Biography of Walter A. Kilton

Having entered the United States Postal Service as a young man of twenty-four years, Mr. Kilton has been identified with this branch of the Federal government ever since with the exception of four years, 1917-21, when he was engaged in the real estate business. It is more than four decades that he has been identified with the Providence post office and almost one decade he has been postmaster of Providence.

He was born at Coventry, Rhode Island, on April 20, 1856, a son of John J. and Emily L. (Hartness) Kilton, both natives of Coventry, and both now deceased. His father was engaged in the manufacturing business until his death. Educated in the public schools of Coventry, and the Highland Military Academy, from which he was graduated in 1877, Mr. Kilton taught school for three years in his native city and, in 1880, was appointed postmaster of Washington, Rhode Island. In this position he continued until 1883, when he became associated with the Providence post office. For thirty-four years this association remained uninterrupted; then, in 1917, Mr. Kilton entered the real estate business in Providence, in which he continued successfully until 1921. In this year he was appointed postmaster of Providence, which important office he has since continued to fill very capably. He is a member of the National Association of Postmasters, the Providence Chamber of Commerce, the Pomham Club, and numerous Masonic bodies, including the following: Manchester Lodge, No. 12, Free and Accepted Masons: Providence Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Providence Council, Royal and Select Masters; Calvary Commandery, Knights Templar; Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, while his religious affiliation is with the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Mr. Kilton married (first), in 1883, Laura R. Waldo, a native of New York State, who died in 1895. By this marriage one child was born, Helen H. Mr. Kilton married (second), in 1898, Mary E. McElligott, a native of Providence, by whom he has one son, Walter A., Jr.

Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 3 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.

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