History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 140

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

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DR. P. J. HIGGINS was from childhood an ambitious student, gifted with a keen intellect, and a retentive memory. At the early age of fourteen he was appointed principal of an important public school, and met with uninterrupted success as a teacher, being uniformally successful at examinations, and holding in turn provi- sional, professional and permanent certificates, which last is the highest grade in the profession. In 1873 he began the study of medicine with Dr. G. W. Guthrie, of Wilkes-Barre, and in 1877 was graduated "M. D." from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. In 1876 he was the winner of the Mott prize in surgery, the only cash prize given that year by the college. He practiced medicine in Scranton till 1881, when he returned to Wilkes-Barre, where he has since resided. In 1888 he began to give special attention to diseases of the chest and stomach, in which he soon became so expert in diagnosis and successful in treatment as to extend his practice throughout Wyoming Valley, and the adjacent counties. At intervals Dr. Higgins has written poems-mostly lyric-sufficient, if collected, to fill a volume of respectable size. He is also the author of a number of songs, several of which have been set to music. Among his poems are a number of translations from foreign languages, and some written by himself in Latin, German and Irish. He is acquainted with seven or eight languages, four of which he uses daily in his practice. He is the author of half a dozen serial stories, the best known of which are "The Night before the Bridal," published by the New York Weekly, and the "Dumb Wit- ness," by the Detroit Free Press. He has been from boyhood a strict total abstainer, and a stanch advocate of temperance all his life. He is the author of the Penn-

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sylvania "Night School Law," which extends the benefits and provisions of the common schools to those compelled to work during the day. He is medical exam- iner for a number of insurance companies and fraternal societies, and holds the posi- tion of surgeon of the First C. T. A. Regiment. His office and residence are No. 57 South Washington street.

GEORGE HILBERT, merchant, Fairview township, P. O. Mountain Top, was born in Germany April 11, 1854, and is a son of Anthony and Orsaula (Koldenbach) Hil- bert. George, the subject of our sketch, is the youngest in a family of four chil- dren, and came to this country with his parents when he was four years old, settling in White Haven, where the father died when George was eight years old. George attended the common schools until he was thirteen years old, when he secured employment in the sawmill at White Haven, where he worked until he was seventeen years old; he then went to work as a brakeman on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which occupation he followed for three years. He gave this up to accept a position as clerk in the store of R. P. Schoonover at Fairview, and though the same store changed hands three different times in the next fourteen years, Mr. Hilbert was retained by each proprietor, and on December 20, 1889, Mr. Hilbert purchased the stock in the store, and is still its proprietor, having made it a general store. In 1890 he secured the appointment as postmaster of Mountain Top, having the office in his store building. Mr. Hilbert was united in marriage June 30, 1875, with Alice, daughter of Morris and Jane (Carey) Bush, both natives of America. Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert have three children: George M., who works in the store with his father, and Elizabeth J. and Nora B., who attend school. Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert with the family are regular attendants, though not members, of the M. E. Church. In politics Mr. Hilbert is a Republican, and is a member of Council No. 402, Royal Arcanum, Mountain Top.

L. HILBRONNER, dealer in clothing and gents' furnishing goods, Shickshinny, is a native of Meadville, Pa., and son of Morris and Sophia (Hoffheimer) Hilbronner, natives of Germany, the former of whom is now a resident of Philadelphia. Our subject was reared in his native State, educated in the public schools, and began life as a clerk. In 1867 he embarked in business for himself at Chester, Pa., from there moved in 1871 to Ashley, this county, and in 1881 located in Shickshinny, where he has since conducted the only exclusive clothing and gents' furnishing establishment in the place, and made himself, by honorable dealings, one of the most popular business men of the borough. Mr. Hilbronner married December 26, 1878, Alice, daughter of Thomas Hook, of Bloomsburg, Pa., and has three children: L. Robert, Harry and Daisy. In addition to being a thorough business man, there are few who value or appreciate home ties more than Mr. Hilbronner. He is a member of the Jewish Synagogue of Philadelphia, and of the F. & A. M., Coalville Lodge No. 474, Ashley, Pa. In politics he is independent.

GEORGE HILDURT, miner in the Delaware Colliery, Plains, was born in Stafford- shire, England, April 16, 1858, and is a son of Aaron and Eliza (Hadley) Hilburt. The father came to America in 1864, followed by his family in 1865, and he now resides in Plains, engaged as watchman at the Axle Works, Wilkes-Barre. The family consisted of eight children, two of whom are living, William and George. Our subject attended the public schools in both England and America, and at the age of nine years began tending door in the Mill Creek Slope, since when he has been engaged about the mines, including twelve years mining, chiefly in the Pine Ridge Colliery. Mr. Hilburt was married on December 23, 1878, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of George Martin, and they have four children, viz. : Fred, Arthur, George and Cora. Mr. Hilburt is a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. K. of M. C., and the Sons of Saint George; in his political views he is a Republican. In 1883 he purchased his pres- ent residence where he has since lived.

WILLIAM HILBURT, fire-boss at the Pine Ridge Colliery, Plains, was born in Old- bury, Staffordshire, England, November 4, 1853, a son of Aaron and Eliza (Had- ley) Hilburt, the former of whom is a son of James and Mary (Evans) Hilburt, the 55

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latter a daughter of William and Mary (Squires) Hadley. Our subject's father, who was a miner, came to America in December, 1864, his family landing on the fourteenth of the following April, and they first located in Pittston, where he resumed his former occupation. In 1867 he removed to Plains where he followed mining for some time, and is now watchman at the Sheldon Axle Works, Wilkes- Barre, residing with his son William. The family consisted of eight children, two of whom are living, viz. : William and George. Our subject embarked in life work- ing about the mines in Pittston, later in Plains, and has held his present position fifteen years. He was married, November 28, 1875, to Miss Ann, daughter of John T. and Isabella (Smiles) Moore, of Parsons, and they have had seven children, as follows: Aaron Goledge, Eliza Hadley, John Thomas, Isabella Smiles, Mary Eliza- beth, Sarah Ann and William Lester. Mr. Hilburt, parents, and wife are members of the Primitive Methodist Church; socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Sons of St. George, and in his political views he is a Republican. In 1885 he built his residence.

JOHN A. HILDEBRAND, merchant, Dorrance township, P. O. Dorrance, was born in Germany, April 17, 1838, and is a son of Baltaser and Elizabeth (Koehler) Hilde- brand; they had five children, of whom John A. was the fourth. He left his native country in 1855, coming to America, and secured work at the plastering trade at Hazleton. He followed it but a short time, when he gave it up and hired ont as a farm hand, at which he worked for seven months, when he started to work in the coal mines, working there two years. He then went to Ohio, where he stayed for several months, after which he returned to Hazleton and accepted a position as stable-boss at the Mt. Pleasant Colliery, where he remained until 1860, when he entered the employ of H. H. Linderman as delivery-man in the general store. He worked for Mr. Linderman until 1863, when he purchased a tract of wild land in Dorrance township; this he cleared and farmed until 1875, when he built a large hotel on the property, and followed the hotel business until a couple of years ago, when he started a grocery store, which he now conducts. Mr. Hildebrand was married, October 11, 1863, to Julia, daughter of Peter Ero, of Dorrance township. Mrs. Hildebrand died July 26, 1886, having had a family of fourteen children, as follows: Mary, Elizabeth, Simon, Frances, Fredrick T., George C. William H., Ella, Arry, Maggie G., Sophia E., Julia A., John A. and Peter, all of whom are living. Mr. Hildebrand and family are all members of the Dorrance Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Hildebrand is a Democrat.

JOHN A. HILDEBRANT, farmer, P. O. Dallas, was born, June 23, 1826, in Hope township, Warren Co., N. J., in the common schools of which he was educated. He is the son of John C. and Mary C. (Swazey) Hildebrant, both of whom were born in Warren county, N. J., the former of whom was a practical farmer and a man of influence; he died in 1850 at the age of sixty four years. His family consisted of thirteen children, ten of whom grew to maturity, John A. being the fourth. Our subject always followed farming, and made a success of it, having begun life with nothing, and now being an independent farmer, the result of hard labor, economy and a spirit of perseverance that says: "I must succeed." In 1840 he married for his first wife Mary, daughter of David Shannon, Esq., by which union there were born six children, five of whom are living: David, John B., Mary C., James E. and Angeline. The mother of this family dying June 10, 1862, for his second wife Mr. Hildebrant married, in 1864, Miss Mary, daughter of Richard Decker, and by her he had one child, Sherman W. Mr. Hildebrant came from New Jersey to Dallas, Pa., in 1866, locating in Dallas township on a farm of 169 acres, on which he has since lived, and on which he has expended valuable labor to considerable advantage. He is a general farmer, raising various crops in their season. He has been honored with various offices in the town, such as school director, supervisor, poormaster, inspector, and at present is assistant assessor. He is a member of the Grange; also a member in high standing of the M. E. Church. Politically he is a Republican.

JOHN B. HILDEBRANT, the second son of John A. and Mary (Shannon) Hildebrant,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

was born in Hope township, Warren Co., N. J., and moved to. Dallas, this county, along with his father in 1866. At the age of twenty-three, in 1875, he married Miss Lina A., a daughter of James and Hannah Brace, by which union there were born two children, Rosy M. and Ola K. Mrs. Lina A. (Brace) Hildebrant was born in Centre Moreland, Pa., September 19, 1851. Mr. Hildebrant is a striving farmer, and he has built for himself a magnificent house, equipped with all the modern im- provements and facilities for practical purposes. 1n 1879 he moved on to his present farm of seventy-three acres, and, like his father, he is a practical and prosperous agriculturist. There is every indication of coal on his place at no great depth. He is a member of the K. of P., I. O. R. M., and of the Grange. He and his good wife and daughter are consistent members of the M. E. Church at Dallas: politically he is a Republican.

JAMES E. HILDEBRANT, farmer in Lake township, P. O. Lehman, was born in Hope township, N. J., June 1, 1856, a son of John A. and Mary (Shannon) Hildebrant, both of whom were born in Hope township, N. J. In 1866 John A. Hildebrant moved to Lake township, this county, locating near Dallas on a farm of 179 acres. He has met with several reverses caused by sickness, death, and various other couses which keep men from becoming independent. On June 20, 1862, he lost his wife, and four years afterward he moved to Dallas where he now enjoys life as of old .. Having survived all adverse winds, he is now a prosperous farmer. His family consists of six children by two marriages-five by the first and one by the second-all of whom are now living. James E., who is the fourth in the family, was reared in Hope, N. J., and received his education both there and in Dallas, being only ten years of age when he moved to the latter place (or neighborhood of it) with his father, with whom he lived until the age of twenty-six. On August 28, 1878 (being then twenty-two years old), he married Miss Esther Atkinson, a native of England, born March 25, 1856, in the County of Westmoreland, a daughter of Thomas and Carlotta Atkinson. To Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrant were born two sons: Clark S. and John A. Mr. Hilde- brant moved in 1882 on his present beautiful place of seventy-three acres, where he. built a large barn and an elegant house. He is a farmer of refinement and ability ; a young man, but pushing and industrious, one who will be sure to make his mark in life. He and his wife are consistent members of the M. E. Church; socially he is a member of the Grange; politically he is a Republican.

G. G. HILL, member of the firm Hill & Evans, hardware merchants, Nanticoke, was born in Tredegar, England, April 3, 1866, and is a son of George and Ann (Surge) Hill, the former of whom is a Congregational minister. When George G. was quite young the family emigrated to America and located at Nanticoke, Pa. Here they remained a short time, and then removed to Drifton, and soon afterward to Aurora, Ill., subsequently proceeding to Ebensburg, Pa., and from there to Michi- gan, where the father is now engaged in the ministry. Mr. Hill was educated in the public schools, also in the Ebensburg Normal School, and at the age of nine years began an apprenticeship with Lechard & Thomas, tinners and plumbers, of Nanti- coke. He was with them five years, and then engaged in his present business with Mr. Evans. Mr. Hill is a member of the Prohibition party.

GEORGE W. HILL, general commission merchant, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Chemung, Chemung Co., N. Y., February 9, 1844, a son of Hamlet and Temperance J. (Cooley) Hill, formerly of Orange county, N. Y., and is of English and Holland- Dutch descent. His parents settled in Wyoming county, Pa., in 1848, and in 1873 removed to Wilkes-Barre, where the father soon died. The widow married Henry Haas and removed to Tunkhannock, where she resided until her death. The chil- dren of Hamlet and Temperance Hill were: Hattie (Mrs. J. W. Whitaker), Clara A. (Mrs. H. R. Lacey), and George W. Our subject was reared in Wyoming county from four years of age, and educated in the schools of Tunkhannock and Williams- port, and after reaching his majority entered the employ of the Catawissa Paper Company, with whom he remained three years. In 1873 he located in Wilkes- Barre and worked in the fruit and truck business five years. He then engaged in

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stock-raising in Kansas three years, and in 1881 returned to Wilkes-Barre, engaging in the live-stock business, in which he has since continued. In 1871 Mr. Hill mar- ried Miss Susan R., daughter of Edward Dodd, of Wyoming county, Pa., and by her had two children: Clara and Harry. Mr. Hill is a member of the F. & A. M. and R. S. of G. G. In politiics he is a Democrat.

JAMES HILL, constable and city collector, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., March 26, 1853, a son of George and Kate (Cameron) Hill, natives of Schuylkill county. The father was a merchant and farmer, and his family consisted of six children. Our subject, second in birth, was educated at the free schools of Schuylkill county, and at the age of nineteen was employed in the Rolling Mills at Reading, where he remained nearly three years. September 4, 1871, Mr. Hill mar- ried Miss Amanda, daughter of George and Kate (Garey) Kershner, natives of Schuylkill county, of German descent, and of this union have been born six children, all living. Mr. Hill and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is with the Democratic party, and has been constable for three years.

H. BAKER HILLMAN, retired, Wilkes-Barre, was born at Mauch Chunk, Carbon Co., Pa., April 12, 1834, and is a son of the late Col. H. B., and Elizabeth (Pryor) Hillman, the former of whom was one of the early and substantial citizens of Wilkes- Barre, removing thither in 1842, and was one of the early coal operators in Wyom- ing Valley. In 1847 he shipped 10,000 tons of coal from the old Blackman and Solomon's Gap, or Ross, Mines, to New York and Philadelphia over the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad, which was the first considerable amount of coal sent from this Valley by that route. In 1853 and 1854 he was burgess of the borough of Wilkes-Barre; in 1861 he was a member of the House of Representatives, and was at one time a colonel in the militia, and was known by young and old as "Colonel Hillman." He died March 17, 1882. H. Baker Hillman was also an extensive coal operator. In 1886 he lost his eldest son, Harry G. Hillman, then twenty years of age, a bright and promising student of the Wilkes-Barre Academy, and as a memorial to this son, the Harry Hillman Academy owes its existence. We quote from its prospectus: "The admirable school building of the Academy was erected by Mr. H. Baker Hillman, of this city. It is designed as a memorial of his eldest son, Harry Grant Hillman, a devoted pupil of the Academy, whose untimely death was lamented by all who knew him. The lot and the building upon it are solely Mr. Hillman's gift. It is situated near the corner of West River and Terrace streets. The building, with a heavy foundation of stone, is of brick laid in red mortar. The cornices and sills are of cut stone; the ornamentation is of terra-cotta. Externally it is of a handsome appearance, and is highly creditable to the generosity which gave it, and to the public appreciation which maintains it." [See chapter on Schools. ] H. B. Hillman is president of the board of trustees of the Harry Hillman Academy; a director of the People's Bank; secretary and director of the Vulcan Iron Works; vice-president and director of the Glen Summit Hotel Company, and a director of the Electric Light Company. He is a vestryman in St. Stephen's Prot- estant Episcopal Church. In 1871 and 1872 he was a councilman in Wilkes-Barre. On February 19, 1862, he was united in marriage with Josephine, daughter of Joseph Hillman, of Nazareth, Pa. George Baker Hillman, son of H. B. Hillman, was educated in the public schools of Wilkes-Barre and the Harry Hillman Academy. He received his legal education at the law department of the University of Pennsyl- vania, and was under the instructions of Wayne Mcveigh, of Philadelphia, and Dickson and Atherton, of Wilkes-Barre. He was admitted to the Luzerne county bar, December 10, 1888, since when he has made a trip to Europe, traveling with his father's family.

CHRIS. HIMMLER, locomotive engineer, Kingston, was born in Cumberland, Md., October 7, 1844, where he was reared and educated at the common schools. He is a son of Bartholomew and Catherine (Foster) Himmler, of German extraction; the former owned and operated the largest brewery and distillery in the State of Mary- land, and the oldest in that part of the State. He was a thorough-going man,

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prosperous in his business, to which he devoted all his time. He died in June, 1873, at the age of sixty-eight years. He reared a family of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity, and five of whom are now living. Our subject is the eldest in the family, and the only male member of his father's family who did not embark in the business of brewing and distilling. He remained at home till he reached his majority, and, in 1865, removed to this county, making his home in Nanticoke for five years, and being employed as fireman by the L. B. R. R., now the D. L. & W. R. R. After firing for two years, he was promoted to the position of engineer, a position he has since held. During his incumbency as fireman, he had proved a faithful employe, and was entitled to his promotion. He ran a passenger train for several years, and, although he met with some accidents, which was, however, beyond his control, yet he never lost a life in all his experience of twenty-five years as engineer. Mr. Himmler has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Mary Rhone, by which union there was no issue. Mrs. Mary Himmler died July 28, 1872, and for his second wife Mr. Himmler married, November 15, 1873, Miss Addie, daughter of Peter Lozo. This union has been blessed with six children, all of whom are living: Florence, May, Annie, Albertie, Charles and Wesley. Mrs. Addie Himmler was born in Sussex county, N. J., in 1854. Mr. Himmler deserves much credit for his success in life; he owns a neat and productive farm of seventy-two acres in Wyom- ing county, besides a house and lot in Kingston. At one time he was elected mem- ber of the borough council of Edwardsville. He is a member of the F. & A. M. and of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

ROBERT HIND, gardener and florist, Wilkes-Barre, was born at Appleby, West- moreland, England, March 24, 1857, a son of Matthew Hind, who for more than twenty years was superintendent of the public markets of Westmoreland. Mr. Hind was educated in the public schools of his native town, and in his youth became an ardent lover of the gardener's art. In May, 1880, he came to this country, and after spending a few weeks in New York, proceeded to Ashley, this county, where he remained a short time. He then came to Wilkes-Barre, where for two years he was employed by Shaw & Co., florists, of South Main street. He then revisited his old home in England, where he remained four years. In September, 1886, he once more set foot upon the shores of Columbia, coming straight to Wilkes-Barre, where he has since followed his profession, in which he is accounted one of the most skillful and accomplished artists.

JOHN H. HINE, pumpman in the Mill Creek Slope, Hudson, Plains township, was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa .. July 17, 1851, and is a son of John and Ann (Harper) Hine, natives of Virginia and Luzerne county respectively, and of German origin. The latter is still living in Plains township, at the age of seventy-three years. Our subject is a grandson of Conrad and Sarah (Kroup) Hine, natives of Germany, and of John and Susanna (Cox) Harper, natives of Virginia and Connecticut, respect- ively. The family of John and Ann Hine consisted of three children, viz .: Adaline (Mrs. William Shepherd), Sarah J. (Mrs. Thomas M. Jones) and John H. At an early age our subject began working about the mines, where he remained several years, and was then employed as brakeman, fireman, conductor and engineer on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad for eighteen years, and since 1874 has been employed about the machinery at the Mill Creek Slope. He built his present residence and removed therein in 1872. Mr. Hine married, for his first wife, Miss Elizabeth Davis, of Miners Mills, and they had six children, viz. : Maud E. (Mrs. Wilbur Devenport); Elizabeth May, who died at the age of four years; Addie; Daisy; Jael and Harry. Mrs. Elizabeth Hine died in 1884, and Mr. Hine was next married in 1886 to Miss Elizabeth J., daughter of Thomas and Jane (Hancock) Him; they have three children, viz. : Thomas, Annie and Jane. He is a member of the I. O. O. F .; he is a Republican in politics, and has held the office of register in Plains township.

MRS. JANE HISLOP, owner and proprietress of the " Thistle Hotel," Plains township, P. O. Hudson, was born in Carmarthen South Wales, and is a daughter of Joseph and Ann (Lott) Hancock, the former of whom was a sailor, and for many years was captain

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of the ship " Emerald Isle," making several trips to America, but was shipwrecked and drowned while sailing from the Isle of Man to Liverpool. The family consisted of twenty-one children, seventeen of whom reached majority. Our subject came to America in December, 1862, preceded by her husband, Thomas Him, to whom she had been married, May 2, 1855. He followed mining, and died in 1879, and his widow was afterward in January, 1880, married to John Hislop, a pumpman in the Enterprise Mine, who died March 10, 1891; he was a member of the F. & A. M., the I. O. R. M., and the Caledonian Club of Wilkes-Barre. Mrs. Hislop has battled bravely with adversity, and has carried on a successful business. She has reared a large family, being the mother of twenty-one children, ten of whom are living, viz .: Philip, who has been a mine foreman at the Stanton Colliery, Wilkes- Barre, for fifteen years; Mary A., who lost two husbands and married the third before she was twenty-eight years old (her present husband is Isaac Cox, an iron miner in Michigan); Joseph, a miner at the Keystone Colliery; Nimrod, who is a track-layer, living at home; Sarah (Mrs. George Harrison); Elizabeth (Mrs. John Hine); Catharine (Mrs. Andrew Humble), and Permelia A., Oscar O. and Edith, still under their mother's care. There are, in all, in this family nineteen grand- children. Mrs. Hislop's brother, Thomas Hancock, was for several years a jailor in Wales, and is now a railroad conductor; he has one daughter and eleven sons, seven of whom are railroad engineers in various parts of England and Wales.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 140

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532