The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-02-28
DEATH OF MIR. J. F. KILGUS.
Well known Citizen of Bamberg Pass
ed Away Monday Morning.

Monday morning, after an illness
Of many months, Mr.. J. F. Kilgus, in
point of residence one of the citys
oldest citizens, died at his home here
On New Bridge street. Mr.. kilgus
had been i'll for two or three years,
but for the past several months had
been in a critical condition, and his
life was despaired of weeks ago.
While there was no surprise at his
death, the news caused genuine sor-
row among his numerous friends and
acQuaintances, as it removed from
Bamberg one of it's most familiar
characters, a man who knew and was
known by everybody.
The funeral services were conduct
ed Tuesday morning from the late
residence, and interment took place
at Restland cemetery. Rev. George
P. White, pastor of the Baptist
church, conducted the services in the
presence of large number of friends
and relatives.
Jacob Frederick Kilgus was born
in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1865,
and would have been SO years old
within the next few weeks. With his
parents and brothers and sisters he
came to America about 1880, and liv-
ed in Charleston for few years. They
afterward lived in New York and Bos-
ton and finally moved to Savannah,
where Mr. Kilgus resided before NOV
ing to Bamberg twenty-five years ago.
He came here as a baker for Col.
John F. Folk, and later served in the
same capacity for Mr.. j.. A. Spann
when the latter purchased Col. Folks
bakery. A few years later Mr.. Xii
gus purchased the bakery business
from Mr.. Spann, and continued to-
operate it until his health compelled
him to retire from active business.
For many months Mr.. Kilgus had
known that his illness would be ia
tai, but up until he lost conscious
ness on Friday before his death he
was cheerful and appeared to be per-
fect1y resigned to his fate. He always
looked on the bright side of life, and
never failed to have kind word for
everybody he talked with. Mr.. Kilgus
was man of a great many most
commendable traits of character and
he was generally liked by everybody.
Although he was a native born
German, many years ago he secured
naturalization papers. In the delicate
position in which he was placed when
a state of war was declared to exist
between Germany and America, he
acted in a most ldecorous manner.
While he undoubtedly, and naturally,
had a deep love for his native coun-
try, when the exigency arose calling
forth loyalty to America on behalf
of all it's citizens, "Uncle jake as
he was familiarly known, was never
heard to utter an unpatriatic word
of his adopted land, and that his love
and sympathy were with America
cannot be doubted. Quiet, unassum-
ing, attending strictly to his own
business, he was an exemplary citi-
zen, and his jovial conversation on
the streets will be remembered for
many years.
Mr.. Kilgus was a loyal knight of
Pythias, and never missed attending
a meeting until his illness prevented
his going out. He was buried with
Knightly honors at the grave.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Mary A. Kilgus, and three children,
as follows: Mr.. Charles Francis Kill
gus, of Latta; Mr.. William Freder-
ick Kilgus, of Bamberg; and Mrs.
Louisa Kilgus Smith, of Columbia;
and by the following brother and sis
ters: Mr.. Carl o. Kilgus, of Savan-
nah; Mrs. C. H. E. Ortman, of An
derson; Mrs C. R. Dickson, of An
derson; and Mrs. A. H. Crawford, of
Lamar, Colo