Michael and William
Replies: 5
Re: Michael and William
| Lisa Sapp (View posts) | Posted: 7 May 2006 4:46PM GMT |
Classification: Query
Yes, William was brought to the US as a small child and lived in Potosi, WI with his family. He was born in Prussian abt. 1839. I found this biography in th History of Butte County, CA. Apparently he moved out to California in 1862. ---
"The year 1862 chronicled the arrival of Wlliam Hilgers in the State of California, after a long and tiresome trip across the plains with ox teams. He was born in Prussia, and when a small boy was brought to the United States by his parents who located in Potosi, Wis. -There the boy grew to young manhood, received his education and learned the harness-maker's trade. When eighteen years of age, in 1862, he set out for the Pacific coast with P. R. Welch, and upon his arrival in Marysville, Cal., he began working at his trade for Henry Kemper. After he had become accustomed to the ways of the western country and had made a little stake for himself, he made a trip to Butte County and found employment on a ranch owned by Jacob Briggs, at Hamilton Bend, six miles from Oroville. He worked in the orchard for two years., and so well did he like his change of occupation that he arranged to purchase the place. He set out more trees and had a good commercial orchard of peaches and cherries, all of excellent quality, which found a ready market in Oroville and Marysville.
Soon after he had purchased the ranch, Mr. Hilgers was united in marriage with Susan Beall, a native of the Buckeye State, born in Cambridge, the daughter of John L. Beall of Scotch ancestry and of an old Maryland family. He crossed the plains with ox teams in 1849 and was engaged in mining for gold for one year, after which he returned to the east, and in 1852 brought his wife and family to California via Panama. On their arrival in this state they located at Hamilton Bend where Mr. Beall farmed until his death.
As Mr. Hilgers prospered with his orchard he desired to branch out into grain-raising. His orchard had increased to one hundred thirty acres, on his home place of four hundred eighty acres, besides which he had two hundred forty acres in grain. This tract he operated with good results until his death at the age of forty-eight years. His widow, with the aid of her children, continued to farm the place until 1910, when they moved into Oroville. Mrs. Hilgers died October 14, 1915, at the age of sixty-seven years. There were six children in their family: William John, who died at the age of eight years; Martha Elizabeth, who passed away when thirteen; and Frank, Henry, Charles and Catherine, all partners in the horticultural and farming operations on the home acres. All four were born in Butte County, reared on the farm, and attended school in Union district, near their home place."
I wonder if my William is one of the original brothers that came with their mother, Gertrude to the US?
"The year 1862 chronicled the arrival of Wlliam Hilgers in the State of California, after a long and tiresome trip across the plains with ox teams. He was born in Prussia, and when a small boy was brought to the United States by his parents who located in Potosi, Wis. -There the boy grew to young manhood, received his education and learned the harness-maker's trade. When eighteen years of age, in 1862, he set out for the Pacific coast with P. R. Welch, and upon his arrival in Marysville, Cal., he began working at his trade for Henry Kemper. After he had become accustomed to the ways of the western country and had made a little stake for himself, he made a trip to Butte County and found employment on a ranch owned by Jacob Briggs, at Hamilton Bend, six miles from Oroville. He worked in the orchard for two years., and so well did he like his change of occupation that he arranged to purchase the place. He set out more trees and had a good commercial orchard of peaches and cherries, all of excellent quality, which found a ready market in Oroville and Marysville.
Soon after he had purchased the ranch, Mr. Hilgers was united in marriage with Susan Beall, a native of the Buckeye State, born in Cambridge, the daughter of John L. Beall of Scotch ancestry and of an old Maryland family. He crossed the plains with ox teams in 1849 and was engaged in mining for gold for one year, after which he returned to the east, and in 1852 brought his wife and family to California via Panama. On their arrival in this state they located at Hamilton Bend where Mr. Beall farmed until his death.
As Mr. Hilgers prospered with his orchard he desired to branch out into grain-raising. His orchard had increased to one hundred thirty acres, on his home place of four hundred eighty acres, besides which he had two hundred forty acres in grain. This tract he operated with good results until his death at the age of forty-eight years. His widow, with the aid of her children, continued to farm the place until 1910, when they moved into Oroville. Mrs. Hilgers died October 14, 1915, at the age of sixty-seven years. There were six children in their family: William John, who died at the age of eight years; Martha Elizabeth, who passed away when thirteen; and Frank, Henry, Charles and Catherine, all partners in the horticultural and farming operations on the home acres. All four were born in Butte County, reared on the farm, and attended school in Union district, near their home place."
I wonder if my William is one of the original brothers that came with their mother, Gertrude to the US?