Charles A Hilton
Rank: Pvt, Cpl Co: H Age: 18 Residence: Parsonsfield Birthplace: Parsonsfield Occupation: machinist Married/Single: S Height: 5' 6.5 Eyes: Bl Hair: Br Complexion: Dk
CHARLES AUGUSTUS HILTON was born on 22 July 1845 in Parsonsfield, Maine, the son of George and Abigail F (Ricker) Hilton [Wentworth Gen, p165]. He died in Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN on 24 Oct 1912 [NARA Pension Card; MN Death Rec]. He is buried there in Lakewood Cemetery.
He was married on 21 Apr, 1872 in Frankfort,IL [Hist of Parsonsfield p382,p353] to SARAH ADELAIDE CARPENTER, the daughter of Josiah and Frances (Haradon) Carpenter [MN Deaths]. She was born on 21 Jan 1853 in Frankfort, IL and died in Minneapolis, MN on 8 Oct 1944 [MN Death Index].
He first enlisted into the 27th Maine Infantry on 30 Sept 1862, having just turned 17 that summer (papers say age 18). Following his mustering out in July 1863, he moved to Lowell, MA, and was working as a clerk there when he reenlisted twice. He served as a private first in the 6th Massachusetts Infantry for a 100 day service call (7 July 1864 to 27 Oct 1864), followed by his service with the 12th Independent Battery of Massachusetts Light Artillery (14 Nov 1864 - 25 July 1865). During one of these military stints, he became sick with disease, as noted in his biography in the History of Parsonsfield (p353). He filed for a pension immediately after the War, on 20 Oct 1866 [app #117,736; cert #96,218].
Beginning in 1868, Charles entered the ministry as a Freewill Baptist preacher, though having no theological training except for his own self-teaching. In his first year, he was a pastor in nearby Ross Corner (Shapleigh), Maine, but then removed to Frankfort, Will, Illinois. It was during his five years here as a school teacher and minister that he met his wife Sarah and had two of their three children. In 1874, he accepted a position at the Free Baptist Church in North Parma, Monroe, New York. So memorable was his service to the village in the 7 1/2 years he was here, they renamed their village after him in 1896! [page on Wikipedia: Hilton, New York]
His bio [Hist of Parsonsfield p354] again mentions his poor health, forcing him to "accept a field where the demands upon him would not be so exacting" (a smaller church membership perhaps?), and settled at East Kendall, New York in 1882. Only remaining here a year, he then returned to New England and to a church in Haverhill, MA. The two-page biography of him in the Parsonsfield history ends in 1887, with him still in Haverhill. From here, likley in 1888, he went to Chelsea, Suffolk, MA, and was there during the time of the 1890 census (and Veteran Schedule). Unfortunately, this record doesn't list his service during the Rebellion, nor the origins of his diseased conditions (his pension papers likely will). Street directories show his residence there through 1893, but he removed to Randolph, Norfolk, MA by 1900.
His final pastorate began around 1904, when he was certified on 10 Feb as a Congregational minister [Yrbk of the Congregational Christian Churches in the US, c1906, p292] and began work at the church on Fremont Ave in Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN. Charles, his wife, and youngest daughter had moved to the city circa Sept 1903 [1905 MN State Census], his son already being a resident here. It was in this city where Charles and his wife died.
Three children were born to this couple:
I. EDNA HILTON was born April 1873 in Frankfort, IL, and died after 1930 census. Following her education at Chelsea, MA High and Boston, MA University, she was in charge of the Endicott School in Dedham, MA from 1893-4. She afterwards went to work for the Randolph, MA High School from 1895 to 1898, and followed this with a teaching position in Brockton, MA [A Record of Education: The Schools and Treachers of Dedham, MA by Carlos Slafter c1905, p281]. She lived here until 1904, when she left to join her parents in Minneapolis, MN. She continued her teaching here, and is seen as a school teacher during the 1930 census, age 56, single.
II. GEORGE FAY HILTON, born 27 Oct 1874 [WWI Draft Reg Card] in Frankfort, IL. He was married ca May 1905 [wife was res of Minneapolis 1 mo in June,'05] to CAROLYN L CROSS, a New York native born ca 1877 [1910 census]. In 1930 census, his wife's name was IDA G, so likely secondly married. George was seen in the 1893 Chelsea, MA street directory as a student (liv at parents address), and by 1899 was living in Minnesota [1905 census data]. While in the city, he owned a retail lumber co. [1905,1910 censuses]. From here he went first to Texas, then to Mt Vernon, NY [WWI Draft Reg Card (1918)], and then to Rochester, Monroe, NY [1920,'30 censuses]. He and Carolyn had four children:
1. Geraldine Hilton, b. ca 1908 in MN [age 2 in 1910 census]
2. Donald Hilton, a twin, b. 24 Aug 1909 in Minneapolis, MN [MN Birth Cert Index]
3. Dorothy Hilton, twin, b. 24 Aug 1909 in Minneapolis, MN [MN Birth Cert Index]. She was a school teacher in 1930 Rochester, NY census
4. Charles Hilton, b. ca 1915 in Texas [age 5 in 1920, a.15 in 1930 census]
III. RUTH, born 18 Sept 1888 in Chelsea, Suffolk, MA [MA VR v387 p293]. She was living with her parents in 1910 Minneapolis census, age 21, whereabouts after this untraced.
A photo of Charles Hilton can be seen on the following page:
http://www.rochester.lib.ny.us/rochimag/hiltonpathfinder/topic1.html
Additional Source Data:
1850 Parsonsfield, York, Maine census: hh 145/155
1860 Parsonsfield census (pg 40): hh 307/316: living with his aunt and uncle Noah and Martha (Hilton) Burnham
1870 Frankfort, Will, IL (pg 11): liv w/ Thomas and Alvina Hersehbach
1880 Parma, Monroe, NY (pg 7): hh 1/1
1890 Vet Schedule: Chelsea, Suffolk, MA (no data listed)
1892, '93 Chelsea, Suffolk, MA Street Directories: Charles, pastor, Free Baptist Ch, liv 185 Spencer Ave.
1900 Randolph, Norfolk, MA (pg 16A): hh 329/356
1905 Minnesota State Census, taken 23 June: liv at 3113 Fremont Ave (Chas, wife, 3 ch, and Fay's wife)
1910 Minneapolis wrd-10, Hennepin, MN (pg 8B): hh 137/151; liv on Fremont Ave
1910 Minneapolis wrd-3 (pg 1B): hh 14/19: George and family at 1623 Fremont Ave.
1920 Rochester wrd-10, Monroe, NY (pg 9B): hh 289/247 George a sales manager for furniture co.
1930 Minneapolis wrd-8 (pg 23A): hh 276/369
1930 Rochester wrd-14, Monroe,NY (pg 16B): hh 393/332 George F +family at 126 Rockingham
- Civil War Pension Index: Widow Sarah A filed 1 Nov, 1912 (app #995,721 cert #752,056)
- Massachusetts Soldiers,Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War: vol.1 p457 (6th MA data), vol.V p500 (12th Mass LA data)
- History of the First Century of the Town of Parsonsfield, Maine by (the town) c1888 Brown Thurston + Co, Portland, ME (p353-4; p382) - available on Ancestry or Google Books
- The Wentworth Genealogy by John Wentworth c1878 Little,Brown + Co (p165-6): Only lists first child "dau b.Apr 1873"
He was married on 21 Apr, 1872 in Frankfort,IL [Hist of Parsonsfield p382,p353] to SARAH ADELAIDE CARPENTER, the daughter of Josiah and Frances (Haradon) Carpenter [MN Deaths]. She was born on 21 Jan 1853 in Frankfort, IL and died in Minneapolis, MN on 8 Oct 1944 [MN Death Index].
He first enlisted into the 27th Maine Infantry on 30 Sept 1862, having just turned 17 that summer (papers say age 18). Following his mustering out in July 1863, he moved to Lowell, MA, and was working as a clerk there when he reenlisted twice. He served as a private first in the 6th Massachusetts Infantry for a 100 day service call (7 July 1864 to 27 Oct 1864), followed by his service with the 12th Independent Battery of Massachusetts Light Artillery (14 Nov 1864 - 25 July 1865). During one of these military stints, he became sick with disease, as noted in his biography in the History of Parsonsfield (p353). He filed for a pension immediately after the War, on 20 Oct 1866 [app #117,736; cert #96,218].
Beginning in 1868, Charles entered the ministry as a Freewill Baptist preacher, though having no theological training except for his own self-teaching. In his first year, he was a pastor in nearby Ross Corner (Shapleigh), Maine, but then removed to Frankfort, Will, Illinois. It was during his five years here as a school teacher and minister that he met his wife Sarah and had two of their three children. In 1874, he accepted a position at the Free Baptist Church in North Parma, Monroe, New York. So memorable was his service to the village in the 7 1/2 years he was here, they renamed their village after him in 1896! [page on Wikipedia: Hilton, New York]
His bio [Hist of Parsonsfield p354] again mentions his poor health, forcing him to "accept a field where the demands upon him would not be so exacting" (a smaller church membership perhaps?), and settled at East Kendall, New York in 1882. Only remaining here a year, he then returned to New England and to a church in Haverhill, MA. The two-page biography of him in the Parsonsfield history ends in 1887, with him still in Haverhill. From here, likley in 1888, he went to Chelsea, Suffolk, MA, and was there during the time of the 1890 census (and Veteran Schedule). Unfortunately, this record doesn't list his service during the Rebellion, nor the origins of his diseased conditions (his pension papers likely will). Street directories show his residence there through 1893, but he removed to Randolph, Norfolk, MA by 1900.
His final pastorate began around 1904, when he was certified on 10 Feb as a Congregational minister [Yrbk of the Congregational Christian Churches in the US, c1906, p292] and began work at the church on Fremont Ave in Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN. Charles, his wife, and youngest daughter had moved to the city circa Sept 1903 [1905 MN State Census], his son already being a resident here. It was in this city where Charles and his wife died.
Three children were born to this couple:
I. EDNA HILTON was born April 1873 in Frankfort, IL, and died after 1930 census. Following her education at Chelsea, MA High and Boston, MA University, she was in charge of the Endicott School in Dedham, MA from 1893-4. She afterwards went to work for the Randolph, MA High School from 1895 to 1898, and followed this with a teaching position in Brockton, MA [A Record of Education: The Schools and Treachers of Dedham, MA by Carlos Slafter c1905, p281]. She lived here until 1904, when she left to join her parents in Minneapolis, MN. She continued her teaching here, and is seen as a school teacher during the 1930 census, age 56, single.
II. GEORGE FAY HILTON, born 27 Oct 1874 [WWI Draft Reg Card] in Frankfort, IL. He was married ca May 1905 [wife was res of Minneapolis 1 mo in June,'05] to CAROLYN L CROSS, a New York native born ca 1877 [1910 census]. In 1930 census, his wife's name was IDA G, so likely secondly married. George was seen in the 1893 Chelsea, MA street directory as a student (liv at parents address), and by 1899 was living in Minnesota [1905 census data]. While in the city, he owned a retail lumber co. [1905,1910 censuses]. From here he went first to Texas, then to Mt Vernon, NY [WWI Draft Reg Card (1918)], and then to Rochester, Monroe, NY [1920,'30 censuses]. He and Carolyn had four children:
1. Geraldine Hilton, b. ca 1908 in MN [age 2 in 1910 census]
2. Donald Hilton, a twin, b. 24 Aug 1909 in Minneapolis, MN [MN Birth Cert Index]
3. Dorothy Hilton, twin, b. 24 Aug 1909 in Minneapolis, MN [MN Birth Cert Index]. She was a school teacher in 1930 Rochester, NY census
4. Charles Hilton, b. ca 1915 in Texas [age 5 in 1920, a.15 in 1930 census]
III. RUTH, born 18 Sept 1888 in Chelsea, Suffolk, MA [MA VR v387 p293]. She was living with her parents in 1910 Minneapolis census, age 21, whereabouts after this untraced.
A photo of Charles Hilton can be seen on the following page:
http://www.rochester.lib.ny.us/rochimag/hiltonpathfinder/topic1.html
Additional Source Data:
1850 Parsonsfield, York, Maine census: hh 145/155
1860 Parsonsfield census (pg 40): hh 307/316: living with his aunt and uncle Noah and Martha (Hilton) Burnham
1870 Frankfort, Will, IL (pg 11): liv w/ Thomas and Alvina Hersehbach
1880 Parma, Monroe, NY (pg 7): hh 1/1
1890 Vet Schedule: Chelsea, Suffolk, MA (no data listed)
1892, '93 Chelsea, Suffolk, MA Street Directories: Charles, pastor, Free Baptist Ch, liv 185 Spencer Ave.
1900 Randolph, Norfolk, MA (pg 16A): hh 329/356
1905 Minnesota State Census, taken 23 June: liv at 3113 Fremont Ave (Chas, wife, 3 ch, and Fay's wife)
1910 Minneapolis wrd-10, Hennepin, MN (pg 8B): hh 137/151; liv on Fremont Ave
1910 Minneapolis wrd-3 (pg 1B): hh 14/19: George and family at 1623 Fremont Ave.
1920 Rochester wrd-10, Monroe, NY (pg 9B): hh 289/247 George a sales manager for furniture co.
1930 Minneapolis wrd-8 (pg 23A): hh 276/369
1930 Rochester wrd-14, Monroe,NY (pg 16B): hh 393/332 George F +family at 126 Rockingham
- Civil War Pension Index: Widow Sarah A filed 1 Nov, 1912 (app #995,721 cert #752,056)
- Massachusetts Soldiers,Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War: vol.1 p457 (6th MA data), vol.V p500 (12th Mass LA data)
- History of the First Century of the Town of Parsonsfield, Maine by (the town) c1888 Brown Thurston + Co, Portland, ME (p353-4; p382) - available on Ancestry or Google Books
- The Wentworth Genealogy by John Wentworth c1878 Little,Brown + Co (p165-6): Only lists first child "dau b.Apr 1873"