William T. Hilts

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

As a worthy citizen of Netcong, Morris county, New Jersey, William T. HILTS is a fine example of devotion to the duties he has undertaken, and of the faithfulness with which he has discharged them. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Margaret (CASKEY) HILTS, old residents of Morris county. William HILTS, son of Samuel, was born at Schooleys Mountain, Morris county, about the year 1810, and died at the age of seventy-four years. He married Eliza DRAKE, born at Drakestown, about 1812, died at the age of seventy-two years. She was a sister of Ebenezer, Carter, John, and Sarah DRAKE. They had children: Samuel, deceased; Thomas, deceased; John, of Dover, New Jersey; Caroline, who married George KING, died February 3, 1914; William T., whose name heads this sketch; Charles, deceased; George, is a carpenter in the powder works at Ledgewood.

William T. HILTS was born on Schooleys Mountain, Morris county, New Jersey, November 8, 1848. He attended the public schools of Mount Olive township and Ledgewood, and for some time was engaged in farming, then for a period of three years was a boatman on the Morris canal, after which he entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad Company as a worker on the tracks, and has now for a period of thirty-three years, been employed in the boiler shop of this company’s plant at Netcong, New Jersey. For many years he resided at Kingtown, near Ledgewood, but for the past fifteen years has been a resident of Netcong. Altogether he has been with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company for upward of forty years. Mr. HILTS is a Republican in political matters, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and the Improved Order of Red Men. He married Henrietta, a daughter of Christopher HAGERTY, who owned all the land now covered by Musconetcong Lake. They had one son: DeForest, who died in 1908. He married Elmira PERRY and had: Ella; Edith, who married Howard TRESIZE; and Hazel. Mr. HILTS has earned and won the respect and esteem of all in the community in which he lives.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)