University of Virginia Library

JUDGE WILBUR J. KILBY

Was born in Suffolk, Virginia, on April 18, 1850. His early education
was received in the town schools of Suffolk, and in 1867 he entered Randolph-Macon
College, at Boydtown, Virginia, attending one session
there, after which, in 1868, the college was removed to Ashland, Virginia,
where he remained two sessions, graduating in various schools.
He then entered the law school of the University of Virginia, in the fall
of 1870, and spent two sessions there. In August, 1872, he began to
practice law in Suffolk, where he has remained ever since. He was a
member of the law firm of Kilby & Son, and thus privileged to associate
himself at the beginning of his career with his eminent father,
whose name was known and honored throughout Virginia. On the death
of his father he continued to carry on the business of the firm. He has
been a member of the council of Suffolk, and is now ably filling the office
of judge of the county court.

His father, the late Hon. John Richardson Kilby, was born in Hanover
county, Virginia, on December 31, 1819, the son of Turpin Kilby, who
was a son of John Kilby, who was born in Vienna, Dorchester county,

Maryland, and settled in Hanover county in colonial days. The Hon.
John R. Kilby began his business life at the age of fourteen years, as
assistant to the clerk of court, Nansemond county; later was deputy
sheriff of the county. While faithfully discharging the duties of these
positions, he gave his leisure time to the study of law, and in 1845 was
admitted to the Bar. He was soon recognized as one of the leading
members of his profession in Tidewater Virginia, a result due no less to
his high moral worth than to his ability and his unsurpassed command
of legal lore. Among the public offices he filled were: Representative
from Nansemond county to the General Assembly of Virginia, 1851-2-3;
elector for the State; and delegate to various State and National conventions.
He was president of the Commercial Bank of Suffolk some
years, also. In 1843 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, from which time he devoted his means and his abilities to the
cause of Christianity in every way that presented itself. His charities
were unbounded, and he gave his services in many offices, church steward,
church trustee, trustee of church college, president of society for the
relief of disabled ministers, Sunday-school superintendent, delegate to
General and Annual Conferences. This honorable and useful career
closed with his death in Suffolk, December 5, 1878, at the age of fifty-nine
years. One mourning this loss in his death then wrote: "Let this
epitaph be graven on the granite which shall mark his resting place:
This man served his own generation by the will of God."

The maiden name of Judge Kilby's mother was Martha Jane Louisa
Smith. She was born in the old mansion of her father, Arthur Smith,
corner Main and Second streets, Suffolk, where she lived seventy-one
years, until her death on February 7, 1888. Her father was forty years
postmaster in Suffolk, keeping the office at his residence.

Judge Kilby had two brothers in the Confederate States Army: Leroy
R., entered as private Company B, 16th Virginia Infantry, was promoted
through all grades to captain, and was in command of his regiment at
the surrender at Appomattox C. H.; died in Suffolk, October 12, 1883.
Wallace, the other brother, was a private in the same company, and
served part of the time as courier for General Weisiger; was wounded
once in arm, and once in leg; now a merchant of Suffolk.

The wife of Judge Kilby, whom he married at her father's residence,
near Newton, King and Queen county, Virginia, September 5, 1876, is
Harriet L., daughter of Joseph Brownley, her mother's maiden name,
Mary Catharine Howerton. She was born in King and Queen county,
as were her parents, both now deceased.

The children of Judge and Mrs. Kilby are three: Bradford, John
Richardson and Hilah. They have buried one daughter, Miriam Brownley,
died September 4, 1881, aged two and a half years.