Leon  Kilborn

Son of  George 1872- 1922 and Viola Arvilla Bennett Kilborn.  Leon was born 22 Apr 1918 in Manchester, Bennington County Vermont. He died in Jan 1997 Portville  Cattaraugus county NY and is  buried in Clara cemetery Potter County Shinglehouse PA. He married my mother Careene Mae Shattuck when she was 19 years old 23 Aug 1941 in St Johns Luthern church Allegany NY. Leon had two sisters, Luna House born in 1895 and Favia  born In  1902, both in Manchester, Bennington County Vermont

Leon’s father George was born 10 Aug  1872 in Vermont and died  12 Jan 1922.  He was the son of Frank Kilborn and  Christine Wheeler. Leon’s mother Viola was born in 1871 in Vermont. Leon was married to  Elthea Slocum and they had a daughter Mary Lou born in 1939. He later married Martha  Corwin 1917-1987,  daughter of Walter & Dora Bridge Corwin.Leon and Martha  had a daughter Linda Killbourne   born 18 Jul 1948- 5 Dec 2014, she is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Shinglehouse PA.

Leon and Martha are buried in Clara Cemetery, potter county Shinglehouse PA.

Linda and Pen did  some research into her parents and grandparents. She had been told that her father was part Native American and that he came from Vermont. It was an unrelated neighbor who was close to the family who told her that. Using Google and Ancestry.com, they were able to learn about his first marriage, which was a surprise to her.

 Linda did have a few photos of her parents, but they were given to her sister after Linda’s death. they  were able to find a few pictures of his first wife on the internet. Linda knew that her mother had had a daughter named Alice, but she believed the father was named Ed Cornelius. Martha lost custody of Alice after being charged with neglect. Alice was was very young at the time. Custody was given to her father. That was before Martha and Leon married. When Linda was born the family were living in Port Allegany with two much older women, Theresa and Lou.

 This was when Linda was a pre -schooler. She thinks Theresa was Leon’s mother and Lou was his aunt, but she was never sure of that. The family moved to Shinglehouse about the time Linda started kindergarten, and Theresa and Lou were not with them. It may be that they had died, or possibly were in a nursing home.

 Leon and Martha had other children—Rosemary, Ronald and Judy. They were not good parents. Linda and Rosemary lived with them in a small cabin that had no insulation Linda said they would wake up in the morning to find snow on the bed from cracks in the wall. They were often left alone with little food. Ronnie lived with a man down the road during the week and visited his family on weekends.

 Judy was given up for adoption to another family on the same road. She didn’t find out who her biological parents were until she was around sixteen. Leon had a job in Buffalo, and sometimes didn’t come home during the week. However he was able to do some farming—primarily raising hay to sell. They never had much money, because Leon drank heavily. That’s about all Pen can tell. She never met Leon or Martha. They both died before Linda and pen met.

STATE”  Vermont

COUNTY: Bennington

CITY:       Manchester

CENSUS: 1920

                                   210 East Manchester

Line # 32-    Kilburn George- head of household- age 48-(1872) married, white, born in Vermont- Parents born in Vermont. Occupation Laborer, Marble Mill.

Line # 33-    Kilburn Viola, wife, age 49-  (1871)married- born in VT- parents born in VT.

Line # 34-    Kilburn Luna, daugh- age 25- ( 1895) single- born in VT

Line # 35-    Kilburn Favia, daugh-  age 18- ( 1902)  single- born in VT, occupation: laborer in a shirt shop

Line # 36-    Kilburn Leon. Son- age 1 ½- (1918)  born in VT

STATE:     PA

COUNTY:  potter

CITY:         Roulette

CENSUS:   1930

Line # 58-  HOUSE, W.I. head of household- age 41-(1889) married- born in PA- Parents born in PA-  age 25 at first marriage. Owns home- occupation: Farmer

Line # 59-   HOUSE Lunda, wife- age 35 (1895)  married- born in VT- parents born in VT-age  19 at first marriage.

Line # 60-  KILBORN, Viola- mother in law- age 60-( 1870) widow, born VT- parents born VT.

Line # 61-  KILBORN, Theresa, sister in law- age 25-(1905)  single, born VT- parents born VT.

Line # 62-  KILBORN, Leon, newphew- age 12-(1918) single, born VT- Parents born VT.

STATE: PA

COUNTY; Potter

CITY; Sharon Township

CENSUS:  1940

Line 69;     KILBORNE, Leon head of hse, age 22 (1918) born in PA ( VT), Occupation: Laborer

Line 70:     KILBORNE, Elthea (Slocum) Wife, age 16 (1924) born in PA

Line 71:     KILBORNE, Mary Lou, Daug age 1 (1939) born in PA

Line 72;     SLOCUM, Robert Jr,  Brother in law- age 21 (1919) born in PA, Occupation Laborer Farmer

Line 73:     SLOCUM, Viola- Daugh in law- age 21 (1919) born in PA, occupation, Farmer