Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record - Published 1894 by Excelsior Publishing Co., Chicago" Page 610

William Hilmert was born in Lippe-Detmold, Germany, July 30, 1830. In early life he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, and after serving the term of his apprenticeship he traveled and worked thereat till his emigration to America. When a young man he sailed from Antwerp to the United States, going to Ohio, where a short period was spent. He came to Sheboygan County in May of the following year, and worked in the town of Herman.

On the 7th of September, 1854, Mr. Hilmert was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Niemeier, a daughter of Nicholas and Kathrina (Michel) Michel, both of whom died in the Old Country. Mrs. Hilmert came alone to the United States in 1852, locating in Sheboygan. She was born in Getenroth, Coblentz, Germany, June 24, 1827. In 1854 she married Frederick Niemeier, who survived only twenty-three weeks. She afterward married Mr. Hilmert, as above stated.

The first year after their marriage they spent on a farm, and then moved to Sheboygan. For several years Mr. Hilmert bought, improved and sold property. He moved fifty-four times, and with one exception always lived on his own property. For two years he ran a feed store, where the Commercial House now stands. Afterward, for a short time, he and two partners operated a mill three miles west of Sheboygan Falls. He also was engaged in handling grain and produce on commission for a while. In all his business undertakings he met with success, leaving his family well provided for.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hilmert eight children were born, of whom four died young. The living are as follows: Louise, who married Henry Fischer, a blacksmith of Sheboygan, and has become the mother of seven children, of whom six are living; William, a grocer of Chicago, who is also married, and has four living children; Mary, wife of Louis Julian, a grocer of Sheboygan, by whom she had two children, one now living; and Frederick, who is a shoe-merchant of Chicago, and married, but has no family.

Mr. Hilmert was a member of the German Reformed Church. Politically, he was a Republican, but not strictly partisan. On the 21st of May, 1888, occurred his death. He was a hardworking man all his life, and whatever he accumulated was the result of his careful saving and judicious investment.

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