HILLEARY, ALEXANDER

HILLEARY, FLANDERS, PARSONS, ROBISON, MARTELLE, MORGAN, ROSS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/26/2025 at 20:29:36

BURLINGTON CITY.
(P. O. BURLINGTON)

HILLEARY, ALEXANDER, a native of Virginia; born in 1809; in 1827, removed with his parents to Harrison Co., Ky.; thence to Quincy, 111., in 1831 ; during the Black Hawk war, in 1832, he entered the service and served during the greater part of that war ; in 1833, he left Illinois and came to seek his fortune in the new country of Des Moines Co. ; after traveling about, located in Burlington Tp., his present home. Dec. 2, 1834, Mr. Hilleary and Sarah Morgan daughter of the late Judge Morgan, were joined in marriage under circumstances similar to those which marked the first wedding in this section, that of W. R. Ross and Mrs. Hilleary's sister, Matilda. The laws of the Territory of Michigan had not been fully enforced here when Mr. H. wished to marry, and to avoid future trouble, he secured the services of a Monmouth official ; obtained a marriage license at that place, and arranged to take his expectant bride and the wedding party across the Mississippi on a flatboat. On the day above named, the ceremony was duly solemnized under a tree on the Illinois shore, and the happy couple returned to Burlington. Have had twelve children ; eight living—Martha Ann (married S. A. Flanders, of Union Tp., who served in the war of the rebellion), Mary J. (married A. Parsons, of Burlington), William C, (married Miss Mary F. Robison ; reside in this township), Matilda (married J. B. Martelle, of Burlington), Louis N., at present attending school at the Medical University of the City of New York), Ida, Emma, Frances and Clara H.; children deceased are Elizabeth, John (who served in the 1st Iowa C. during the war of the rebellion, was wounded near Camden, Ark., and died from the effects of the wound April 26, 1864, aged 23 years), Sarah, Alice and Eliza Jane. Mr. Hilleary is one of the pioneers of Burlington Tp.; he well remembers the hardships and trials of the early pioneers. Acts with the Republican party ; is a member the Christian Church. He started in life poor, and all his property, which he is now enjoying in peace and comfort, was acquired by his own exertions.

Source: BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY IOWA
CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY, 1879

Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1879