Hilgert

Comments welcomed. E-mail to EvanSlaug@aol.com.

Johann Franz Hilgert (Immigrant Ancestor)

The Hilliard family of Clarion County, Pennsylvania traces its ancestry back to Frederick Hilliard, a native of Lancaster County, in eastern Pennsylvania, who came to Clarion County in the early 1800's and made his home in Curlsville. ^{7, 21} This same family appears to have as a common immigrant ancestor, Johann Franz Hilgert who was born February 1, 1722 in Germany. Johann Franz Hilgert fought in the Revolutionary War, married Christina Mauny/Mohney and died in Upper Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania August 19, 1797. Johann Franz Hilgert was buried at Christ Church Cemetery near Centerville. Johann Franz and Christina (Mauny/Mohney) Hilgert had nine children (six sons and three daughters). ¹⁰¹

Peter Hilgert

Isaac Hilgert

George Hilgert

Ann Hilgert

Abraham Hilgert

Son Abraham Hilgert died before 1797.

Mary Hilgert

Daughter Mary Hilgert married Abraham Houck.

Maria Catharina Hilgert

Daughter Maria Catharina Hilgert was born about 1752, married Adam Mauny and died 1841 at the age of 89 in Hawthorn, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

Jacob Hilgert

Son Jacob Hilgert was born about 1758 and died August 23, 1839 at the age of 89.

John Hilgert (Ancestor)

Son John Hilgert was born before 1775 and appears to be listed as John Hilyard, age 45 plus in the 1820 Census for Toby Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. John Hilyard appears to have originated from Northampton County, Pennsylvania and had at least one son.

Frederick Hilliard(Ancestor)

Frederick Hilliard was by occupation a carpenter and contractor, and while yet a comparatively young man was killed by a fall during the construction of a building. There is very little recorded of his life, nor is it known whom he married or how numerous was his family; all of the information available touches his son who inherited his name and continued his residence in Clarion County.^{7, 21}

Frederick Hilliard(Ancestor)

Son Frederick Hilliard was born either in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania before his father Frederick Hilliard moved to Clarion County, Pennsylvania; or in Clarion County, Pennsylvania following the move from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Frederick Hilliard assisted his father in the construction business, engaging in lumber and stock passing his entire life on a farm about four miles east of Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

Frederick Hilliard was a member of the Democratic Political Party, but never aspired to office of any kind, passing a quite life in attention to his own business and domestic affairs. Frederick Hilliard married Mary Shick in Clarion County, Pennsylvania and was a member of the German Reformed church to which his wife Mary (Shick) Hilliard and family also belonged. Mary (Shick) Hilliard was born about 1811.

Frederick Hilliard was taken sick in Louisville, Kentucky, died and was buried there in 1844. Mary (Shick) Hilliard then married Louis Polliard and had one son.

James Madison Polliard

Son James Madison Polliard was born about 1847. James Madison Polliard was a carpenter dying in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

Frederick and Mary (Shick) Hilliard continued (Ancestors)

Frederick and Mary (Shick) Hilliard had seven children (5 sons and 2 daughters).

A. Christopher Hilliard

Son Christopher Hilliard was born about 1831. Christopher Hilliard a farmer, living and dying on the old homestead east of Rimersburg in Porter Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

B. John Hilliard

Son John Hilliard was born about 1833. John Hilliard was a farmer, living and dying on the old homestead east of Rimersburg in Porter Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania on the old homestead.

C. Margaret Hilliard

Daughter Margaret Hilliard was born about 1835 and married Henry J. Krotzer. Both Henry J. and Margaret (Hilliard) Krotzer died in Winchester, Tennessee.

D. Christina Hilliard

Daughter Christina Hilliard married Robert Stewart April 1, 1864. Christina (Hilliard) Stewart died January 21, 1911. Robert Stewart died January 1, 1913. Robert and Christina (Hilliard) Stewart were members of Oak Grove Presbyterian Church and are both interred at Oak Grove Cemetery. Robert and Christina (Hilliard) Stewart had seven children (2 sons and 5 daughters).

i. Mrs. B. G. (Stewart) Say

Daughter Mrs. B. G. Say lived in Finch, West Virginia.

ii. Mrs. G. R. (Stewart) Somerville

iii. Mrs. J. H. (Stewart) McKinney

iv. Mrs. C. F. (Stewart) Polliard

v. Fred Stewart

Son Fred Stewart lived in Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

vi. Thomas Stewart

Son Thomas Stewart lived in Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

vii. Myrtle Stewart

Daughter Myrtle Stewart lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

E. Frederick Hilliard

Son Frederick Hilliard was born about 1841. Frederick Hilliard was a widower, passing part of his time in Bradford, Pennsylvania and the remainder in Ohio with a daughter and a son. Frederick Hilliard may have been related to John and Jesse Hilliard who were visited in 1914 as documented in the automobile trip authored by George Melvin Slaughenhoupt ¹⁹.

F. Samuel Hilliard

Son Samuel Hilliard was born about 1843. Samuel Hilliard was single and served as a soldier in the Union Army during the War Between the States (Civil War) and died unmarried.

G. Isaac Hilliard (Ancestor)

Son Isaac Hilliard was born in Rimersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania on March 6, 1838.¹⁰²  Isaac Hilliard was reared on his father's (Frederick Hilliard) farm and received his education at the old log school house known as Brown School House. It may be possible that the photo of a log school house built in 1843 and pictured in reference ¹⁵ on page 14 is the same school house. In 1856 at the age of 18, Isaac Hilliard learned the carpenter's trade, which he then followed on and off for the remainder of his life. In 1859, the third year of his trade and at the age of 21, Isaac Hilliard became a contractor and except for service during the Civil War, continued that business ever since.

Isaac Hilliard travelled away from Clarion County, Pennsylvania such that by August 6, 1861 at the age of 24 Isaac Hilliard enlisted in Kalamazoo, Michigan as a soldier in the Union Army, Company C. of the Sixth Michigan Volunteer Infantry.¹⁰² Isaac Hilliard continued in the service until being honorably discharged August 23, 1864 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During his service, Isaac Hilliard was in the Heavy Artillery and participated in many active engagements. His duty locations included the Louisiana target locations of Port Hudson, Baton Rouge, Fort Jackson, Fort St. Philip, and New Orleans.

Muster records indicate that Isaac Hilliard was present for duty except from August 31, 1863 on furlough by recommendation of the Surgeon; April 30, 1864 on detached service; June 30, 1864 when sick in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Isaac Hilliard was described at age 23 as 5 feet 6 inches with light complexion, blue eyes, and black hair.  The medical records show him treated June 8, 1864 to July 21, 1864 with Jaundice.¹⁰²

In 1871 at the age of 33, Isaac Hilliard returned to Perryville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. At the age of 34 on January 2, 1873, Isaac Hilliard married Nancy Jane Pollock (great-great-granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Pollock of Coleraine, Ireland and great-great-great-granddaughter of Mr. Richard McClure of Northern Ireland). Nancy Jane (Pollock) Hilliard was 25 years old having been born March 2, 1847. The wedding announcement contained within "The Oil Man's Journal" ²² published in Parker, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, January 1873 indicated the wedding was performed by the Rev. T. J. Milford in the Presbyterian Church, Perryville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania; and was part of a triplet wedding with the other couples being cousins of Nancy Jane Pollock. The cousins were Narcissa Pollock who married Joseph N. Best (half-brother of Elijah Slaughenhoupt) and Thomas Pollock who married Tirza Culbertson.

Isaac and Nancy Jane (Pollock) Hilliard became members of the Presbyterian Church of Parker, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Isaac Hilliard became very prosperous and owned considerable property, having a farm of 132 acres in Perry Township when he engaged in general farming. From arriving in Perryville in 1871, and for nearly forty years (circa 1911), Isaac Hilliard lived in Perryville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania and owned a fine residence with 14 acres of adjoining land. Isaac Hilliard became one of the most prominent and respected citizens of the area. Although he never sought nor held public office, Isaac Hilliard was a staunch member of the Democratic Political Party. Isaac Hilliard also became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) fraternal organization and took a great interest in the fraternal affairs.

In the early 1900's for about 10 to 12 years while in his 60's, Isaac Hilliard built oil rigs all over the Pennsylvania oil fields, and some in West Virginia. In one year he erected as many as 62 oil rigs.

At the age of 70 on March 7, 1908, Isaac Hilliard applied for a pension for $15.00 per month under Certificate Number 795135.  Witnesses to this application were Elijah Slaughenhoupt and Joseph M. Best.

Isaac Hilliard died February 21, 1919 at the age of 80 in Perry Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. His last pension payment was $40.00 January 4, 1919. Nancy Jane (Pollock) Hilliard applied for a Widow's Pension June 10, 1919 and died sixteen years later on June 22, 1935 in Clarion County at the age of 88. Isaac and Nancy Jane (Pollock) Hilliard had five children (1 son and 4 daughters) with four surviving as adults.

i. infant daughter Hilliard

An infant daughter Hilliard was born May 2, 1874 and died unnamed August 17, 1874.¹⁰²

ii. Elizabeth Stewart "Lizzie" Hilliard

Daughter Elizabeth Stewart "Lizzie" Hilliard was born an older twin in Perryville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania on April 14, 1876 when her father Isaac Hilliard was 38 years old and her mother Nancy Jane (Pollock) Hilliard was 29 years old. She never married, but stayed in friendly social contact with her twin sister Mary Shick (Hilliard) Slaughenhoupt throughout their lives. Elizabeth Stewart "Lizzie" Hilliard was a life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church and a member of the Woman's Association and a Circle of the church, as well as a member of the Edna DeRocher Memorial Sunday School Class. In 1967 at the age of 91, Elizabeth Stewart "Lizzie" Hilliard was sharing her home with a brother-in-law, Arthur Carl (A. C.) Griffith and her niece Mrs. Elizabeth "Betty" Jane (Griffith) Alston. Elizabeth Stewart "Lizzie" Hilliard died on September 22, 1970 at the age of 94.

iii. Margaret Pollock Hilliard

Daughter Margaret Pollock Hilliard was born two years after her twin sisters December 11, 1878 when her father Isaac Hilliard was 40 years old and her mother Nancy Jane (Pollock) Hilliard was 31 years old. Margaret Pollock Hilliard married Arthur Carl (A. C.) Griffith who was an insurance agent in Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania. Margaret Pollock (Hilliard) Griffith died in 1962 at the age of 84. Arthur Carl (A. C.) Griffith was born in 1883 in Sligo, Clarion County, Pennsylvania and graduated from Grove City College where he became a teacher. Arthur Carl (A. C.) Griffith also had been an insurance agent in Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania and an auto dealer in Oil City until his retirement. Arthur Carl (A. C.) Griffith was a member of Parker, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Presbyterian Church, a teacher of the Men's Sunday School class for many years, and a charter member of the Oil City, Kiwanis club. Arthur Carl (A. C.) Griffith died in 1967 at the age of 84 following a long illness. Arthur Carl (A. C.) and Margaret Pollock (Hilliard) Griffith had one daughter.

(i.) Elizabeth Jane "Betty" Griffith

Daughter Elizabeth Jane "Betty" Griffith married William Alston and together had two sons.

1. George Alston

2. William Alston

iv. James Freddie Hilliard

Son James Freddie Hilliard was born on November 13, 1886 when his father Isaac Hilliard was 48 years old and her mother Nancy Jane (Pollock) Hilliard was 39 years old. James Freddie Hilliard died on November 25, 1895 at the age of 9.

v. Mary Shick Hilliard (Ancestor)

Daughter Mary Shick Hilliard was born the younger twin in Perryville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania on April 14, 1876 when her father Isaac Hilliard was 38 years old and her mother Nancy Jane (Pollock) Hilliard was 29 years old. Mary Hilliard married George Melvin Slaughenhoupt and died in 1965 at the age of 88.