HENRY WESLEY HILDEBRAND, one of the most successful farmers of West Bethlehem township, is a grandson of Michael Hildebrand, who was born in 1796, in West Bethlehem township, this county. His father left Germany in early life, and settling in Washington county, Penn., erected a cabin in the wilderness where Michael was born. Michael was a soldier in the war of 1812, unsurpassed for bravery and daring. He was one of the builders of that once famous thoroughfare, the "National pike." He married Christina Harsh, a daughter of Philip Harsh, who was also one of the first to settle in Washington county. To this couple were born: Demas, Andrew, Sarah Ann, Levi, Mary Jane and Elizabeth, who (with the exception of Mary Jane, who died in 1876) are all still living. Andrew is a farmer of prominence and resides on the old homestead; Sarah Ann is the wife of Samuel Walton, of Rice's Landing, Greene county; Levi is a blacksmith, and lives at Ten- Mile village, Amwell township; Elizabeth lives in West Bethlehem township, and is the wife of John Hannah, a well-known farmer.
Demas Hildebrand, the father of our subject, was born August 24, 1824, and in early life made many dangerous trips, with heavy wagons to Zanesville, Ohio; and, did space permit, many incidents of peril then encountered by this brave pioneer might be recounted. He afterward operated the first threshing machine brought to Washington county. In March, 1845, he married Margaret Keys, who was born September 27, 1823, a daughter of Henry Keys, who was born and reared on the farm now owned by his son, Henry. The following named children were born to this couple: Henry Wesley; Sarah Isabel, born November 1, 1848, died August 16, 1872; William A. S., born May 24, 1855, died September 22, 1877; Iria Anson, born June 26, 1859, now a prominent farmer of Greene county, Ind.; James B. McClelland, born February 26, 1863, also a resident of Greene county, Ind.; Luella, born June 1, 1865; and Carrie Etta, born June 8, 1870, both living with their father, who is an extensive landowner in Greene county, Ind.
Henry Wesley Hildebrand, the subject of this sketch, was born December 29, 1845, in West Bethlehem township, this county. Here his early years were passed at work upon the farm, and he received but little education, for being the eldest of the family he shared with his father much of the responsibility and management of the place. On January 2, 1868, he married Catherine Wonsettler, a daughter of David Wonsettler, and they have two sons: William, born August 28, 1870, and Finley W., born October 15, 1877, now attending school. Mrs. Hildebrand died March 2, 1890, at the age of forty-two years, three months and twenty-one days. To her memory a handsome monument was erected. Mr. Hildebrand was married March 19, 1891, to Emma Grable, a daughter of David Grable, a prominent farmer of West Bethlehem township. Mr. Hildebrand is an elder in the Lutheran Church, of which he and his wife are members, and in politics he is a Democrat.
Text taken from page 1055 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]