WILLIAM KILLEBREW, M.D.
William Killebrew, M.D., b May 11,1819 in Montgomery County, Tennessee, d
January 9, 1892 and buried in Marlin, Falls County, Texas - was the third of
eight children of Edwin and Mary (Williams) Killebrew, natives of North
Carolina. Edwin Killebrew moved to Tennessee about 1800, where he married, and
engaged in planting. He died in Montgomery County, Tennessee November 30, 1847.
Mary (Williams) Killebrew died there December 2, 1872.
Dr. Killebrew moved to Chambers County, Alabama in 1843, where he studied
medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. A. S. Huey, and then took a course of
lectures at the Louisville Medical Institute - again reading medicine in 1846
under Dr. N. L. Thomas, and later graduating from medical school at Louisville
with the class of 1845. He practiced medicine for a short time in Kentucky; but
in 1851, he sailed to Galveston, Texas, thence to Indianola, and then by
horseback to Falls County, Texas - arriving there in June 1851. He practiced
medicine until 1865, when he embarked in the mercantile business - opening a
drug store in 1873 in Marlin, which burned in 1888. He afterward engaged in
planting and stockraising - pasturing 2,000 acres, and feeding about fifty
beeves yearly.
On February 2, 1853 in Falls County, Texas, Dr. William Killebrew was
married to Jane J. Fortune, b 1831 in Greensboro, Alabama, d May 1,1873 and
buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin - a daughter of John A. and America
(Higgins) Fortune, Sr., natives of Kentucky, who settled in Falls County in
December 1851.
Dr. and Mrs. Killebrew were the parents of nine children -
the mother dying when her youngest child was born:
Martha Killebrew, b 1859, d June 22, 1873, and buried in Calvary
Cemetery.
Edwin Killebrew, b 1860, d May 27,1861 and buried in Calvary Cemetery.
America Killebrew, b May 7, 1861, d June 26, 1934 and buried in Calvary
Cemetery - was never married.
Bob Louis Killebrew, b ca 1863, d 1864 and buried in Calvary Cemetery.
Susan Killebrew, b October 27, 1864, d May 1, 1912 and buried in Calvary
Cemetery -
married Calvin T. Curry, b January 9, 1864, d February 23, 1931 and buried in
Calvary Cemetery - a son of Moses Henry and Julia (Logan) Curry. He was a teller
in Carter's Bank.
Mary Killebrew, b 1866 - married William McComb. They were both alive in
1892. No further information.
Willie Killebrew, b 1868 - married William DuBois. They were both alive
in 1892. No further information.
M. T. Killebrew, b June 1, 1870, d June 10, 1870, and buried in Calvary
Cemetery.
James S. J. Killebrew, b 1873, d June 30,1874 and buried in Calvary
Cemetery.
Dr. Killebrew served as Coroner for Falls County, and was Marlin
Postmaster for about eighteen years. He supported the ideals of the Republican
Party, and was appointed as Falls County Treasurer by Governor Davis. The family
were of the Baptist faith, and members of First Baptist Church in Marlin. He was
a member of Marlin Lodge No. 152, A.F. & A.M., in which he served as treasurer;
and he was also a Mason.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of
these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 267 column 1 and 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission
