In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1908) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908 : also biographical sketches of prominent citizens of the county (1908), A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio (1901)
HIRAM W. HILDEBRANT.
Hiram W. Hildebrant, the subject of this review, has risen to a high position as one of the representative business men of Rjichfland county. His identification with the industrial and commercial interests of Shelby is extensive and varied and embraces connection with those interests which in their successful control demand the services of men of master minds, of keen discernment, of reliable judgment and of indefatigable energy.
Mr. Hildebrant was born in Lockport, Niagara county, New York, in 1844, a son of Frederick and Cornelia (Snyder) Hildebrant, both of whom were also natives of the Empire state. The father died in October, 1848, at the age of forty-four years, and the mother passed away in January, 1872, at the age of sixty-six years. In their family were seven children besides the subject of this sketch, namely: George, now a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri, who for four years served in the army during the Civil war and was then honorably discharged, with the rank of quartermaster, and was for a Jong period afterward a well known merchant, but is now living retired; Emeline is the wife of John L. Mosser, who resides in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he is engaged in the grocery business; James M., who is a groceryman in Griffin, Missouri; Harriett Wallace, who is a resident of Lockport, New York; Mrs. Elizabeth Sanders, who died in Lockport, New York, about 1875; Mrs. Sarah Morris, who passed away in 1868; and Duwan, who was identified with the Union Pacific Railroad Company, died in Omaha, Nebraska, about 1894.
Mr. Hildebrant, of this review, was only four years of age at the time of his father's death. He acquired his education in the public schools of Shelby, including" the high-school course. He began teaching in 1868 and followed that profession for about five years. In 1872 he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, to which he has since devoted his energies. From its organization he served as the vice-president of the Plate Glass Insurance Company, and at the latter date was elected its president, since which time he has been the incumbent. He is also the president of the Building & Loan Association of Shelby and of the Shelby Stove Company, which was organized in May, 1900, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, to manufacture gas and gasoline stoves. Since its organization in 1895 he has been the president and a director of the Citizens' Bank. He also owns stock in the Shelby Tube Company, the Shelby Electrical Company and the Sutter Furniture Company. He is public-spirited and progressive and believes in encouraging the establishment of such enterprises, realizing that from commercial activity arises the progress and.prosperity of the nation.
In December, 1869, occurred the marriage of Mr. Hildebrant and Miss Adelaide Gamble, daughter of Judge Hugh Gamble, of Shelby, one of the first settlers of this section of the state. Three children have been born to them. The eldest, Carlos M., was born in December, 1871, and was thrown from a horse and killed in October, 1885. Hugh G. was born in August, 1873. and is how assistant cashier in the Citizens' Bank; and Bessie Fay, who was born in 1882, complete the family.
Mr. Hildebrant is a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities, and of the Presbyterian church. He withhold his support from no measure or movement which he believes will advance the material, intellectual, social and moral development of the community. He has been called upon to fill a number of public offices, was elected city clerk about 1874. and, after filling the position for about half a term, was elected the mayor of the city, in which capacity he served for three consecutive terms. His administration was progressive and he exercised his prerogatives in a manner to commend him to the confidence and regard of all citizens interested in the welfare, upbuilding and progress of the community. For twenty-one years he was a justice of the peace, and his decisions were marked by extreme fairness and impartiality. For eighteen years he was a member of the school board, and with the exception of one year served as the clerk.
In no other country than ours can the history of a private individual be written which will touch in various points the public interests, and in fact prove to be a portion of the political, social and rural growth of his community, in which the individual himself has sprung from the ranks of the people, and with no assistance from birth, fortune or environments, has carved out his own career and made for himself a name. It is a pleasure to do honor to such men, and their example cannot be too highly commended to our young men as an incentive to laudable ambition and earnest endeavor. Mr. Hildebrant has been indeed one of the active factors in the growth and development of Shelby along many lines and over the record of both his public and private career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
HIRAM W. HILDEBRANT.
Carlisle has said “biography is the most interesting, as well as the most profitable, of all reading.” There is no history which the American public holds in higher esteem than that of a man who, without special advantages at the outset of his career, wins for himself an honorable name and place in the business world. This Hiram W. Hildebrant has done, recognizing the fact that while opportunity is open to all there must be in the individual the power and desire to utilize this opportunity. A native of New York, Mr. Hildebrant was born in Lockport, Niagara county, in 1844, his parents being Frederick and Cornelia (Snyder) Hildebrant, also natives of that state. Both are now deceased, the former having died in October, 1848, at the age of forty-four years, while the mother’s death occurred in January, 1872, when she was sixty-six years of age. Their family numbered eight children, and the subject of this review was but four years old at the time of his father’s demise. The removal of the family to Shelby, Ohio, enabled him to pursue his education in the public schools, and passing through consecutive grades he at length completed the high-school course. Early in his business career he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for five years, beginning in 1868. He has engaged continuously in the realestate and insurance business since 1872 and stands as one of the foremost representatives of these lines in Richland county. He became one of the organizers of the Plate Glass Insurance Company, and at that time was chosen vice president, in which position he continued until elected to the presidency in 1896. He was also chosen the chief executive officer of the Building & Loan Association of Shelby and was elected to the presidency of the Shelby Stove Company upon its organization in May, 1900. This company was organized for the purpose of manufacturing gas and gasoline stoves and was capitalized for fifty thousand dollars. These interests, however, do not cover the extent of Mr. Hildebrant’s connection with business affairs in Shelby. Ho is a man of marked fertility of resources, who has the ability to plan and to perform and to associate into a harmonious whole many complex and even diverse business interests. He is well known in financial circles as the vice president and director of the Citizens Bank, having been associated therewith in those official capacities since its organization in 1895. He is also a stockholder in the Ohio Seamless Tube Company, the Shelby Electrical Company and the Sutter Furniture C()mj)any. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion, knowing that industry and perseverance constitute an excellent foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of success. His plans, too, are always well defined and he prosecuted them with a determination formed of unfaltering energy.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Hildebrant was married in December, 1869, to Miss Adelaide Gamble, whose father. Judge Hugh Gamble, of Shelby, was one of the pioneer residents of this portion of the state. Of their three children, the eldest, Carlos M., who was born in December, 1871, was thrown from a horse and killed in October, 1885. Hugh G., born in August, 1873, is now cashier of the Citizens Bank. Bessie Fay was born in 1882 and is the only daughter.
Mr. Hildebrant has always been deeply interested in municipal affairs and while his business interests have contributed in substantial measure to the material progress and welfare of the community he has also aided in many other and more direct ways in promoting the city’s growth and interests. The cause of education found in him a stalwart champion during his eighteen years’ service on the school board, of which he continuously served as clerk with the exception of one year. He filled the office of justice of the peace for twenty-four years, and his decisions have “won golden opinions from all sorts of people.” He was elected city clerk about 1874, and when he had held the position for about a half term was chosen by popular suffrage to the office of mayor, wherein he was retained by general election for three consecutive terms. His administration was characterized by needed reforms and improvements and won for him the thorough confidence and regard of the public. Fraternally Mr. Hildebrant is connected with the Masons and with the Knights of Pythias, while his religious faith is indicated by his mem'bership in the Presbyterian church. While it is a common thing to point to the lives of those who have lived many years ago that one may gain inspiration and encouragement therefrom, it is needless to go to the past for examples that are worthy of emulation. Such a career as Mr. Hildebrant’s proves conclusively what can be accomplished through intense and well directed activity. He has learned to make the best use of his opportunities and powers, and to leave into a composite, but harmonious whole, the different threads of activity, at all times placing his dependence upon unremitting diligence, honorable purpose and unfaltering integrity.
As printed in History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908 : also biographical sketches of prominent citizens of the county (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.