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Founding Father Byron Kilbourn returns to Milwaukee
Byron Kilbourn, a surveyor from Connecticut, came to Milwaukee in 1836. He bought 160 acres of land west of the Milwaukee River. Solomon Juneau bought the same amount of land east of the Milwaukee River to Lake Michigan. Both men built up their settlements independently. In 1837, two separate villages were incorporated, Juneautown and Kilbourntown. Both villages vied for residents and dominance, each certain it would outlast the other. As time passed, it became clear that the two would be better off as one, and in 1846 the two villages incorporated as the City of Milwaukee, along with Walker’s point, which was founded by George Walker.
In 1848 and again in 1854, Byron Kilbourn was elected Mayor of Milwaukee. In 1858, his railroad company was exposed as using $631,000 in bribes to approve the railroad’s federal land grants. Nonetheless, Kilbourn was a respected and powerful citizen in Milwaukee. In 1868, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida because of failing health. He died there on December 16, 1870.
Byron Kilbourn was the only one of the three founding fathers of Milwaukee not buried here. Solomon Juneau is at Calvary Cemetery and George Walker at Forest Home. There is a Kilbourn family plot at Forest Home, where Kilbourn’s wife and two of his children are buried.
Frank Matusinec, a member of Historic Milwaukee for over 18 years, decided Kilbourn belonged in Milwaukee. Working with Historic Milwaukee’s Executive Director, Sandy Ackerman, Frank began planning Kilbourn’s return.
A relative was located and permission was granted to move Kilbourn to the family plot. Next, Frank got in touch with Tom Wiseman of Brett Funeral Home. Tom contacted a funeral parlor in Jacksonville to assist in the effort locally. In November, Kilbourn’s 1200-pound cast iron casket, accompanied by a very strong odor, was excavated. Planning started for a fitting ceremony here in Milwaukee. 
Once apprised of their possible cargo, airlines and trucking companies declined to transport the casket back. So Frank flew down to Jacksonville, rented a truck and drove back to Milwaukee with the casket and the grave’s obelisk.
The ceremony on December 16, 1998 was a joint effort. City Hall was the site, with the Police and Fire Department Honor Guards. The Police Departments Historic Mounted Police also participated. Kilbourn was a Mason and the Mason’s Commandry stood casket duty. Speakers included Mayor John Norquist, former Governor Lee Sherman Dreyfus, County Executive Tom Ament and Terry Perry from Congressman Tom Barrett’s office. Canon Gordon Okunsanya of the Episcopal Diocese and Richard Black, Grand Master of the Masons in Wisconsin also spoke. 
At the cemetery, Canon Gordon offered an Episcopal committal service and the Masons did a shortened version of their committal service. The City flag that was draped over the casket was presented to the Kilbourn family.
One hundred thirty years after he left the city he helped found, Byron Kilbourn returned home to rest.
