J. A. Killion, an intelligent and successful farmer of Belknap Township, Pottawattamie County, was born in Menard County, Illinois, September 15, 1858, a son of James E. and Sarah E. (Hornback) Killion, both natives of Kentucky, the former a son of Michel Killion, also a native of Kentucky, and the latter the daughter of John H. and Abigail (Bracken) Hornback. Our subject's father died in Menard County in 1876, at the age of fifty-six years. He had been a farmer all his life, and in his political views he was a Republican. Religiously he was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His widow is still living in Menard County. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living.

J. A. Killion was reared on a farm in his native county until 1883, when he came to his present farm of 146 acres in Pottawattamie County. When he first settled on this place it was wild prairie land, but he has since made many improvements, and he now has a fine large farm. He was married in Menard County, Illinois, March 3, 1881, to Miss A. M. Denton, a woman of intelligence and education, and the daughter of William G. and Elizabeth (Powers) Denton. Politically Mr. Killion is a Republican.