My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM H. KILLGORE came from Bradford county, Pa., to Buffalo county, Nebr., in February, 1872, locating in section 12, township 9, range 15, remaining here about four years. In 1876, going into the stock-raising business, he went to what is now Custer county, helping to organize that county and serving as commissioner several terms. In 1880 he preempted a quarter-section, and in 1883 he came to Kearney City, feeding cattle for one year. He then went to the territories of Utah, Idaho and Montana. He remained in Montana a short time only, although he had intended to make it his home, and left for Iowa and Minnesota; not liking these states, he again returned to Kearney, and bought some land on Drover Island, directly opposite old Fort Kearney, in Platte river. He there owns five quarter-sections of the finest hay and grazing lands in the state, and on Farm Island four quarter-sections, one hundred and fifty acres of which are under cultivation, producing corn and oats. He also raises a quantity of stock. When he came West, he had $3,000; he now owns fifteen hundred acres of land and a number of town lots, together with improvements, which he rents out at Kearney. He has upwards of two hundred head of cattle, seventy horses and a large number of hogs. Mr. Killgore was born in Bradford county. Pa., in August, 1839, on a farm. His father, John Killgore, a native of New Jersey, went to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the tailoring business; but, leaving this, he engaged in farming. He is still residing in Pennsylvania at the ripe age of eighty-one years. His wife, Lydia W. Haynes, was a native of New York. To this union were born eleven children, William being the fourth. At the age of thirteen he ran away from home, going to a lumber camp; remaining at this a short time, he went into the butchering business, remaining in this several years; then, returning home, he worked at carpentering. The war breaking out in 1861, he enlisted in April with Battery E, First Pennsylvania light artillery, serving the drst two years as quartermaster’s sergeant. He was then promoted to a second, and shortly after to a first, lieutenancy, serving in all four years and three months. His battery was the first to go into Richmond. He sustained a rupture during one of the numerous battles in which he was engaged, for which he is now drawing a pension. After being mustered out at Philadelphia, he returned home and started a saw-mill. In 1867 he married Miss Sophie Dilts, a daughter of Philip Dilts, of New Jersey. Her father died in 1876; her mother is still living in Pennsylvania. This union has not been blessed by any children. In politics Mr. Killgore is an ardent republican, and is also a member of the Loyal Legion of the United States. As a citizen he is highly respected.