The Hilborn Families of Crawford County, Ohio

One of the prominent farmer citizens of Crawford county, Ohio, who is well known and highly esteemed, is Samuel Hilborn, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, on June 28, 1826. His parents were Isaac and Nancy (George) Hilborn, and both of them were natives of Pennsylvania, where the former was born in 1798, and the latter on May 22, 1801. They were the parents of nine children, these being as follows: Polly, Robert, Samuel, Amos, William, Elizabeth Isabella, John and Sarah. The father died April 30, 1865, and the mother April 17, 1841. Isaac Hilborn was one of the early settlers of Auburn township.

Samuel Hilborn, who is the subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm and received the best education possible in that locality. At the age of seventeen years he left the parental roof and apprenticed himself to the blacksmith trade, remaining three years under instruction. Then he opened a shop of his own on the cross roads in Auburn township, which was later known as Mechanicsburg from the fact of the establishment there of a shoemaker, a wagonmaker and a blacksmith, the combination being very satisfactory to the surrounding farming region.

For ten years Mr. Hilborn conducted his blacksmith shop and then gave up his trade in order to engage in farming on his father's place on shares. In 1856 he purchased eighty acres of land in Cranberry township, removed to the same and resided there for two years. Selling that, he then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Auburn township, which was timber land, located one mile north of the home farm, and here, in company with two others, our subject erected a sawmill, which was operated by them for several years. When this mill was sold to other parties our subject built a log cabin on the land and resided upon it for a short period and then returned to the home farm. Later, through exchange of land and a money consideration, our subject acquired the home farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, and here has been the permanent family home ever since.

In 185 1 Mr. Hilborn was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Irwin, a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Israel H. Irwin, who came to Crawford county about 1834, settling in Auburn township. To our subject and wife live children were born, these being as follows: Ellsworth I., who conducts the home farm in Auburn township; Zella M., the wife of James Michener, of Tiro, Ohio; Charles M., of Massillon; and Isaac N. and Emma L., both deceased.

In politics Mr. Hilborn is a stanch and outspoken Republican, and in his religious belief he is a Lutheran and is one of the liberal supporters of that church. His reputation in Auburn township is that of a man whose word is just as good as his bond, and he well deserves the high regard in which he is held.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM H. HILBORN, farmer and stock-dealer: P. O. Tiro; was born in Sandusky Township June '25, 1831. He is a son of Isaac and Nancy (George) Hilbom, a sketch of whom is found in the biogi'aphy of Robert G. Hilborn, his brother. Like his other brothers, William was reai-ed on the farm. Two years prior to his mai-riage, he worked out by the month, the first season receiving SI 1 per month, and the next season rj..")( This was his marriage start. He was married Jan. 3, 1855, to Elizabeth Grouse, daughter of Abner and Harriet (Thoman) Grouse, and to them were born thi-ee children — Ii-a O., born in September, 1850; Anna L., born in May, 1858, died when 4 months old; Mary A., born in May, 1801. IMrs. Hilborn was born Jan. 0, 1830. From his marriage up to 1805, Mr. Hilborn has made many changes. He at one time owned the saw-mill near where his house now stands. He now owns 80 acres of well-improved land in Western Auburn Township. Mr. Hilborn is a Rejaabliean in politics, and a hard worker in the cause of advancement in our public schools. He is intelligent and entertaining, and commands the respect of a large circle of friends. I H. IRAAIN, blacksmith. Tiro; was born in Chester Co.. Penu.. Jan. 18. 1N35. He is a son of Israel and Hannah (Millard) Lrwin. The father and mother were natives of Pennsylvania, the former being born in 1802, and the latter in 1800. They were married in Chester Co., Penn., April 1, 1823, and came to Auburn Township in 1835. The father died July 19, 1837, and the mother July 22, 1877. Mr. Irwin was a man beloved and esteemed by all who knew him. He was a local minister in the M. E. Chiu'ch, and lived a life full of usefulness. !Mr. and Mrs. Irwin were the parents of the following family: Thomas M., Margaret A., Joseph. Sarah J.,

I Caroline M., Elizabeth A., I. H. and Jai-ed A.

i Thomas, Mai-garet, Joseph and Jared are dead.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

John Hilborn, one of the highly esteemed citizens of Crawford county,. Ohio, now engaged in the coal and drawing business in the town of Tiro, was born in Liberty township, in this county, on November 16, 1838. He was a son of Isaac and Nancy (George) Hilborn. and was a member of a family of nine children, the two survivors being the subject of this sketch and his brother Samuel, who now resides on the old home farm in Auburn township.

Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm, which is located within one mile of his present home in Tiro. He received an excellent common-school education, and, as his father was growing old and he was the youngest son, he remained under the parental roof. When he was twenty-two years of age his father gave him forty acres of timber land and he went to work clearing this property. Into his peaceful life, as into that of many another farmer boy, sounded the call to arms in defense of his country, and our subject was quick to respond. On September 7, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Union army, entering Company I, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and soon they were sent from Mansfield to Camp Dennison to be trained in the arts of war. Shortly after, our subject and his companions were sent to Covington, Kentucky, and camped there for a short time, going then to Camp Nevin, where they spent the greater part of the winter. "While here our subject was attacked with a serious illness which necessitated a season in the hospital, and a month, later he obtained a furlough for twenty-six days' leave, on condition that some one would take charge of him. A brother-in-law came for him and brought him home. One week after his return he broke out with small-pox, but this did not prevent his reporting for duty on the day before the expiration of his furlough. However, under the circumstances his services were not needed in camp and he was sent back home with orders to remain there until he was fit for duty. About ten days later lie again reported, but was then sent to what was known as Hospital No. 4, but his condition was such that he could not be received there and he was sent to Park Barracks, and here he was later detailed as assistant waiter in the officers' mess.

Some three weeks later our subject was permitted to join his regiment, which was but one day's march from Corinth, and the battle at Pittsburg Landing had been fought but a few days previously. Our subject crossed the field of carnage on his way to join his regiment, and soon after reaching it his company was detailed to guard a bridge near Huntsville. Here the regiment threw up breastworks and then returned to Louisville with the idea of preventing the Confederate General Bragg from crossing the river. A few weeks later they pursued General Bragg and broke up his plans in that locality. Our subject took part in the greater number of the battles of the Army of the Cumberland. In the one-hundred-day fight in the march from Chattanooga to Atlanta our subject was wounded at Pumpkin Vine creek, suffering both in the face and also in the left hand, but he declined to leave his company, although for several days he was totally unable to handle his gun.

Mr. Hilborn had his endurance tried again the first clay following his again accepting" his gun, as he was then severely wounded. He was on the picket line at what was known as Picket's Mills or New Hope church, and found it necessary to shoot an intruder, and before he had an opportunity to load his gun a party of the enemy came upon him, demanding his surrender, but he declined to do that and ran as fast as he could toward the camp, reaching there alive but with two bullets in his body. He was then sent to the division hospital, where he endured agonics from the operations necessary, and three weeks later was removed to Chattanooga, and four weeks later was passed on to the hospital in Nashville. Four weeks after he was sent home on a furlough and remained for twenty days. Returning to his company, our subject found it at Atlanta, Georgia, but before he reached there he had an encounter with Confederate scouts which almost prevented this gallant and faithful soldier from giving more service to his country.

At Atlanta the Fourth Army Corps and the Twenty-third Army Corps were left to pursue General Hood. Our subject's command belonged to the former, and they pressed on to Nashville and later the country heard of the fierce battle of Franklin, and later the battle of Nashville. Our subject received his honorable and well-earned discharge on December 24, 1865, after having been five months in camp in Texas.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

In 1868 Mr. Hilborn sold his farm and bought eighty acres located five miles north of his former farm, residing there for six months, then disposing of it and removing to Mechanicsburg, where he purchased two and one-half acres. This tract he also sold and then bought three acres and built upon it a good house and barn, making excellent improvements, and there he resided for four years and then sold and purchased rive acres of land in Tiro. This he laid out in town lots and has sold all but his home place. Mr. Hilborn has done well in his real estate transactions and has displayed excellent judgment in every sale and purchase.

For about ten years Mr. Hilborn engaged in truck gardening, but for the past few years he has conducted a coal and drawing business in Tiro, where he is well and favorably known. For many years our subject has been a leading member of the United Brethren church and is one of the trustees of the same. In political sympathy he has ever been an ardent Republican, and has efficiently served on the town council for two terms. Socially he is connected with the G. A. R. organization, and both in this community and through the county where he is well known he is universally esteemed.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN HILBORN, Tiro; was born Nov. 16, 1838, in Liberty Township, Crawford Co., Ohio. He is a son of Isaac and Nancy (George) Hilborn. (For a full record of ilr. Hilborn's parents and their family, see the biography of his brother.) John was raised on the farm. His education is only moderate, owing to the schools of that day being very poor as compared to what we now have. He served his country well and faithfully in the late war, enlisting in Company I, 15th O. V. I., on the 7th of September, 1861. His discharge was dated in Texas, November, 18(55. He was in quite a numlser of engagements, and among them Corinth, Atlanta, Liberty Gap, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost and Pickett's Mills. He was also in the running light that extended from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Atlanta, Ga. He was a brave and efficient soldier, and had many a thrilling experience in the army. At Pickett Mill he was severely wounded, and to-day is a victim of the traitorous leaders of our gi-eat civil war. At the conclusion of the war he returned home, and, on the 15th of June, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Emeline Clark, daughter of Martin and Nancy Clark. Mrs. Hilborn died April, l()8. Mr. Hilborn's second wife is Sarah J. Davis, daughter of James K. Davis, of ('crawford Co., to whom he was man'ied on the 29th of June,

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

CHARLES M. HILBORN.

Charles M. Hilborn is one of the successful and progressive farmers of Bucvrus township, and is also a well-known and highly respected citizen. Mr. Hilborn is a native of Crawford county, having been born in Todd township, September 9, 1863, and is a descendant on both paternal and material sides from pioneer settlers of this county and of Richland county. Grandfather Hilborn was one of the earliest settlers of Richland county, while Grandfather Joseph Reinhart came to Todd township, Crawford county, when it was but a wilderness. The father and mother of our subject were Samuel L. and Mary

(Reinhart) Hilborn, the former of whom was born in Richland county and the latter in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

Charles M. Hilborn, of this biography, is the second child in a family of ten children born to his parents, and was reared on his father's farm, where he remained until attaining his majority. His education was pursued in the common schools, and he grew to manhood a line type of the agricultural regions of one of the best counties in the state of Ohio.

After leaving the parental roof Mr. Hilborn spent the first summer in operating a threshing machine, and was so successful in this line that he has made that a business for every season since, three years of this time being a partner in the threshing business. His occupation has been exclusively that of a farmer, and since 1890 he has operated a fine farm in this township, where he has become prominent in Democratic politics. During 1896-97 he was the efficient assessor of Bucyrus township, and in 1900 he was almost successful in his candidacy for trustee, having gained the confidence of the public by his excellent management of the business connected with his former office.

Mr. Hilborn was married in 1888 to Miss Catherine Hirtz, who was born in Holmes township, Crawford county, and he has six children living. Mr. Hilborn and family belong to the highly esteemed and respected residents of the township.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

T. E. HILBORN,* who is serving in his second term as trustee of Tod township, Crawford county, O., residing on the old Hilborn homestead, situated two miles south of Oceola, O., was born here in 1874 and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Rhinehart) Hilborn.

Samuel Hilborn was born in Ashland county, O., and came to the present home farm when a young man, cleared it, developed its agricultural possibilities and erected the substantial buildings. Flis death occurred here when he was aged 68 years. Fie married Mary Rhinehart, who is now in her 70th year and resides at Nevada, O. Ten children were born to them, namely: Mrs. Krickbaum, of Wyandot county; Charles and Joseph, both of Bucyrus; Clara, deceased; Mrs. Stella Gregg, of Nevada; Mrs. Floe Gingery; T. E.; Mrs. Hilborn, of Iowa; Royal, of Nevada; and Mabel, living at home.

T. E. Hilborn has been engaged in farming ever since his school days and operates the home place of 120 acres for his mother. He is known as a capable and successful farmer and as a good business man. lie married Mabel Todd, of Tiro, O., whose mother resides at Akron. In politics Mr. Hilborn is a strong Democrat and as township trustee is a valuable township official. lie is identified with the Junior Order of American Mechanics and with the Knights of Pythias. With his wife he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Nevada, O.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.