The Killian Family and their House on the Hill

Every person in town knew who the Killians were. 

Their big, elegant house was perched in the middle of the block surrounded by Main Street on the east, Jefferson Street on the north, Watson Street on the south and Railroad Street to the west. It was easily the largest and most impressive home in the village.

This house was once the centerpiece of the Cheny farm, built by D.B. Cheny about 1850. An early plat book shows a drawing of large home with barns next to it, and a circular driveway, surrounded by a wooden fence.

It was an Italianate style, with a Mansard roof and a turret. When the Killians bought it, it was known as the Gruber House. There were 27 rooms.  Eventually the Killian family had 12 children to fill all of the bedrooms, with an extra room for out of season clothing. 

The turret was an important feature of the house. The girls used it as a dollhouse, and the boys used it as something else. It had a second story accessible by a small staircase.

The children were typical fun-loving youths who made friends easily. Their father was a stern disciplinarian, with a softer side. He played sports with his children in spite of a polio affliction that struck at the age of 2 1/2, leaving his right leg useless. He used leg braces and shoe extensions to function at a high level. He walked, worked, drove a car and was a fully capable of overcoming any physical challenges that came his way. 

The head of the family was Clarence Wilford Killian (son of Wayne C. and Clara Frost Killian), and his wife Florence Almira Yates (daughter of George Christopher and Candace Estelle (Breese) Yates). They were the first couple to be married in the new Methodist Episcopal Church of Montgomery. The year was 1911. 

Clarence Killian had a brother who was 26 years younger. He was already married when his only brother, Melvin, was born. Melvin and his wife Elsie opened an auto parts store in a remodeled horse barn on Route 31 and Baseline Road. Florence Yates Killian had a sister, Gladys Yates Schade, who lived on South River Street in Montgomery.

Clarence and Florence started married life in Iowa, but after the death of their newborn child, they returned to Montgomery, where Clarence began a new job with Lyon Mettalic Manufacturing Company (now Lyon Metal), as a purchasing agent. They rented a new house belonging to Ella Newman at 125 Main Street and lived there a year or so before buying the big house at 522 South Main St.

He took his family to worship at the Aurora Free Methodist Church and they became faithful members, deeply involved in the life of the church. It was central to their lives.

In 1921 Clarence started his own locker manufacturing company called Durabilt Steel Locker Company. He was president of the company until 1930. It flourished and became the third largest in the industry in volume.

All of the children attended the Montgomery Elementary School, and Miss Grace Nicholson, who had taught their mother, taught each of them, at one time or another.  The evidence of the family’s affection for Miss Nicholson is found in the notes that Mrs. Killian wrote to her, in appreciation for her efforts in educating the Killian children.

Tragedy struck the family after Christmas of 1930. The oldest son, Donald, was stricken with spinal meningitis. After suffering nearly four weeks, he died.  He was just three months short of his 18th birthday, and graduation from West Aurora High School. His death left Clarence shattered and he suffered a severe breakdown. He was unable to work for six months and resigned his presidency at Durabilt.

With the Great Depression looming, Clarence was unable to find employment to support his large and growing family, so he began peddling fruits and vegetables year-round with a truck. With the help of his sons, Harry, Ralph, and Irwin, who left school to join him, he continued for three years.

As with most families during the dark days of the depression, they had help from family, friends, and an unshakable faith in God.

In 1935 he was again employed at Lyon as manager of the Statistical Division. Son Harry graduated from West Aurora High School, and Ralph obtained an office boy job at Lyon. Irwin did the same at American Well Works in Aurora.

Before the big old house was sold in 1946, it was the arena for a warm, loving family life. The dramatic moments played out here, included seeing two boys off to World War II, a son’s wedding, celebrating the safe return of the soldiers, welcoming Grandpa Wayne Killian into the family circle upon the death of his wife, seeing others off to college or matrimony, and welcoming grandchildren.

When they sold the house, they moved to a "smaller" one, the 12-room Beher house at 315 Mill Street. And when they finally became empty nesters, they moved to 117 Riverside Drive. Eventually they moved to a retirement home in Woodstock, Illinois.

Ralph and his wife Gwen graciously shared information on the Chautauqua era in Montgomery, with the Historical Committee as we were preparing the big History of Montgomery book, published in 1990. Daughter Virginia remembered their father taking them to the Chautauqua at Riverview Park, but they did not go to the amusement park. 

Virginia is living in Florida, and a phone call to her provided an update on the family, as well as that she is celebrating her 90th birthday. Of the original 12 children, five are still living. They are Glenn, Paul, Virginia, Marilyn and Bernadette. There are 26 grandchildren.

The big old house has been gone for many years. After a few years of serving as an apartment building where young couples could live until their children came along, it was torn down to make room for new homes and duplexes. Some of these provide housing for couples who have downsized, and there is now no trace of the big house on the hill.