Charles F. "Charlie" Kilgore 1867-1938

KILGORE, STEWART, STUART, OLESON, OLSON, PRATT

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/16/2010 at 21:51:57

Beloved Pioneer Passes to Reward
Charles Kilgore, Hardware Merchant and Old Time Railroad Engineer Died This Morning
Charles Kilgore, one of Estherville’s most beloved citizens and prosperous business man died at 11:30 o’clock this morning after a prolonged illness. Paralysis was the immediate cause of his death. He had a stroke in March, a second in June and then a third was Monday from which he never recovered.

He was born in Stark county, Illinois on March 17, 1867 and grew to manhood on the farm of his father. He was married on June 1, 1898 to his childhood sweetheart, Miss Addie Stuart, at Lone Ridge, Illinois. A son and two daughters were born to them.

Following his experience on a farm he engaged in railroading and progressed for the lowest round on the ladder to locomotive engineer on the old B.C.R.&N. and with the Rock Island after it had secured the B.C.R.&N. road. He continued as an engineer until about thirty years ago when he retired and entered in the grocery business in Estherville, with his brother, Fred Kilgore. In 1916 he withdrew from the firm and associated himself with H. L. Klocow and the K & K hardware store was started. Mr. Klocow retired but Mr. Kilgore continued the business under the old name K & K, with the assistance of his son Charles Vern and son-in-law Leon Pratt.

The deceased made an enviable record as a member of the City Council and it was through his influence the band shell was erected, the beautiful rock garden planned and the deep well for the city put down. He was a director in the Emmet County State Bank and in the Hall Hardware organization in Minneapolis.

Three years ago his beloved wife passed away and since then he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Leon Pratt. Another daughter, Mrs. Frank Olson of Ringsted and the son Charles Verne of this city. Another brother, Fanuer of Seattle, Washington is living.

The deceased was deeply interested in the welfare of Estherville and on all occasions whenever possible he labored [ ] of Estherville the “city beautiful.” His life was spared for him to witness the fulfillment of his heart’s desire.

Mr. Kilgore was a Mason of long standing and a member of North Star Lodge No. 447 A.F. & M. of Estherville.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at the house and 2:30 at the Baptist church with Rev. Riggs officiating. The Masonic lodge will have charge of the services. Engineers on the local Rock Island railroad will be pallbearers.

Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, September 13, 1938)

Chas. Kilgore, Business Man, Passes Away
Charles F. Kilgore, 71, owner of the K & K hardware in this city, died at his home on North 8th street Tuesday morning at 11:45. He had not been in good health for a number of years. At one time several years ago, he was seriously ill and it was thought he would not survive but a short time.

A few months ago Mr. Kilgore suffered a stroke and has had several since. He was taken to the Coleman hospital in the early summer in very critical condition. Later he recovered sufficiently to be taken to his home.

Since his illness he has traveled over much of the United States and enjoyed these vacations greatly. They were beneficial to his health.

Mr. Kilgore, a brother of Fred Kilgore, was born in Stark county, Ill., in 1867. At an early age he engaged in railroading, commencing work for the old B.C.R. & N. Ry. Later he was an engineer for the Rock Island lines and for a time was a traveling master mechanic on that road.

He was united in marriage to Miss Addie Stewart June 1, 1893. The young couple moved to this city and resided on Lincoln street in one of the Henry Riley homes. At that time the editors of the Enterprise lived in the home to the south and the Kilgores were greatly beloved neighbors in that part of Estherville.

Mr. Kilgore was a member of the Masonic and Elks lodges. He served two terms as a member of the city council and was a highly respected citizen.

“Charlie” as he was known, was a fluent speaker, full of wit, always the life of the party. He was a man of whom it could be said “He always had the answers.”

He is survived by a son, C. V. Kilgore, Estherville, and two daughters, Mrs. Frank Oleson of Ringsted and Mrs. Leon Pratt of this city with whom he made his home. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, September 15, 1938)