(1) Name: Alvin Kenney HILDRETH
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Birth: 1804 Bourbon County, Kentucky
Death: July 19, 1874 Vermillion County, Illinois Age: 70
Father: William HILDRETH (~1775-1816)
Mother: Mary “Polly” KENNEY (1779-)

Misc. Notes
According to a biographical articles on his sons, Alvin K. Hildreth was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky and "reared to farming pursuits, and grew up inured to labor and trained in habits of industry and economy. He possessed all the hardihood and courage of the native Kentuckian, and was well fitted to enter upon the task before him, when venturing into the wilds of a new country". In 1832 Alvin and his wife moved from Bourbon County, Kentucky to Vermilion County, Illinois. They settled on a new tract of land on the little Vermilion, constructed a homestead, and spent the remainder of their lives there.

The same biographical article says that he "landed in Vermilion County, Ill., with about $400, and at the time of his death, left a large estate consisting of over 2,600 acres of choice land, nearly all in one body, and the most of it under cultivation. Besides this he had a large amount of personal property. In his prosperity he generously acknowledged that in his accumulations he was assisted largely by his faithful, sensible and capable wife, who was a lady of more than ordinary intelligence, and in whose good judgment and womanly counsel he had the most implicit confidence. In the days of their prosperty they uniformly remembered those less fortunate, and for the last twenty years of their active lives, they practically kept an open house for the needy, none of whom were ever turned empty from their door.'

"Alvin K. Hildreth, while not a member of any religious organization, contributed
liberally of his means for the establishment and maintenance of churches. He believed in a future state, and in all his dealings endeavored to follow the precepts of the Golden Rule, doing unto his neighbor as he would be done by."

Prepared by:
Justin C.S. Howery
1270 Marion St #109
Denver, CO 80218
jhowery@@tde.com


Spouses
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1: Sara A. RITTER
Birth: about 1826 Bourbon County, Kentucky
Children: William H. (1829-)
John B. (1842->1889)

(2) Name: Angeline HILDRETH
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Birth: August 26, 1806 Bourbon County, Kentucky
Death: April 6, 1860 Tuscola, Douglas County, Illinois Age: 53
Father: William HILDRETH (~1775-1816)
Mother: Mary “Polly” KENNEY (1779-)

Misc. Notes
She married George Washington Howe, son of Dr. George Howe, on 26 Dec 1826 at Paris, Bourbon Co, Kentucky. She married John Mallory, son of (--?--) Mallory, on 15 Aug 1842 at Vermilion Co, Illinois. She died on 6 Apr 1860 at Tuscola, Douglas Co, Illinois, at age 53.

In 1832 George and Angeline Howe moved with their children to Missouri and then to Illinois. In 1835 George Howe joined an armed expedition sent against the Indians in the Black Hawk War. He disappeared near Galena, Illinois. His body was never recovered, so his family presumed him to be dead or captured. Angeline took their three small children and moved back to her father's home in Kentucky.

In the spring of 1838 Angeline returned to Illinois. She arrived in Grand Prairie, Vermilion County, Illinois where she had relatives on 5/6 April 1838. The 1840 Census of Vermilion County shows John and Alvin Hildreth families, presumably her brothers. At that time the area was pioneer country. She sent her children to subscription schools but was very poor. In 1840 she was struggling to care for her children and was forced to apprentice her son William Howe and an unnamed daughter to William J. West, a neighboring farmer.

In 1842 Angeline's first husband was pronounced legally dead and she remarried. Her new husband was living in Champaign County at the time of the 1840 Census, and it is likely that they lived there from the time of their marriage.

In 1853 Angeline's son William Howe settled in Coles County (which became Douglas County in 1859), and in 1854 her son James Howe settled there. Angeline probably moved to Douglas County about the same time, or after the death of John Mallory. The Mortality Schedule for the 1860 Census of Douglas County says she was a widow and died of lung fever. At the time of her death her children ranged in age from 11 to 30.


Spouses
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1: George Washington HOWE
Birth: Bourbon County, Kentucky

Misc. Notes
In 1832 George Howe and Angeline Mallory moved to Missouri, then to Illinois. George Howe disappeared, presumed dead, 1835 in Illinois while on an expedition sent against the Indians in the Black Hawk War. Angeline returned to Kentucky temporarily, then in 1838 moved back to Illinois. In 1842 George Howe was pronounced legally dead and Angeline remarried. Angeline and her new husband must have left Douglas Co, Illinois some time after the 1850 Census but before the 1860 Census. She appears without him on the 1860 Census and there is other evidence that the family did not live the whole time in Illinois, so I think he died elsewhere and returned to Illinois.

Those old Kentucky folks were often off fighting distant Indians! Information from Justin Howery 1/3/2000, beau@@tde.com

Marriage: December 26, 1826 Bourbon County, Kentucky
Children: William (1829-1892)
Daughter
James Hildreth (1832-)

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2: John MALLORY
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(3) Name: James M. HILDRETH
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Birth: about 1838 Bourbon County, Kentucky
Father: James HILDRETH (1786-1855)
Mother: Rebecca KENNEDY (1791-~1871)

Misc. Notes
Notes for JAMES M. HILDRETH:
HILDRETH, James M. - OBITUARY [name of newspaper unknown- source "Ewing Family Books"]
GRAND OLD MAN IS SUMMONED
COMMUNTY IS SHOCKED
Soul of a Good Citizen Ushered Into Eternity Without Warning

The entire community was shocked this morning when the word was given out that Col. James M. Hildreth, one of the foremost and best known citizens of this locality was dead.

To say that it was a shock to his many friends is putting it lightly, for only yesterday the colonel was about the streets and the usual places, where he visited daily, apparently enjoying the best of health.

Col. Hildreth made his home with Melvin Moor on North Main street, and this morning about 4 o'clock Mr. Moor heard a groan as if from one in agony and hastened to the bedroom occupied by Col. Hildreth, but only to find that his soul had taken flight, and the veteran, who achieved glory on the battlefield, had been beaten in the battle of life.

Death was due to heart failure. He was seventy-five years of age. Col. Hildreth was a man loved by all who knew him and his acquaintance was large.

Deceased was the son of James and Rebecca (Kennedy) Hildreth. The parents were natives of Bourbon County, Ky., born in 1786 and 1791, respectively. They came to Rush County in the fall of 1835, and located in Noble Township, where the remainder of their lives were spent. Mr. Hildreth died in 1855, but his wife survived him many years, being upward of eighty at her death. They were devout members of the Christian Church, Col. Hildreth was born in Bourbon County, Ky., and was about three years of age when his parents located in this county. He was reared on a farm and early became familiar with the rugged duties of a farmer. His education was obtained in the common schools. In 1856, he removed to Rushville and engaged in the livery business, which he continued for several years. In August 1862 he recruited a company for the Sixteenth Regiment Indian Infantry. At the organization of the company he was chosen Captain. In 1864, he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of his regiment, and he continued to discharge the important duties of that position until the expiration of his term of service in June, 1865. Upon his return home, he resumed the business of an agriculturist, which he pursed successfully until he assumed the duties of County Clerk in the fall of 1884. By his prompt attention to business, and his genial manners, he won the approval of his constituents, and was elected for a second term in the fall of 1886. He was married in May 1866, to Fanny, a daughter of Col. Alfred Posey.

Col. Hildreth was a member of the several Masonic order; having joined Phoenix Lodge No. 62, F. & A.M. in this city on November 7th, 1865, and during the present year held offices as one of the Stewards in the Blue lodge, and Master of the Third Vail in the Royal Arch Chapter. He was also a member of the Grand Army.

The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at St. Paul's M. E. Church, Dr. V. W. Tervis, officiating. The burial services will be in charge of the Knights Templar. Col. Hildreth was the first member of that organization to die since it was instituted in this city, and will be the first to be buried by their ritual, conducted by the local commandery.

The G. A. R. will attend the funeral as will the different bodies of Masonry, in which deceased was identified.


Spouses
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1: Frances Louisa POSEY
Birth: July 18, 1841
Father: Alfred POSEY
Mother: Sarah STATHEM
Marriage: May 24, 1866