Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 5 May 2005

Page
866

HIRAM KILBON, general store; P. O. Waynesville; born in Waynesville, Sept. 19, 1840; is a son of John T. and Julia Ann (Appleton) Kilbon. He is a native of Worcester Co., Mass., and she of New Jersey. The maternal grandfather, Jesse Appleton, was born in New Jersey, March 22, 1799, grew to manhood and married, and became the father of five children, of whom only one now survives, Andrew Mode. In 1836, Mr. Appleton with his family emigrated to Ohio and located at Waynesville, where for a time he ran a woolen factory. In 1849, his wife died. In 1851, he married Mrs. Maria Braddock, daughter of Josiah and Mercy Steward. Mrs. Braddock by her first husband had six children, two now living—Martha Jane, now Mrs. Thompson; and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Dunham. About 1849, Mr. Appleton purchased a woolen factory on Caesar Creek, which he ran about twenty years; then he engaged in farming for a few years, when from advanced years, he retired from all active labor, and has since resided with Mr. Kilbon; is now in his 83d year, having greatly surpassed the "threescore years and ten," the allotted age of man. John T. Kilbon, born and raised in Massachusetts, was brought up to the boot and shoe manufacturing business. About 1837, he emigrated to Ohio and located at Waynesville and here carried on the manufacture of boots and shoes; was married Dec. 17, 1839. In 1849, he moved to Illinois, first' to Greene County, thence to Mason County, thence to Scott County, where he died. Dec. 31, 1863, aged 52 years; his wife died July 31, 1865, aged nearly 46 years. Of six children born to them, all died in infancy but two—Hiram, and Julia Ann, now Mrs. James A. Lloyd, residing in Clinton Co., Ohio. Mr. Kilbon carried on the boot and shoe business but a short time, then entered upon the grocery trade, which business he conducted with success for many years and accumulated a good competency, after which he entered upon some speculations which proved unfortunate, and he met with heavy losses. Our subject remained with his father, assisting him in the grocery business, till 18 years of age; then he labored on a farm till the war of the rebellion. On Aug. 20,1862, he enlisted in the 129th Ill. V. I., and served through the war; was discharged at Washington, June 8, 1865, having been engaged in the battles of Buzzards' Roost, Resaca, Nashville, Decatur and others, and fortunately escaped without a wound. Mr. Kilbon was married, April 19, 1866, to Miss Rebecca M., daughter of Charles and Maria Braddock, natives of New Jersey; had one child, Ola M.; his wife died Sept. 23, 1870, aged 24 years. On April 11, 1872, he was married to Miss Sarah A. Braddock, by whom he has three children, viz., Walter J., Sarah Etta and Julia M. In August, 1866, Mr. Kilbon located at Corwin and opened out in the grocery trade, and from year to year has increased his stock and business until he now has a large stock of goods embracing everything usually kept in a general country store; has now been in business here fifteen years; has established a trade and a character for fair and honest dealing second to but few in the county; and, as is usual with that class of business men, has made a financial success. Mr. Kilbon's children were born as follows: Ola May, May 26,1867; Walter J., April 14, 1873; Sarah A., May 5, 1875 and Julia M., born April 18, 1878.