the family's home stood on the banks of the Fox River. One of the first residences of its kind in the area, the 19-room duplex was shared by John and his brother, Harvey Kimberly, and their families. Together, the brothers operated a general store and later built the first privately owned flour mill in Neenah. Over time, they became among the city's most prominent and successful businessmen.
During the 1850s, Neenah was still considered part of the American frontier landscape long inhabited by Indigenous peoples. Family recollections describe members of nearby Indigenous communities occasionally pausing outside the house to observe and listen as the Kimberly daughters sang and played the piano.
Given the challenges of frontier life, including limited transportation and communication, the brothers believed their families would benefit from living near one another. However, the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 brought a serious disagreement between the brothers over the issue of slavery, leading Harvey to move out of the shared home. A member of the Kimberly family would reside in the house for the next 131 years.
In its heyday, the home welcomed many notable visitors, including governors, members of Congress, and aviator Amelia Earhart who visited in 1935. In the mid-1950s, Mary's brother, James Kimberly, purchased and then donated the house to the Neenah-Menasha Visiting Nurse Association who occupied it for nearly 40 years. Today the historic home is a private residence.
Mary Kimberly-Shirk was seven years old when her grandfather passed away in 1888 at the age of 87.
-ClarkCo
