Kilgen

Succeeding generations of Kilgens remained in Durlach and carried on organ building as a family trade.

[1] George Kilgen was born in Merchingen, Germany in 1821 and apprenticed to the organ builder Louis Voit in Durlach.

In 1840, he emigrated to the United States for political reasons and was employed with the Jardine organ company in New York City.

Up until this time, it appears Henry Kilgen had been operating independently, having established his own firm in St. Louis, Missouri in the early 1870s.

[8] His other son, Eugene, formed the Kilgen Organ Company in St. Louis, with Max Hess as his vice-president and chief engineer.

[2][3] During the company's early years, Kilgen primarily built and installed tracker action pipe organs for small churches in the Midwest.