HILTS, Eugene

HILTS, TIBBETS BARRIGER, BOOTH, BOUGHTON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/5/2014 at 14:57:10

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 665-66. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ EUGENE HILTS

Eugene Hilts, a farmer and stock-raiser, is a factor in that substantial agricultural class which has done more than anything else to give Cerro Gordo county its strength. He is by birth an easterner, his birth having occurred in Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, New York, February 12, 1866. He is the son of Theodore and Bertha (Tibbetts (sic, should be Tibbets)) Hilts, natives of New York and members of old families. The father was of Mohawk Dutch descent, his father having been a native of Holland. Mr. Hilts' father engaged in farming during most of his active life and saw service during the Civil war as a member of a New York regiment. He is now sixty-eight years of age, is retired, and is residing in East Tawas, Michigan. The mother died in 1874, when a comparatively young woman, and the father married again. Mr. Hilts has one sister, Mrs. Byron Barriger, of De Kalb Junction, St. Lawrence county, New York.

Eugene Hilts was reared in New York, received a common-school education and is practically a self-made man. When he came to Iowa he had no capital to speak of, but managed well and has been successful. He now owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of land finely improved by himself. This is located in Grant township. The date of his arrival in Cerro Gordo county is February 4, 1889. During most of the years since the attainment of his majority Mr. Hilts has given his support to the Republican party, although he is not too much partisan to support a measure he believes to be right if advocated by the other. He has the interest of the county at heart and has served as trustee for the past six years. He and his family are members of the United Brethren church.

Mr. Hilts was married in 1881 to Miss Dora Booth, a native of Grant township and a daughter of Mrs. Susan Booth, who still resides here, at the age of eighty-four years. The father died in 1904, aged eighty and a half years. Mr. and Mrs. Hilts are the parents of two sons: Elton C. aged eighteen years and Carroll aged four.

NOTE: Eugene Hilts died on January 7, 1925. Dora (Booth) Hilts was born on June 3, 1867, and died on February 25, 1934. They were interred at Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake IA.

Charles "Elton" Hilts, son of Eugene and Dora, was born on November 30, 1891, and died on September 30, 1971. He was interred at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City IA. Elton's first wife, Leone (Boughton) Hilts, was born on November 23, 1894, and died on June 18, 1917, with interment at Clear Lake Cemetery. Elton's second wife, Emma L., was born on September 8, 1892, and died on February 12, 1978, with interment at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City IA.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014