Samuel Hilborn

As printed in 1902

SAMUEL HILBORN.

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 A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.