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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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WARREN SHULTZ HILLEGASS, a farmer by occupation, was born in Worcester township, June 22, 1873. He received his education in the public schools of the vicinity. After leaving school he worked as a farm laborer and lived on what is known as the Anthony Shultz farm for six or seven years. He was employed on several farms from the time he left school, at about the age of fifteen years, until he purchased the farm known as the Jacob Vanfossen place, where he and his family now reside. The farm contains sixty-seven acres of productive land. There are substantial out-buildings and a neat and comfortable dwelling house on the place that denote thrift and prosperity.
In 1899 Warren S. Hillegass, married Ella Schlossen, daughter of Valentine Schlossen. They have two children: Florence, now five years of age, and Blanche about three years old.
Oswin S. Hillegass (father) was born in Bucks county, June 5, 1849, and attended the public schools in that county until he was about eighteen years of age, when he left school and engaged in farming. He remained there until he was about twenty-one years of age, afterwards continuing at farm labor and carpenter work elsewhere, until he was about twenty-six years of age, when he located at Centre Point, in Worcester township, devoting his time and attention almost exclusively to his trade as a carpenter and general contractor, residing there for about a dozen years. Mr. Hillegass then went to Norristown, where he has resided ever since, engaged in carpenter work, making his home for about fourteen years at No. 535 Astor street.
He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and also a member in good standing of the Carpenter’s Union, with both of which organizations he actively affiliates. He is a Democrat in politics, and belongs to the German Reformed church.
The first wife of Oswin S. Hillegass was Sarah Schultz (deceased). They had only one child, Warren S. Hillegass. Mrs. Hillegass was a member of a family of seven children, only two of whom are living. Her brothers and sisters were: James, Isaac, Anthony, Emaline, Hannah and Mary. Hannah is the wife of Allan Heist, Anthony Schultz lives at Belfry, on the Stony Creek Railroad. The second wife of Oswin S. Hillegass, Lydia Kratz, daughter of William Kratz, is still living. She was born February 25, 1852. She and Mr. Hillegass were married in June, 1879, at the Methodist Episcopal parsonage in Worcester township. They have had no children.
William Hillegass (grandfather) was born in Bucks county, in 1821. He was a tailor by trade and died in Maryland, September 7, 1903. His wife was Louisa Shantz, born in Bucks county, about 1821, and died there about 1862.
Michael Hillegass (great-grandfather) married Rebecca Schlichter.
Henry Shantz (maternal grandfather) married Elizabeth Stahl.
The brothers and sisters of Oswin S. Hillegass (father) were: Ambrose, Sarah and Elmira, all deceased; Calvin, a carpenter, now living in Nebraska; and Reading, a farmer, residing in Maryland.
The brothers and sisters of William Hillegass (grandfather) were: Joel and Reuben, both deceased; Sophia, wife of David Levy; and Amelia, deceased, wife of Reuben Shantz.
The brothers and sister of Louisa (Shantz) Hillegass (grandmother), were Charles Shantz, Reuben Shantz, Jesse Shantz and Amanda Shantz, all now deceased.
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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company. For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies
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