Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

William Hilker

Male 1795 - Yes, date unknown


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  • Name William Hilker 
    Born 1795  , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Rsrch. Note
    • Subject: William and Henriette HILKER, Waterloo Twp, Ontario 1851
      Author: William B Wolfe
      Date: 22 Nov 2000 4:47 AM GMT
      Email: williambwolfe@hotmail.com
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------
      It seems that all four of the Hilker males, sons of William and Henriette Hilker (1851 Census, Waterloo Twp, Waterloo Co. ON) moved from Waterloo Co. to District 28, North Bruce, ON. In the 1871 Census, Henry, 46, is listed as a Merchant in sub-district "B", Saugeen, Page 39: Adam, 37, farmer, is in the same sub-district, Page 33: Benjamin, 27, no occupation listed, is in the same sub-district, Page 55 with his 26-yr-old wife Abigail (nee Detweiler) and 7-month-old daughter, Nancy, and a 28-yr-old boarder of French origin, Louis Sees, b. in the USA. Louis Sees is my (Dianne's) Great Grandfather. Abigail Detweiler's niece, Angelina Detweiler married Louis Sees.

      The 4th Hilker son who migrated to North Bruce is listed in the 1871 Census as a builder, age 31, living in Southampton Village, Page 27.

      Henry Hilker, the oldest of the 4 boys, is a famous original settler of the town of Port Elgin. He came in 1853. He was the 1st Reeve. He had a general store on Goderich Street in the center of town which he ran for years with Mr. Ruby (Ruby Hilker) It later became Hilker Co. A major street is named after this town founder, Henry Hilker.

      Henry's youngest brother, Benjamin migrated to the USA with his wife, Abigail and 3 kids about 1874. They settled in Mower County, Minnesota. About 5 years later, Abigail's brother, George D. Detweiler and his wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" (Kepkey) moved with their 3 Ontario-born kids to Mower County MN. The 1880 MN census shows these two families living on the same farm in Lansing Township, Mower Co., Enumeration District 170, Page 574C, Line 37, Dwelling No. 28. By that time, June 8th, 1880, there were 12 people in this extended family.

      We've been able to learn more about the descendants of these Hilker/Detweiler families, which we can talk about if you are interested. Because Henry Hilker was such an important pioneer and pillar in the town of Port Elgin, Bruce Co., ON, the histories of that town, Saugeen Township and North Bruce County are rich with Hilker information, lore and photographs
    Occupation 1851  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    farmer 
    Residence 1861  Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-27418 
    Died Yes, date unknown 
    Person ID I27418  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Jun 2024 

    Family Henriette,   b. 1799, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Jul 1869, Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years) 
    Children 
     1. Henry Hilker,   b. 1825, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Adolph Hilker,   b. 1828, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. John Hilker,   b. 1838, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Benjamin Hilker,   b. 1841, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 26 Jun 2024 
    Family ID F7146  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • William emmigrated from Germany in 1834 to Jamaica later in 1837 moved to Preston according to research done by John Calder in 2008.

  • Sources 
    1. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 1 Pg 39.

    2. [S923] Census - ON, Bruce, Saugeen - 1861.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1795 - , Germany Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - farmer - 1851 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1861 - Saugeen Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth