Sacramento
County
Biographies
JAMES
W. KILGORE
James W. Kilgore, farmer, Brighton Township, was born in Lee County, Iowa, May
30, 1840, a son
of Matthew and Massa (McGuire) Kilgore, the former a native
of Ross County, Ohio, the latter also a native of Ohio.
Hannah Gilfore, aunt of James W., was the
second white child born in that county, namely, where Chillicothe now is, January 18, 1799.
Matthew resided in that county until 1827, when he moved to Tippecanoe County, Indiana; in 1837 he removed to Lee County, Iowa,
and in 1852 he came to California, by way of Council Bluffs, crossing the Missouri River on the 23d of May and arriving here
October 10. He brought his family here
in 1852, making both trips across the plains.
The second time he was with a large train, starting with thirteen wagons
and they were six months on the journey, but had no special trouble. Among the party were George and James Wilson,
of Oregon.
The family then consisted of five children: George, since deceased; Teresa, who married
James Wilson and has since died; Elizabeth, David and James. The eldest son, William, had preceded them to
this State in 1850, with his father.
They first located in Yolo County, on the Sacramento River, fifteen miles below Sacramento; in the spring of 1853 they moved to Santa Clara County, and in 1855 returned to this
county. From 1858 to 1864 they were
residents again in Yolo
County, and then finally settled in this
county. Matthew Kilgore died March
16, 1882, at the
age of eighty-one years. His wife died April
8, 1875, at the
age of seventy-seven years. Of the
family three are now living—David, Elizabeth and James. The latter was twelve years old when he came
to this State, and remained with his parents until their death. The home place originally contained 324 acres,
of which seventy-seven acres now belong to James in Brighton Township, and eighty acres in Lee Township. Elizabeth married Archibald Criswell, and they
have four children: Alice, wife of W. F.
Bryan; Martha, William and George, all residents of this county.
Transcribed by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An
Illustrated History of Sacramento County,
California. Page 508.
Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
©
2005 Karen Pratt.