An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 397-398
	
	DR. EDWARD O. KILBOURNE. -- Among the representative business men of Seattle
we find the subject of this sketch, who is actively engaged in advancing the
interests of the city. He was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, January 13, 1856.
His parents, Everette H. and Frances A. (Stone) Kilbourne, were natives of the
same State, their ancestors being numbered among the pioneer settlers of New
England. His grandfather, Ralph Kilbourne, was one of the first dentists in the
United States, and very skillful in his profession. Everette H. adopted the same
profession, and practiced in Vermont up to 1858, then moved to Aurora, Illinois,
and continued, in a general practice.
	Edward C. Kilbourne was reared in Aurora, and educated in the public schools
of that city. He then studied dentistry under the preceptorship of his father,
and received further instruction from the leading practitioner of Chicago and
New York. Locating in Aurora, he commenced his practice in partnership with his
father, continuing until 1880, when, through failing health, he retired from the
profession for the out-door exercise of the mining districts of Colorado, where
he prospected for two seasons, regaining his health but attaining to no great
financial prosperity. In 1882 he returned to Chicago and became treasurer of the
Elgin Milk & Butter Company, remaining in that office up to November, 1883, when
he came direct to Seattle. He then resumed the practice of his profession, which
he continued very successfully about five years. In 1887 he was one of the
active organizers of the first Territorial Dental Society, which was
instrumental in securing the passage of the dental law for the protection of the
regular practitioners against quackery and incompetent attendance. He was
appointed by the Governor as a member of the Board of Dental Examiners, and by
that board was elected president, which position he held until his retirement
from practice in December, 1888, to engage actively in the real-estate business.
He was a member of the syndicate which purchased the Denny & Hoyt tract of 214
acres and located and named the town of Fremont. To properly develop this tract
they purchased the old horse-car line and transformed it into the electric
system, incorporating under the name of the Seattle Electric Railway Company,
with a capital stock of $120,000, the company owning five miles of track. This
system was continued by the company until January 16, 1891, when they
re-incorporated as the Seattle Consolidated Railway Company, with a capital
stock of $1,500,000. Dr. Kilbourne became treasurer, and in August, 1892, was
elected president of the company. The system now comprises twenty-two miles of
track, and five and a half miles additional are operated under contract.
	In real estate the Doctor also platted Kilbonrne's Division of the Lake
Union Addition, consisting of forty acres, and Kilbourne's Division of Green
Lake Addition, of eighty acres, besides handling a large amount of inside
property. In February, 1891, he organized the Pacific Electric Light Company,
and became president. He obtained a charter from the city in March, and upon May
1, 1891, was furnishing lights to the city, evincing great enterprise in the
rapid completion of the plant. In September following, they consolidated with
the Commercial Light Company, forming the Home Electric Light Company of which
our subject continued an executive, being vice president and manager.
	During the winter of 1891-'92, Dr. Kilbourne went to New York and purchased
the two-third interest of Henry Villard in the Seattle General Electric Company,
thus perfecting a consolidation with that company in March, 1892, forming the
Union Electric Company, of which the Doctor was elected president and general
manager. The company hold a contract for lighting the city with arc and
incandescent lights, and also for furnishing power to the public. They have two
power houses, the combined capacity being 2,000-horse power of boilers and
engines; 750 arc lights, 11,600 incandescent, with 270-horse power for motor
purposes. They are now furnishing nearly all the incandescent lights of the
city, and about three-fourths of the arc lights.
	Dr. Kilbourne was married in Seattle, June 23, 1886, to Miss Leilla A.
Shooey, a native of Steilacoom and daughter of O.C. and Emma (Bonney) Shooey,
early pioneers of the Territory. With his manifold interests the Doctor attends
closely to business, but for several years has served as President of the
Y.M.C.A. and Trustee of the Plymouth Congregational Church.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.