Fred S. Kilgore 1873-1939

KILGORE, HALL, IHLAN, GRIFFITH

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/1/2011 at 20:11:25

F. Kilgore Dies Heart Attack
The community of Estherville lost one of its most highly respected and most beloved citizens last Friday [December 15, 1939] afternoon when Fred S. Kilgore died suddenly from a heart attack. He suffered an attack Thursday evening and was under medical care during the night.

He felt much better about noon on Friday and was able to be up and taking care of his business as usual. During the afternoon he was taken ill again and died at 3:45 p.m.

Funeral service were held on Monday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at the house and 2:30 from the Methodist church with Rev. Ortmeyer officiating. Interment was med in the East Side cemetery. Pall-bearers were John Smith, Theodore Myhre, Joseph Orvis, Charles Lewis, K.K. Nau and George Bowman.

Fred S. Kilgore was born in Peoria, Ill., on October 19, 1873. He attended the public schools there and on June 17, 1896 was married to Miss Iola Hall at Peoria. They moved here on January 10, 1902, and have made their home in this city since that time. When they first came here Mr. Kilgore operated a delivery and baggage line. He continued in this work for seven years and then entered the grocery business.

Together with the late H.H. Sconberg he established a grocery store in the building now occupied by the R.C. Brown store. A few years later a hardware stock was added to the grocery line and the partnership continued in the building where the Emmet County [line missing] continued in this location for ten years when they moved to the present Montgomery Ward store location. The Sconberg and Kilgore partnership was later dissolved and Mr. Kilgore operated grocery stores on Central avenue and on south Seventh street in the Gaard Building where he was in partnership with L.R. Buckingham.

Last spring Mr. Kilgore was a candidate for the office of city mayor and since that time has been selling stock feed in this territory. Mrs. Kilgore was known throughout the community for his honesty and square dealing and was admired and respected by everyone he dealt with whether in a business or social way. He was a member of the Elks and Odd Fellows lodges and a member and active worker in the Methodist church.

Surviving Mr. Kilgore are his widow, two daughters Mrs. Richard Ihlan and Mrs. Claude Griffith, one son, Lyle Kilgore and four grandchildren all of Estherville and one brother, Sam Kilgore of Seattle, Wash. One daughter, four brothers and three sisters have preceded him in death. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, December 19, 1939)

F.S. Kilgore Died Suddenly Last Saturday Afternoon
Fred S. Kilgore, one of Estherville’s pioneer business men passed away suddenly at his home last Saturday afternoon of a heart attack. He had not been in the best of health for sometime past. Thursday he had his first attack and death came after a very severe attack on Saturday afternoon at 3:45.

Mr. Kilgore had been in the grocery business in this city for thirty of the thirty-seven years he had resided here. In that time he had made many close friends by his friendly and honest dealings with the public.

Fred S. Kilgore was born on Oct. 19, 1873 in Peoria, Ill., where he was united in marriage to Viola Hall in June, 1896. To this union there was a son and two daughters born, all living in this city.

For many years Mr. Kilgore was a partner of H.H. Sconberg. They occupied the building now the Montgomery Ward store on Sixth street. While in that store they had a bad fire and the building was rebuilt at once for their use.

The funeral services were held from the Methodist church on Monday at 2:30, the Rev. F.W. Ortmeyer officiating. Interment was made in the East Side cemetery.

There remains to mourn his death, his widow and one son, Lyle, two daughters, Mrs. Richard Ihlan and Mrs. Claude Griffith. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, December 21, 1939)