My Genealogy Hound

John T. Hilpirt was born in the State of Aar, Switzerland, ten miles from Basel in 1842. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Brook) Hilpirt, who were the parents of four children: Jacob, Elizabeth, Henry and John T. The father was a soldier for twenty-eight years in the Swiss army. In 1852 he came to America and first settled in Rochester, N. Y., and afterward went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he died in 1856. His wife and daughter Elizabeth had died in 1853 of cholera. His son, John T., was brought to America at the age of ten years, and while in Ohio learned to till the soil. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Fifth Regiment Artillery, regular army of the United States, and was in the following engagements: Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862; Gaines Mills; Charles City Cross Roads, June 30, 1862; Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862; South Mountain, September 16, 1862; Antietam, September 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, December 1, 1862; Gettysburg, July 2, 4, 5, 1863; Chancellorsville, May 3, 1864; Civil Riot, New York, July, 1863, and Mine River, December 1, 1863. Mr. Hilpirt served five years and seven months, and was honorably discharged February 13, 1867, but was afterward on guard duty at Fortress Monroe, where Jeff. Davis was confined. Mr. Hilpirt’s discharge bears on its face the words “Good Soldier,” and is preserved in a frame made from the oak of the rebel ram Merrimac, which was sunk by the Monitor. The oak is much worm-eaten. After receiving his discharge Mr. Hilpirt returned to Ohio and married Elizabeth, a daughter of Luke and Hannah (Pratt) Waste, who were of Scotch descent. Mrs. Hilpirt’s grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was from Vermont. The Pratts were York State people. Mr. and Mrs. Hilpirt had three children: Elizabeth H., Clara B. (deceased) and Archie L. After his marriage Mr. Hilpirt followed the occupation of farming for about thirteen years, and in 1881 came to Lawrence County, Mo., and settled on 172 acres of fine land, and is one of the prosperous farmers of Lawrence County. He is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.