The family bible gives his name as Moses M., likely named after his Uncle Moses Kilpatrick. Milton was born Sept 12, 1863 on Irish Hill, between Delhi and East Meredith, Delaware Co, NY. He was the baby brother to 3 surviving brothers and 2 sisters; his parents were in their 40' s and his older sister Elizabeth was 20 years old at the time of his birth. He is living with his brother Edwin’s family in the 1880 census at age 14. He attended the Walton Academy and Westminster College for two years and received his A.B. degree from Monmouth College in 1889. He graduated from Zenia Theological Seminary in 1892 with A. M. and was licensed by Sidney Presbyterian(?) Jan 19, 1892: " A hearty and unanimous call was moderated recently in the congregation of Minden, Nebraska by Rev. J. A. Cosby addressed to M. M. Kilpatrick, a recent graduate of Xenia Seminary. He will accept.” (Aug 4, 1892 United Presbyterian 50: 516).
Fort Kearny, north of Minden, had defended the country against Indians in the 1850's to 1880's. In the 1890's transportation was by horse and buggy, or by train. The Oregon Trail passes just north of Minden and the cross country railroad runs across the north of town. The United Presbyterian Church of Minden was organized in 1884 under a group of elders and probably acquired their first pastor, Mr. Duff, in fall of 1883. In 1885 the church (32 x 80 feet) was erected for $2500, partly with financial aid given by the Board of Church Extension. Fortunately Mrs. Duff had a good voice, since there was no organ, only a tuning fork. When the Duff's left Minden in 1891 there were 150 members. In 1892, the one-story Duff home on the comer of First and Yates was purchased as a parsonage for $1100.
"Rev. M. M. Kilpatrick was our second pastor who was with us from 1892 to 1895. He was a young man just from the seminary and was single. He was married however soon after he settled in Minden." Milton married Elvira Boyce 9 Nov 1892. She was a native of Keokuk, Iowa (born 1859), was reared in southern Ohio and taught school for several years before 1892 in Eaton, Ohio. "during his pastorate we continued to have many accessions from eastern congregations." "The year 1894 was very trying one because of a hot wind the 26th of July which burned all the vegetation. Com and crops of all kinds were destroyed, beyond hope of recovery. There being no feed for winter much stock had to be disposed of. The rest of the summer and fall there was little work for the farmers. The men of our church gathered every Saturday afternoon to play ball in a pasture adjoining Minden. This to keep up the morale. It was considered a success even though some of them were bruised and battered up as a result." [now the Westminster United Presbyterian Church, 109 North Colorado Ave, Minden, Nebraska 68959]
Rev. Kilpatrick delivered the Bacalaureate Sermon to the Minden High School graduating class of 1894, which had 6 graduates. The Minden population was then 1,559, there were 72 children in the 2nd grade class.
The Kilpatrick's stayed in Nebraska until 1895, leaving on the advice of his physician, who felt Rev. Kilpatrick was unable to withstand the climate of the plains. In addition to the previously noted hot summers, several winters in 1880 had record cold and severe blizzards that became the subject of local legends. In fairness to Minden, Nebraska, I mention that springtime (April and May) is the time of natural spectacle when Sandhill Cranes Migrate from Mexico and Texas to Canada, passing through a narrow in the flight path that brings a gathering of 500,000 to the wetland between the Platte River and Minden. The Kilpatrick's moved to Santa Ana, CA with their 5-month-old son Willis Brown Kilpatrick.
In California, 3 other sons were born, Joseph, Ernest and Elmer Boyce. Ernest died at 2-1/2 years and Elmer died as an infant of diptheria [check this information]. In 1904, Rev. Kilpatrick exchanged pulpits with Rev. Kimmelshue of Walton NY, in hopes that the California climate would affect the complete recovery of Rev. Kimmelshue from an accident the previous November (United Presbyterian June 9, 1904, page 13, article includes distinguishing photograph). Milton was accompanied by his wife and their children, and they spent 10 months in Walton. They then returned and remained in Santa Ana until 1906. Rev. Kilpatrick received the Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Monmouth in 1918.
Rev. Kilpatrick held several other pastorates in California: Highland Park, Los Angeles, 1907-1908; Pasadena United Presbyterian, 1908-1911; San Diego, 1912-1918; Wesminster (or Second) Presbyterian Church San Jose, 1919-1928; First Presbyterian Church Gilroy, 1928-1938; and Trinity Presbyterian Church Santa Cruz, 1938-1946.
Other services through the Presbyterian Church are represented by the offices held: Moderator, Los Angeles Presbytery, U.P. Church; California Synod, U.P. Church, 1898; San Jose Presbytery, Presby. Church, USA, 1920; Superintendent, Missions, U.P.Church, 1905-1910. Chairman, Foreign Missions Com., Member Natl. Mission Com., Presby. Church USA, 1926 to 1936. Member since 1925 and chairman since 1935 of Trustees, Presby. Church, USA.
Milton visited Walton, NY frequently and was known well by many of his cousins there. "Rev. Milton Kilpatrick of Minden, NE is visiting his brother W. R. Kilpatrick, East St. Walton" (Any News From Walton 5: 77; newspaper abstract from 7th Jul 1894). As previously mentioned, he and his family lived in Walton when the pulpit was exchanged for most of a year in 1904. Milton made a special trip to visit his mother on the occasion of her 100th birthday in 1921.
Two of Milton's sons died in childhood (circa 1900) and Milton's first wife died in 1927 in San Jose, several years after disabling strokes beginning in May 1920. He then married Marianne Thompson in 1928, although he is listed by himself in Gilroy in the 1930 census as Milton (64, NY), married at age 62. His son Joseph J. Kilpatrick also predeceased him in 1942 (age 46), leaving a wife and two teenage daughters. Milton died in 1946 (age 80) of prostate cancer, his second wife Marianne died in 1949. His remaining son Rev. Willis Brown Kilpatrick died in 1951 (age 56).
A POPULAR PREACHER -- Santa Ana Daily Blade
Rev. M. M. Kilpatrick Addresses His Charge on the Subject of Freedom from Sin
"if the Son shall make you free ye shall be free indeed." With these words as a text Rev. M. M. Kilpatrick delivered a most excellent sermon before the United Presbyterian church last night. The speaker is pastor of one of the most influential congregations in the city. He is a comparative stranger in the city. A few months residence here has endeared him to his flock and stamped him as a ready speaker, a careful thinker and a most successful pastor. His last night's sermon was delivered with a fiery enthusiasm which characterized the man. He spoke rapidly and at times his utterances were positively eloquent. Rev. Mr. Kilpatrick is a brother of Chief of Police Kilpatrick of Walton and of Wm. Kilpatrick of West Brook.