Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 274.

G. E. Kilson [Editor inserted: George E. Kilson]

G. E. Kilson was born in Iowa, January 29, 1857. His parents, Lewis and Caroline Kilson, were natives of Bergen, Norway. They emigrated to America in September, 1838, and went to Cincinnati, the journey at that time being a most arduous one. They soon afterward settled in Adams County, Illinois, on a farm they bought and improved. Later, they sold it and moved to Wisconsin, and, after a year spent in that State, removed, in 1855, to Butler County, Iowa. They entered 240 acres of land for a homestead, and this they developed into a fine farm. They built a nice home, and there resided until their deaths, which occurred, the mother's on November 10, 1881, and the father's November 28, 1889.

The subject of this sketch was the fifth of a family of seven children. He was reared in Bristow, Butler County, Iowa, and received his education in the public schools of that town. He assisted his father on the farm until the age of twenty-one years. At that time he came to California to carve his own destiny in the land that offers so many inducements to the worthy citizen, arriving in the Golden State February 7, 1882. He had already obtained some knowledge of telegraphy, and his first move was to finish learning that business, at Pino, Placer County. He was afterward sent to Arizona and at different times had charge of several stations: was three months at Yuma, one year at Dragoon Summit, the highest point on the Souther Pacific Railroad, and was two years at Nelson.

Mr. Kilson was married to Miss Laura F. Williams, December 17, 1886. She is a native of California. From nelson Mr. Kilson moved to Saticoy on the 20th of November, 1887. Here he has the position of ticket and station agent. He is an active and capable business man, and at once became identified with the best interests of Saticoy; has bought property and built a neat and pleasant home, where he resides with his family. Mr. and Mrs. Kilson have two children: Lewis, born at Nelson, and Elmer, at Saticoy.

In his political views, Mr. Kilson is a Republican. He is a member of the K. of P., Eden Lodge, No. 101, at Nelson, Butte County, California.

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Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.