Stanislaus
County
Biographies
ABRAM M. HILTS
A respected resident of Knight’s
Ferry, Abram Miles Hilts, arrived in California in 1852, reaching Stockton on
the 6th of September. Almost
the width of the continent separates him from his birthplace, which is
Schoharie County, New York, his natal day being September 28, 1833. The family is of German lineage, for his
grandfather, Theobald Hilts, immigrated
from Germany to the new world, locating in Schoharie County, New York, among
its pioneer settlers. There Christian
Hilts, the father of our subject, was born.
He married Jannette Schell, also a native of that county and they were
respected farming people, members of the Presbyterian Church. Their lives exemplified their Christian
faith. Three children were born of their
marriage, of which Mr. Hilts and his sister Catherine now survive, the latter
being the wife of Menzo Watson, of Selma,
Alabama. Both the father and the
grandfather of our subject lived to be eighty-eight years of age, and the
mother was eighty years of age when called to her final rest. Their fidelity and worthy principles won them
the respect and friendship of all with whom they came in contact.
Mr. Hilts of this review was
seventeen years of age when he left home and entered upon an independent
career. He had previously learned the
carpenter’s trade. He came to California
by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and after spending four years in Stockton he
removed to Knight’s Ferry, where he engaged in the express business with his
uncle. They also purchased gold dust and
their speculations in the precious metal proved profitable. Later Mr. Hilts conducted a livery business
for three years. On selling out he
turned his attention to merchandising in Copperopolis, where he remained until
the town began to decline, for the mining interests of that region became
exhausted. He then returned to Knight’s
Ferry and followed carpentering until 1870, and then under the administration
of General Grant he was appointed to a government position in the appraiser’s
department of the custom-house, where he was employed for eighteen years, or
until the middle of President Cleveland’s first term, when he was succeeded by
a Democrat. Again he went to Knight’s
Ferry and was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Stanislaus County, having
fourteen hundred acres of wheat and pasture land. This, however, is now rented and he has
retired from active business, having acquired a handsome competence that
enables him to put aside business cares and enjoy life as he sees fit, his
necessities being supplied by the fruits of his former toil.
In 1858 Mr. Hilts was married to
Miss Susan R. Bishop, a native of Zanesville, Ohio, and a lady of English
lineage, and who, after a useful life, passed away January 24, 1884. Four children blessed their union,
namely: Sarah B., born November 1, 1862,
who is now acting as her father’s housekeeper; Violet B., born June 24, 1868,
and now the wife of William Cowin, a railroad
employee; Callie F., born February 2, 1871, now the wife of Henry L. Clark,
whose home is at Port Costa; and Janette S., the oldest of the children, born
April 13, 1860, died in September, 1871.
Mr. Hilts was reared in the Democratic
faith and supported Douglas, but at the time of the Civil War he became a
strong Union man and joined the Republican Party, which gave so many defenders
to the government when it was imperiled.
He has since voted with that party, being an inflexible adherent of its
principles. An honorable retirement from
labor is a fitting reward of a well-spent life, and this Mr. Hilts is now
enjoying. Through many years he vigorously
prosecuted his business interests, and his diligence, indefatigable energy and
strong resolution enabled him to conquer all the difficulties and obstacles in
his path, and to wrest fortune from the hands of fate. His characteristics are those which go to
make up an honorable manhood, and through the years of his business career he
ever enjoyed the confidence and respect of those with whom he was associated.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 636-637. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.