Santa
Clara County
Biographies
MARTIN
E. KILCOURSE
M. E. KILCOURSE. One of the most energetic and promising of
the general contractors of San Jose is M E. Kilcourse,
to whom is credited some of the heaviest and most ambitious work in his line in
Santa Clara county, and who, among other tasks, put in the cement work for the
Consolidated Gas plant, for the Hall of Justice, and for many of the largest
buildings in the city. Born in the old
town of Vallejo, Cal., October 22, 1868, Mr. Kilcourse
is the only son in a family of nine children of whom
three are now living. His father,
M. V. Kilcourse, was for many years a brick
manufacturer of Vallejo, and a California pioneer of 1852. The elder Kilcourse
was born in Ireland, and after coming to America lived for a time in New York,
making the journey to San Francisco by way of Panama. He married Kate Gaffigan, who died in San
Jose. Mr. Kilcourse
has survived the worries of pioneer life and the exactions of a large business
enterprise, and now makes his home with his son, M. E.
As a boy M. E. Kilcourse
saw considerable of the far west, and between the age of ten and twelve lived
in Portland, Ore. His training for
future usefulness included attendance at the public schools of San Jose, where
he graduated at the high school, and gained his first business experience while
teaming for his father. His general
contracting started on a small scale, and was increased as business improved,
and permitted greater latitude in the purchase of horses, wagons and hauling
apparatus, and the employment of assistants.
He is now one of the best known contractors in the city, and his
faithfulness and ability may be taken as proof of assured future success. Mr. Kilcourse
married in San Jose, May Duffy, who was born in San Jose, and whose economy and
household skill have materially aided in his accumulation of a competence. He has erected a substantial and comfortable
home at No. 93 Dupont street,
and from time to time has invested in other desirable city property. In politics he is independent, and in general
matters is broad minded and public spirited.
[Inserted by D. Toole]
Michael E. Kilcourse
1908
Feb 18, Evening News, P8, San Jose, California
Died
Kilcourse – In San Jose, February 17, 1908,
Michael V. Kilcourse, beloved father of Mrs. W. F. Ferre, M. E. Kilcourse, and Mrs.
A. E. McSwegan, a native of Ireland, aged 70 years. Funeral Tuesday at 3 p.m. Interment at Santa Clara.
1908
Oct 8, Evening News, P4, San Jose, California
Personal
Mrs.
M. E. Kilcourse of 93 Dupont
street who recently underwent a severe operation at
the O’Connor sanitarium is slowly regaining her strength. She was attended by Drs. Patterson and McGinty. The
operation was a delicate one and was performed with great skill.
[Parents
of Martin E. Kilcourse: Michael V. Kilcourse
and Catherine Gaffeny according to California
marriage certificate. Martin Edward Kilcourse married Neta Lopez 5
July 1910 at Stockton, California. He
was a 38 year old widower and Neta was 21.]
First
wife of Martin E. Kilcourse: Abbie M. “May” White
Second
wife of Martin E. Kilcourse: Ruth B. Moss
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1387. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Donna Toole.