Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-18
NEARLY BLIND, YET FATHER
CONTINUES SEARCH
HEARS CHILDREN ARE NOW IN
LOS ANGELES
Once Prosperous Rancher Of Eureka
Has Expended Fortune In Efforts
TO Find Wife and
Sons

his body showing the effects of disease
which rendered him helpless thirteen
years ago, and his mind impaired by con-
stant brooding over his troubles, A. b.
KiIgore has arrived tn Los Angeles to
pursue the search for his children, a
search he has carried on almost con-
stantly during the last ten years.
Once prosperous ranchman Of Eureka,
the head of happy family, Kilgore, al
though but A years old, carries the ap-
pearance of man of sixty. and the al
most snow white hair and wrinkled face
give evidence of the sorrow and suffering
he has undergone.
Kilgore's story dates back to December
ii, 1887 when he married Catherine X.
Smith, beautiful girl, the daughter of
a wealthy family of Eureka, Cal. The
couple lived happily together seven years,
when the husband. stricken with disease,
was rendered helpless and his condition
demanded the almost constant care of his
wife.
-Four children were born as result Of
the union, three of whom are still living,
one having died in November, 1894, after
living year.
Comes to Los Angeles
Kilgore is living at 352 Buena Vista
street, and from this home he wanders
forth daily in search of his loved ones.
Investigation has brought to him the re-
port that his wife secured divorce some
years ago and married again, and is now
living in Los Angeles. To this city Kill
gore made his way in the hope of finding
her and to, If possible secure the custody
of his children, who have now almost
reached manhood.
.T was wealthy at the time OF my mar
riage." said Mr.. Kilgore yesterday. land
T ~ ,xf ,,A
1t is one of my fondest hopes that may
be able to do something for my children
that will make them happy, that will
give them start in life and secure them
against want.
| "CatherIne X. Smith was Is years old
when we were married; / was one year
her senior. She was beautiful and lov-
able girl and everything bespoke hap
py, contented future. -Four boys were
born to us and each succeeding addition
to our family circle seemed to bind us to-
gether the more tightly.
Husband Stricken
"Our happiness continued for seven
years and during this time was blessed
with increasing wealth in this world $
goods. In the eighth year of our mar
ried life I was suddenly stricken with
disease; my sight became dimmed and I
almost lost my hearing. was compelled
to lie helpless in my bed, my wife acting
as nurse and doing all she could to relieve
my physical and mental pains.
Several months passed, when I began
to notice the worn look on my wifes face,
and one day she left me, taking the child
rem with her, and 1 was left alone, help
less. unable to move. and with the
thoughts of my absent loved ones con-
stantly in my mind.
"These were terrible days, they
stretched into weeks and months, until
three years and a half had passed, and
was once more able to stand on my
feet My eyesight, although not restored,
was better, and I Immediately began
formulating plans to carry on search
for my family.
Much of my estate was gone as a re-
suit of my illness, but still owned some
property and determined to convert part
OF 1t into money in order to carry on my
search.
Hears of Wife
"After some months of fruitless wan
dering / accidentally learned my wife had
placed three of the children, then 3, and
. years Of age respectively. in convent
at Grass Valley. Thither 1 made my way,
only to find the children had been taken
away by their mother short time before.
The sisters at the convent told me they
had been placed there under the name of
Smith, my wife's maiden name
Shortly after this received notice tha.,
my wife had brought suit for divorce in
Eureka. made my way to that city and
appeared in court on the day set for the
hearing, but my wife failed to appear
and the case was dismissed,
'I received another terrible shock at
this time, for learned from friends that
my youngest child was dead. My mind
seemed to be on the point of giving way.
but with what now seems to be super
human will power 1 overcame my grief
and continued my search.
zone of the sources from which l de-
rived an income was a large brickyard at
Eureka, and 1t was the similarity between
the name of one of the men working i'll
this yard and that of my wife that has
spurred me on in my inquiries and brought
me to Los Angeles.
Meets Wife's Brother
Among the employees in the yard was
Edward Smith. and to him repeated the
story which had told to so many. hop
Ing 1t might catch the ear of some one
who could give me the information was
SO earnestly seeking.
Edward Smith told me he was my
brother-in-law, the brother of the wife
for whose whereabouts / had been so
vainly looking. Here at last, believed,
clew had been discovered. and eagerlg
l questioned the man. He told me his
sister had second time sued for divorce,
and that she, together with the children.
were in Los Angeles. This information
was confirmed by Smiths sister, whom /
saw later. They also said my wife had
married again. but this / cannot believe.
as / had received no notice of the suit