Daniel Kilcup, was born in Nova Scotia, where he was reared and educated. In the early '60s he came down the Frazier river on a scow, on which were his cattle and goods, and landed at Edison, a few miles north of Bellingham, where for a time he was engaged in logging. In 1865, or possibly a little prior to that date, he went to Bellingham, where he worked in the coal mines. He also served as a captain of the boats on the bay, for he had gone to sea at the age of twelve years and thus was experienced on the water. About 1870 he and his brother-in-law, Henry West, came to Lynden and took up a homestead. Their journey to this was not an easy trip, as they had to come up the Nooksack river in canoes, under the guidance of "Old Captain John," an Indian. At that time they were in the midst of a veritable wilderness, there being not even a trail to their land. Here Mr. Kilcup entered upon the formidable task of clearing the land of the dense growth of trees and brush which covered it. The wood around them were filled with wild animals, including bears, deers and cougars, and they had to be constantly on their guard. Once a year he walked to Bellingham, where he did his trading, but a other times his goods were brought up the river to him by Indians. He slashed about twenty acres of this land and cultivated it between the stumps. In those days the neighbors cooperated in helping each other clear their land, and 'logging bees' were a common event. The spirit of mutual helpfulness was more in evidence then at the present time.
Here Mr. Kilcup lived until his death, which occurred in 1888, about the time the first railroad through here was under construction. He was married to Miss Harriet Fillerdue, who was born in eastern Canada, of an old French family, her marriage to Mr. Kilcup occurring in British Columbia. She died October 17, 1918. To Mr. and Mrs. Kilcup were born thirteen children, namely: Captain John, who lives in Oregon, is married and has six children, and who was one of the first to run river boats up the Nooksack river; Sarah, who died when about fourteen years of age; Mrs. Louisa Pease, of Los Angeles, California, who is the mother of three sons; Mrs. Mary Coffin of Los Angeles, the mother of three children; Mrs. Margaret Murphy, who lived at Lynden but is now deceased, leaving five children; Mrs. Agnes Bratt, of Los Angeles; Emma, the immediate subject of this sketch; Mrs. Annie Hill, of Lynden, who has three children; Daniel and Charlie, who died in infancy; Robert, of Portland, Oregon, who is married and has six children; Dillon, of Lynden, who is married and has a son; and Mrs. Edith Heallander, of Bellingham.
