Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Rev. John C. Hilborn

Rev. John C. Hilborn

Male 1813 - 1898  (84 years)

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  • Name John C. Hilborn 
    Prefix Rev. 
    Born 11 May 1813  Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Interesting story, religion 
    Residence 1852  Thedford, Lambton Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-170336 
    Died 23 Feb 1898  Thedford, Lambton Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I170336  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Feb 2024 

    Father Joseph Hilborn,   b. CA 1783, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. CA 1820  (Age ~ 37 years) 
    Mother Esther Cornell,   b. Abt 1790,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F50764  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Sarah Anglemyer,   b. 1 Aug 1809, , Bucks Co., Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Children 
     1. Joseph Hilborn,   b. 25 Mar 1834, Goshen, Elkhart, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Mar 1919, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years)
     2. John Nelson Hilborn,   b. 28 Jul 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Jan 1922, Thedford, Lambton Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)
    Last Modified 2 Mar 2024 
    Family ID F49561  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    John C. Hilborn
    John C. Hilborn
    hilbornquaker originally shared this to Ancestry Public Member Tree

  • Notes 
    • NELSON HILBORN. a pioneer farmer in Bosanquet township, has been a resident of that locality for nearly fifty-one years. The fine old homestead there, where he is now carrying on a highly successful industry, he helped his father to hew out of the wilderness.

      Mr. Hilborn is paternally descended from fine English stock, and from the mater nal line draws good Pennsylvania-Dutch blood. His great-grandfather Hilborn was the first of his line to settle in America, and made his home for the most part in Pennsylvania. Among his children was a son named Joseph, who continued the line of descent.

      Joseph Hilborn, grandfather of Nelson, was born in Philadelphia, about 1783, and at an early date came to Ontario, settling upon a farm in Waterloo County. Here he engaged in agriculture for the most part throughout Ins active career, and, being an energetic man and a shrewd manager, was remarkably prosperous. His activities, however, were soon cut short, as his death occurred at the early age of thirty years. He married Esther Cornell, daughter of Sylvanus Cornell, and to Mr. and Mrs. Hilborn were born three children : Thomas, who is now deceased; Annie, who married William Anglemyer, and died at the advanced age of ninety years; and John C, who is mentioned below.

      John C. Hilborn, father of Nelson, was a man of ability and many attainments. He was born at Preston, Ont., May 11, 1813, and in a well-ordered home received careful rearing. In the schools of that vicinity he acquired a good education, and being of an intellectual bent availed himself of every opportunity for cultivating his literary tastes. For an occupation he chose tanning, which he followed from the age of fourteen to the age of twenty-four. About 1852 he settled upon a tract of wild land in Bosanquet township, where he cleared up a line farm for himself, and there he also followed tanning, and, giving strict attention to bus iness, and being skillful in pushing affairs, he made an unqualified success of his work. In addition to his other enterprises Mr. Hil born early began acting as preacher for various rural communities, and for fully sixty years acted in that capacity, even in his busiest seasons giving much time to this work. A wise and frugal manager, he made well out of his various enterprises, and in time became one of the well-to-do citizens of Bosanquet township. After many years of fruitful work he retired from his labors, and took up his residence with his son for twelve years. Then he was married again, to Mrs. Susan Toole. and removed to Thedford, where he lived retired until his death. Feb. 23, 1808. at the age of eighty-four years and nine months.

      During his young manhood Mr. Hilborn married Sarah Anglemyer. who was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, and who died in 1878. By this union there were nine children : Joseph, who is now a resident of Guelph ; Elizabeth, who married Andrew Mitchell; Adam and Samuel, who died young; Nelson, who is mentioned below ; Margaret, who married Lyman Swan, and is now deceased ; William, a farmer of Bosanquet township; John, a farmer of the same localit ; and Jacob, who is engaged in farming in Michigan.

      Mr. Hilborn was gifted in many lines and possessed the rare power of making a success of whatever he turned his hand to. He was an indefatigable worker, had rare business ability, and exerted a strong influence in all walks of life. His devotion to his work and his high moral attributes, as well as his many social graces, won him the respect and confidence of the community, and he made friends for himself at every step in life.

      Nelson Hilborn was born in Waterloo township, Waterloo County, July 28, 1842, and was a boy when his parents came to Lambton County and settled in Bosanquet township. Capable for his years, he even then went to work, axe in hand, to cut down the timber on his father s new farm. He also assisted in removing the timber which during the winter became lodged in the ice, for about a mile west from Thedford, along the Grand Trunk railroad. Ambitious for an education, he passed his evenings after a hard day s work in study, beside an old-time tallow candle, and in this way acquired a large fund of useful and practical knowledge. It was during this early period that the .town of Thedford was laid out, and it was Mr. Hilborn who drove the yoke of oxen to mark the site. Reared as a pioneer, upon reaching manhood he was not afraid to take a hand at any work which fell his way, and as a young man he cut and split cordwood into stove lengths, which he hauled to Pine Hill and marketed, receiving $1.25 per cord and his dinner. On Sept. 17, 1868, Mr. Hilborn married Miss Margaret L. Mitchell, who was horn in New Brunswick, slaughter of Andrew Mitchell. To Mr. and Mrs. Hilborn have been born three children: Franklin, who died at the age of four years; Miss Sarah Esther, at home; and John Nelson, a farmer of Bosanquet township. who married Mrs. Maud (William-son) Laughlin.

      After his marriage Mr. Hilborn settled upon the farm in Bosanquet township where he now resides. With a $6,000 debt upon his shoulders he went to work with energy and determination, and. by economy and wise management soon removed the incumbrance. He also improved his property, and in time made it into one of the most attractive farms in the locality. He has trans-formed large areas into well-furrowed grain fields and thriving gardens, and raised thereon some of the most valuable crops produced in the vicinity. A good manager, he has made well out of his industry, and is nosy one of the wealthy farmers of his locality. His place embraces 150 acres, has attractive buildings, and is well equipped with everything necessary for carrying on his in-dustry successfully.

      Mr. Hilborn possesses great energy and the wisdom to direct it properly to the everyday affairs of life. He is a hard worker, and has derived good money returns front Isis labors. His achievements and his force of character have won him the confidence of the community, and he is widely known and everywhere most highly respected. A con-sistent member of the Methodist Church, he is a man of firm religions convictions and throughout his life has espoused the cause of every enterprise for the uplifting of his fellow-citizens. Politically he affiliates with the Conservatives. He has been a most conscientious husband and father, and has assisted his children to good places in life.

      Andrew Mitchell, Mrs. Hilborn's father, was born in Ireland in 1812, and his parents were of Irish and Scotch birth, respectively; they were married in New Brunswick. He married Annie Rutherford, who was born in Scotland in 1814. They came to Canada in 1844. settling in New Brunswick, and about ten years later, in 1854. moved to a farm in Bosanquet township, Lambton County, where Mr. Mitchell engaged in ag-ricultural pursuits. He died there in 1882, Mrs. Mitchell passing away in 1870. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, she of the Methodist. Their children were as fol-lows William, of Sundridge. Muskoka, a carpenter; Catherine. deceased wife of Arch-ibald McKinnen; Mary Jane, of Sarnia, Ont.. widow of William Pleasing; John, who died in Detroit, Michigan, in 1903; Andrew. a farmer of Brown City, Michigan, who married Elisabeth Hilborn, sister of our subject; Margaret L., Mrs. Hilborn Charles, who died at the age of twelve; and Maria, deceased wife of Joseph Lusby.

      Commemorative Biographical Record of Lambton County 1906 by J.H. Beers

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 11 May 1813 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1852 - Thedford, Lambton Co., Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 23 Feb 1898 - Thedford, Lambton Co., Ontario Link to Google Earth
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