Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2023 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Centennial History of Grant County, Indiana 1812-1912, Vol. II Compiled from the Records of the Grant County Historical Society, Archives of the County, Data of Personal Interviews, and Other Authentic Sources of Local Information pub. Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York - 1914 Pg. 686-687 MARCUS M. KILGORE The Farmer's Trust & Savings Company of Marion is one of the solidest and most representative financial institutions of Grant county. Every finan- cial institution during its earlier years acquires estimation and in- fluence in a community largely through the character and reputation of the men whose names are most intimately associated with the undertaking. Some institutions of this kind which have enjoyed prosperous careers of many years apparently lose this personal element in their composition, and continue to exist and enjoy the confidence of the public with apparently little regard to the business managers. But with a new banking house or similar concern, whose prosperity rests upon commercial credit, the personal factor is always the indispensable quality. The success and prosperity of the Farmer's Trust & Savings Company of Marion, which was established only a few years ago, have been to a large degree a reflection of the personal integrity and high business standing of its president, Mr. MARCUS M. KILGORE. MR. KILGORE has been identified with Grant county nearly all the years of his life, and is a plain man of solid worth, whose life and activities have always been above board, and such as to stimulate and give permanence to the confidence reposed in him by a large community. MARCUS M. KILGORE was born on a farm in Franklin county, Indiana, June 26, 1850. He is a son of DAVID and CHARITY (SISLOVE) KILGORE. His father, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1808, and who was a lifelong farmer by occu- pation, and the mother, who was born in Franklin county, Indiana, in 1811, both came to Grant county in 1852 and spent the remainder of their lives in this vicinity. His father died in this county in 1896. There were eight children in the family, and besides the banker, the three others still living are: HERCULES KILGORE of Marion; G. W. KILGORE, of Port Lisbon, Grant county; and MRS. SUSANNA KEEVER, of Marion. Two years of age when the parents came to Grant county, MARCUS M. KILGORE was reared on the old home farm in this county and attained most of his education by attending the district schools, chiefly during the winter seasons. He left the farm when a young man and entered the merchandise business at Port Lisbon in this county and he was one of the successful merchants of that town for twenty years. From there he moved to Converse in Miami county, and in that vicinity was chiefly known as a farmer. During his residence in Miami county, he was elected to the legislature for the session of 1891 on the Democratic ticket, representative of the counties of Cass and Miami. In 1895 MR. KILGORE returned to Grant county, and for the following seven years was a resident upon his farm and actively engaged in its operation. In 1907 occurred his election to the office of Assessor of Grant county, and he held this honorable distinction for four years. MR. KILGORE since 1902 has been a resident of Marion, and active in business affairs of this city. In 1910 he was one of the organ- izers of the Farmer's Trust & Savings Company, and was chosen by other members of the company to the office of president, a place which he has held ever since. He is still engaged in farming and has a splendid farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Liberty and Green township of this county. MR. KILGORE is now regarded as one of the men of substantial means in Grant county, and yet looking back over a career of forty years, it can truthfully be said that he has acquired practically every dollar as a result of his own industry and straightforward business dealings. July 15, 1870, MR. KILGORE married MISS ELIZABETH J. LANE, a native of Ohio and a daughter of MORDICAI and CHARITY (FOSTER) LANE. MRS. KILGORE died October 18, 1909, and the three children left at her death were: MYRTLE, wife of WARREN C. PINKEMAN of Marion; MISS OLIVE KILGORE, of Marion, and KARL, who resides on his father's farm, and who married MARY OVERMAN, and their one son is also named KARL. On June 12, 1912, MR. KILGORE married for his second wife MRS. ISABELLE EDMUNDSON of Marion. MRS. KILGORE is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their home at 501 Wabash avenue is one of the most attractive residences of the city. Fraternally MR. KILGORE is affiliated with the Elks' Club of Marion. ================================================================================