Biography of Alfred Kilgore
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]
Page 1022
ALFRED KILGORE, farmer, P. O. La Fayette, a native of Madison County, born October 24, 1825, is a son of James and Sarah Kilgore, natives of Kentucky. The grandparents were John and Lydia Kilgore, who were very early settlers of Kentucky, and endured terrible hardships and run many risks and narrow escapes from the hostile savages. They finally removed to Ohio and were among the first settlers of that county. He was in the war of 1812, and died while in the army. The maternal grandfather was Skinner Hutson, a native of England, who became an early settler of Kentucky. Sarah Kilgore, the mother of our subject, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1789. She married Jonathan Denton in 1806. Their lives were full of suffering and danger. They settled near Vincennes, Ind., and were often driven to take refuge in the fort by savage Indians. Their eventful lives were continued but a few years together, as Mr. Denton fell in the war with the savages, under Gen. Hull, and she was left alone with three small children to care for. Her circumstances were such that she was compelled to return to her parental roof in Kentucky. But in her eventful career during the few years she lived in Indiana, she proved herself to be a brave woman. While her husband was in the war, she would leave the fort every day at the risk of her life to attend to the stock they left on their farm. On one of these occasions, in company with her sister-in-law, they saw, on approaching their cabin, that Indians had taken possession of the house. They came out and demanded the horse they were riding, and finding them inexorable, they told the Indians if they must give up the horse they must first feed him, as he had not been fed that day; so on pretense of feeding the horse, the Indians left them and returned into the house; then they turned their horse and made for the fort as rapidly as possible. Subsequently, Mrs. Denton's sister-in-law and all their family were murdered by the Indians, it was believed in revenge for not obtaining that horse. Such brave, Christian patriots deserve to be held in everlasting remembrance. In 1814, she married, for her second husband, James Kilgore, the father of our subject, who was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1791. They settled in Fayette County, Ohio, on the home place with his mother and her family, and there resided till 1824, when they removed to Madison County and settled near Midway. Subsequently, they became residents of the James Rankin farm near London. He and his wife lived very happily together for nearly fifty-eight years, and until death removed her from all earthly relations, November 3, 1872. She left eight children, thirty-eight grandchildren, forty-nine great grandchildren, and one of the fifth generation. She had Consecrated herself to Christ at the age of sixteen, a few years after the beginning of the present century, when the war-whoop was common. Many good sermons and many class meetings did she enjoy in the primitive houses. She was an active class-meeting Methodist Christian, having for a long time performed the duties of class-leader. Mr. Kilgore survived her till April 10, 1876, and his remains were interred in the Paint Township Cemetery, in the presence of a large concourse of friends and acquaintances. In his earlier life, for ten years he was Captain of a company of militia, and was ever afterward known as Capt. James Kilgore. He was Justice of the Peace for many years; an excellent neighbor and a most worthy citizen. Five children now survive – Deborah, Isaac, Alfred, Henry and Martha. The subject of this sketch married Margaret Dougherty, September 10, 1849. She was born in Fayette County, Ohio, February 3, 1828, and a daughter of James and Susanna Dougherty, natives of Virginia, who came among the early settlers of Highland County, Ohio, when young, and were married there. Subsequently, they removed to Fayette County, where she died October 1, 1852, aged sixty-six years. They had fourteen children, four now living – Andrew, Henry, Mary Jane (wife of Jacob Young), and Margaret. Subsequently Mr. Daugherty removed to Indiana and married Mrs. Scott. Afterward they removed to Minnesota, where he died. Mr. Kilgore and wife have had four sons and four daughters, seven now surviving – John C., born July 3, 1850; Amanda Jane, August 12, 1854 (wife of William Corson); Ella, February 26, 1859; James S., Nov. 19, 1864; Edith B., November 24, 1868; Minnie, January 21, 1872, and Bruce, born January 16, 1876. Mr. Kilgore has devoted his life to farming, and all in Madison County. He and wife were raised to pioneer life. They started out in life with no means, and although Mr. Kilgore, at one time suffered much from an affection of his hip, yet, by their combined industry and economy, they have accumulated a good competency; have a good farm of 112 acres, with good buildings and improvements, constituting a pleasant home and farmer's residence.
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