Percy Richard Hilborn

1886 - 1972  (86 years)

• Name	Percy Richard Hilborn
  Born	14 Jun 1886	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Gender	Male
  Business	Preston Furniture Company, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Business	Canadian Office and School Furniture Co., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Canadian Office and School Furniture Co.
  Business	Preston Furniture Company, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Preston Furniture Company
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14685662
  Residence	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Anglican
  Occupation	1911	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Manufacturer
  Residence	1911	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Anglican
  Residence	1972	160 Grandview Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Died	18 Oct 1972	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region	Bef 2012	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  Interesting	business, mill, convervation
  Name	P. R. Hilborn
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-352701
  Buried	Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Person ID	I352701	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Father	Henry Cornell "Harry" Hilborn,   b. 6 Jul 1843, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 11 Aug 1909, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 66 years)
  Mother	Mary Cox,   b. 22 Apr 1845, Dundas, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 22 Jun 1927, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 82 years)
  Married	5 Aug 1873	Port Rowan, Norfolk Co., Ontario   [8, 9]
  Family ID	F6638	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Gertrude Rosina Wells,   b. 25 Jun 1888, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 28 Mar 1953, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada  (Age 64 years)
  Married	18 Jul 1914	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [10]
  Children	1. John W. Hilborn   2. Elinor Hilborn   3. Helen Joan Hilborn,   b. 23 Dec 1916, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 17 Dec 2004, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 87 years)   4. Major Richard Cornell "Dick" Hilborn,   b. 10 May 1918,   d. 21 Feb 2006, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 87 years)
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2024
  Family ID	F252233	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos		Percy Richard Hilborn from Waterloo Region Hall of Fame
  		Percy Richard Hilborn

  
  

• Notes

  HILBORN, Percy R. Of 160 Grandview Rd., Preston, at the South Waterloo Memorial Hospital, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 1972, Percy R. Hilborn, beloved husband of the late Gertrude Wells; beloved father of Richard C. of Preston, John W. of Deep River, Helen (Mrs. Paul Birdie) of Ottawa, Elinor (Mrs. John Hueton) of Oakville; also survived by 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; in his 87th year. Private funeral service Friday. Cremation. Arrangements by the Barthel-Stager Funeral Home, Preston. Kitchener-Waterloo Record 20 Oct 1972 pg 24 _________________________________________ Percy was educated at McGill University graduating in 1909 with a degree in Mining and Metallurgy. He spent the first 10 years working in engineering and design for Clare Bros. Ltd. in Preston, in which he father had an interest. In 1914 in partnership with Reg Sears he purchased Salyerds Manufacturing Co. makers of hockey sticks and brushes. He sold out to Irving Bernhardt in 1919 and purchased the Preston Furniture Company from Frank Moss. The company then bought Baird Furniture and Sawmill in Plattsville where in 1931 he established the Canada Sand Papers Company. He acquired a number of other businesses (listed in the original article). He was involved in things such as Waterloo County Health Assocation, Preston Rotary Club, Preston Planning Board, University of Waterloo, Stratford Festival Theatre and Scouting. Cambridge Mosaic , Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [abbreviated snippet from original text in book] ______________________________ A Gem in the Heart of Cambridge The passion Elinor and John Hueton have for Dumfries Conservation Area is evident with every footfall as they walk through this hidden gem in the centre of Cambridge. They know this land intimately. Elinor was born in Cambridge (Preston) in a home on the banks of the Grand River in 1931. Many of her early memories relate to the river playing hockey on it, visiting the islands in its centre and climbing a big "Christopher Robin" tree to look out and see the Doon Pinnacle in the distance before the tower was constructed. John became an environmentalist during his teens in Cape Town, South Africa. Although they spent most of their lives away, they moved back to Puslinch in 1990. "My father was an environmentalist long before his time. He bought the first farm in 1916 and others up to 1967. He wanted to preserve some untouched green space in the heart of the city in which people could relax and enjoy nature," Elinor said. He donated the land for a park to the province, which later turned it over to the GRCA to develop and mannage. They formed the Friends of Dumfries Conservation Area, an organization made up of neighbours and people interested in the park, who have been concerned about development around the park. The group has done their best to promote and protect the piece of wilderness in the heart of the city. In 1998 Elinor received a Grand River Conservation Watershed Award and her father received a posthumous Honour Roll award in 1976, the first year this award was given out by the GRCA. Dumfries has many other supporters including the three Rotary Clubs of Cambridge and nearby Babcock and Wilcox. "We're continuing a legacy started by my father, Percy Hilborn, who donated 75 hectares of land 43 years ago so it could be kept unspoiled as a quiet park in perpetuity. His ideas were reinforced by my late sister Helen Bridle, who was also a steward of the property," Elinor said. What they love most is to walk through with a first-time visitor. They revel in the delighted exclamations at some of the biggest trees in Waterloo Region, the old growth forest, the plantation forests planted by Elinor's father, a babbling creek, five wetlands and the Hilborn Arboretum. The terrain is varied which makes it full of surprises. The Huetons estimate 150,000 visits are made to Dumfries each year, but still many residents have never stepped inside the vast interior. Dumfries is what the GRCA calls a passive recreation area, since it is not used for camping or swimming and it is free to visitors. John recalls a teacher who brought his class to a forested area and then asked the students to be quiet for five minutes. Their comments were, "but it is so silent." "At the centre of the woods surrounded by busy roads and shopping centres, you can find a perfect silence but for the sigh of the wind and the trees above," John said. The Hilborn Arboretum In 1984, the Hilborn Arboretum was developed on two hectares at the corner of Dunbar Road and Hespeler Road by the Preston, Hespeler, and Galt Horticultural Societies. The Arboretum was a provincial centennial year project. Nearly 1,000 trees and shrubs were planted, including approximately 75 tree species. By Janet Baine GRCA Communications Specialist, Grand Actions, THE GRAND STRATEGY NEWSLETTER Volume 15, Number 3 - MAY/JUNE 2011 _________ Percy Hilborn dies at 86 Percy R. Hilborn, one of Waterloo County's best known industrialists, died Oct. 19 at South Waterloo Memorial Hospital. He was year 86. A former owner of Canadian Office and School Furniture Co., Mr. Hilborn was also a director of many large business concerns. He was a director of Waterloo Trust since 1927 and was its vice-president from 1955 to 1968. Following the merger to form Canada Trust, he was a director until his retirement early this year. In the past Mr. Hilborn has been associated with Equitable Life Assurance Co. of Canada, Canada Sand Papers Ltd., Plattsville and Hahn Brass Ltd., of New Hamburg. A long-time member and former chairman of the Preston planning board, he was also a charter president of the Preston Hespeler Rotary Club. Included in his wide range of interests was the Scouting movement. Receiving one of scouting's highest awards, the silver acorn, he was responsible for the reorganization of the movement after the last world war and was president in 1939 and vice-president in 1936. Mr. Hilborn, who lived at 160 Grandview Rd., was predeceased by his wife, the former Gertrude Wells. Surviving are two sons, Richard C. of Preston and John W. of Deep River; two daughters, Mrs. Paul (Helen) Birdle of Ottawa and Mrs. John (Elinor) Hueton of Oakville; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Times Herald 25 Oct 1972

  
  

• Sources

  [S137] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1901, Berlin (Town/Ville) A-8 Page 3. [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration. Percy Richard Hilborn Born: 14 Jun 1886 County: Waterloo Father: Henry Hilborn Mother: Mary Cox [S239] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Preston CC#6335 Cemetery Internet Link . Percy Richard/ HILBORN/ June 14, 1886/ October 18, 1972. [S1669] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1911, Div. 24 Pg. 7. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 3 Page 30. [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration. Name:Percy Richard Hilborn Date of Birth:14 Jun 1886 Gender:Male Birth Place:Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Father's name:Henry Hilborn Mother's name:Mary Cox [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Mary Cox Born: Dundas Ont Age: 27 Father: Joseph Cox Mother: Maria Cox Born: abt 1846 Spouse: Henry Cornel Hilborn Age: 30 born: Preston Co of Waterloo Father: James Hilborne Mother: Adeline Hilborne married 5 Aug 1873 [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 14 Aug 1873. 05 Aug 1873 By Rev. W. Wood in Port Rowan, Henry Cornell Hilborn of Berlin was married to Mary Cockes of Port Rowan, Norfolk County. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name:Percy Richard Hilborn Age:28 Birth Date:abt 1886 Birth Place:Berlin Marriage Date:18 Jul 1914 Marriage County or District:Waterloo Father:Henry C Hilborn Mother:Mary Cox Hilborn Spouse:Gerturde Rosina Wells Spouse's Age:26 Spouse Birth Date:abt 1888 Spouse Birth Place:Waterloo, Ontario Spouse Father:Walter Wells Spouse Mother:Rosina Roos

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 14 Jun 1886 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Anglican - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Manufacturer - 1911 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Anglican - 1911 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 18 Jul 1914 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 18 Oct 1972 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth