The Kilmers: Fourth Cousins 4x Removed [Part One]

08/20/24 • 41 min

1 Listener

This episode, we journey through the origins of the Kilmer family legacy in Binghamton, New York, starting with the intriguing story of Dr. S. Andral Kilmer and his infamous, homeopathic remedy, Swamp Root, which took the 19th-century patent medicine industry by storm. However, behind the rise to household medicine fame lies a tale of family drama, corporate betrayal, and the blurred lines between truth and perception.

Join us as I uncover the story behind my distant, and admittedly tenuous, connection to these local legends and reveal how lore and local fame can sometimes be even more powerful than actual blood ties.

Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts.

You can also find us at our website www.lowancestry.com.

LOW ANCESTRY CREDITS

Created, Written and Produced by Karyn Harding

Cohosted by Kim McMasters

Sound Engineering and Original Music by Benjamin Mauch

Original Art by Christina Swanson of Swansong Creative

Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts.

You can also find us at our website www.lowancestry.com.

LOW ANCESTRY CREDITS

Created, Written and Produced by Karyn Harding

Cohosted by Kim McMasters

Sound Engineering and Original Music by Benjamin Mauch

Original Art by Christina Swanson of Swansong Creative

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[BITE SIZE] Angeline: Third-Great-Grandmother

In this episode, we dive into the enigmatic life of Angeline, my third-great-grandmother. Angeline's story, largely overshadowed by the men around her, begins in 1863 when her young husband, Elisha, leaves to fight in the Civil War. Left behind with their unborn child, Angeline's life unfolds in the margins of historical records, filled with gaps and contradictions. Through years of persistent research, I uncover the fragmented pieces of her story and complex family dynamics during a turbulent period in American history. Join me as we explore Angeline's elusive narrative, shedding light on the often overlooked lives of women in our ancestry, and reflecting on the broader implications of genealogical research.Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts. You can also find us at our website www.lowancestry.com. LOW ANCESTRY CREDITS Created, Written and Produced by Karyn Harding Cohosted by Kim McMasters Sound Engineering and Original Music by Benjamin Mauch Original Art by Christina Swanson of Swansong Creative

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The Kilmers: Fourth Cousins 4x Removed [Part Two]

Part two of our journey through the lives of the Kilmer family– Binghamton’s medical tycoons at the turn of the 20th century–shows us a powerful family in scandalous turmoil in the aftermath of a devastating factory fire. The Kilmers find themselves navigating a public family feud, arson accusations, lawsuits, and a bitter rivalry between newspapers all while coming face to face with the decline of patent medicines in an ever-modernizing America.

Join us as we examine the Kilmers’ rise to power, relentless pursuit of wealth, and the way their story shaped the city of Binghamton that we see today.

Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts.

You can also find us at our website www.lowancestry.com.

LOW ANCESTRY CREDITS

Created, Written and Produced by Karyn Harding

Cohosted by Kim McMasters

Sound Engineering and Original Music by Benjamin Mauch

Original Art by Christina Swanson of Swansong Creative