James Monroe Hilts

HILTS

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/17/2010 at 13:17:05

For a third of a century James Monroe Hilts has been identified with the agricultural interests of Boone county and now owns a good farm in Harrison township. He is a native of the Empire state, for he was born in Oneida county, New York, September 7, 1841, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Ladd) Hilts, also natives of New York, the former born in Herkimer county and the latter near Booneville. He traces his ancestry back to Revolutionary stock, for members of the family served in both the war for independence and the War of 1812. It was his desire to enter the army during the Civil war but ill health prevented this. He has, however, manifested his patriotism in many ways. In 1847 he was taken by his parents to St Charles, Illinois, near which city his parents engaged in farming. Both parents died in that state. Their children were: James Madison, a twin brother of James Monroe, and a resident of La Grande, Oregon, Frank of Boone, Iowa, and Lewis R of South Dakota.
James M Hilts was only six years of age when the family left New York and removed to Illinois, where he grew to manhood, assisting his father in the operation of the home farm. From that state he went to Kansas and in 1881, came to Iowa, since which time he has been a resident of Boone county. He follows general farming and today owns a well improved place of 80 acres in Harrison township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devotes his entire attention. He is a progressive farmer, keeping up to date in methods of agriculture, and is the owner of an automobile.
On March 18, 1874, Mr Hilts was united in marriage to Miss Ida A Grover, a daughter of Justin L and Atlanta (Ward) Grover, both of whom are now deceased. The father was a soldier in the Civil war and passed away in the hospital at Kingston, South Carolina. Mr Hilts has never taken a very active nor prominent part in public affairs but by his ballot supports the men and measures of the republican party, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, having joined Unity Lodge No 48, A F & A M, in Boone in 1883 and today is also connected with the chapter and commandery at that place. During his long residence here he has made a host of warm friends and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

1914 Boone County History Book