J M KILBORN, b 25 May 1853

KILBORN, BISDORFF

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 6/12/2004 at 12:19:33

Jackson Mill, of Bellevue, Iowa, located on the banks of Mill Creek on the outskirts of Bellevue, occupies a three story frame building, and which was erected in 1861 or 1862. The mill is equipped with the roller process, principally the Stevens system, has three run of burrs, and grinds for both custom and merchant trade. The "Climax" is the superior grade of flour, this being used entirely for the merchant trade. The mill is run by water-power, and the wheel is a 25-inch Flanagan wheel, manufactured at Dubuque, Iowa, and is of 35-horse power. The mill is run under the firm title of Kilborn & Co., J.M. Kilborn being the resident manager of the mill. Mr. Kilborn is a native of Jackson County, Iowa, where he was born May 25, 1853.

The parents of our subject were Nathaniel and Hannah Kilborn. Nathaniel Kilborn was formerly proprietor of the mill, and ran it for years both as sole proprietor and in partnership. He was one of the early business men of Bellevue, in which place he afterward died. J.M. Kilborn, our subject, grew to manhood and received his early education in this county, and in 1883-84 attended Mt. Vernon (Iowa) College. For a number of years in Bellevue he engaged in buying grain for Kilborn & Co., and since 1882 he has had an active interest in the mill, his father having died previous to this date. His mother is now residing in Douglas County, Neb.

Feb. 8, 1879, our subject was united in marriage with Bertha Bisdorff, daughter of Nicholas and Eva Bisdorff, of Dubuque, this State. To their marriage were given three children - Maude, Florence and Pearl. Mr. Kilborn is one of the leading Republicans in his county, and a member of the Knights of Pythias and Legion of Honor, of Bellevue. He is one of the most enterprising business men of Bellevue, and the son of a worthy and influential pioneer of this county. He is half-owner in the mills, and the amount of sales is probably about $60,000 annually, and if running night and day would turn out 100 barrels of flour per day. In connection with the mill is a stone for chopping feed for the farmers' trade. Adjoining the mill are 480 acres of valuable land belonging to the Kilborn estate, of which also Mr. Kilborn is joint owner.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)