Michael Killerlain is one of the highly respected citizens of the town of Dunn and he has followed that honorable vocation in Dane county during all of his mature life. He is a native of the Green Mountain state, and was born in the county of Rutland, Vermont on December 10, 1857, his parents being John and Nora (Kivlin) Killerlain, both of whom, were born in Ireland.To the union of these parents there were born eight children: Timothy, the eldest son, and Mary, the eldest daughter, are deceased; John is deceased and his widow resides in Davenport, Iowa; Patrick is deceased; Bridget married William Trainor and resides in the city of Madison; Katie married Dominic Conlin and resides in Madison; Mamie married Thomas Brennan and resides in Two Harbor, Minn.; and Michael is the subject of this review.

The family came directly to Wisconsin from Vermont, in 1857, and the father purchased forty acres of land and began general farming in the town of Fitchburg, Dane county. He remained on this farm three years, and then sold it and worked farms on shares in the same township for nine years, until his death. Some time after the demise of the father, the mother married Thomas Carey, of Fitchburg, and about three years after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Carey removed to Madison, where they now live in retirement.

Michael Killerlain who is the immediate subject of this review, received a limited education in the district schools and remained at the parental home until he had reached the age of twenty-one years, assuming charge of affairs and supporting the family until the time of his mother’s second marriage. He then moved to the town of Dunn, where he worked a farm on shares for five years, after which he moved to another farm in the same town and remained there the same length of time. He then resided in the city of Madison two years, working one year in the capitol under Governor Peck’s administration.

Returning to the town of Fitchburg he then farmed for his father-in-law, five years, then rented a farm near Syene, upon which he resided three years, and then for another year conducted a farm in Fitchburg, after which he purchased the place where he now resides. He later added forty acres to his landed possessions, and now has a well-improved farm, the result of his own efforts and those of his faithful helpmate.

Mr. Killerlain was married on November 14, 1880, to Miss Ellen Glennon, who was born in the town of Blooming Grove, October 11, 1859, daughter of Edward and Ellen (Madden) Glennon, old residents of Dane County. Mr. and Mrs. Killerlain are the parents of eight children; the two eldest Mamie and Jennie, are twins, the former being the wife of T. M. Cusic, of the town of Dunn, and the latter is Mrs. William Lawler, of the same township; Nellie is deceased; and the others-John, Edward, Henry, Frank and Mary, reside at home.

Mr. Killerlain maintains an independent attitude in his political views, and his worth as a citizen has been recognized by election to the position of road supervisor, a position he now holds. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church.

1906 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 504-505.