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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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MAHLON HILLEGASS, a retired merchant and highly respected citizen of East Greenville, is a son of Charles and Christiana (Graber) Hillegass. He was born July 19, 1829, in Milford township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania.

Charles Hillegass (father) married Christiana Graber. He was one of the projectors and chief promoters of the Goshenhoppen Turnpike Road Company, organized in 1851, and served for many years as its president. He was a leading member of the new Goshenhoppen church, served as elder, deacon and trustee, and was also one of the building committee of the present church.

Mahlon Hillegass received only a limited education at the district schools of that day. He learned the mercantile business by clerking in his father’s store, and after sufficiently mastering its details he engaged in business for himself at East Greenville, where he soon built up a very extensive and profitable trade, one of the largest in that section of the country. He continued in business until his hearing became impaired, when he retired and has since lived at his home in East Greenville. He is a Democrat in politics and a leading member and elder of the New Goshenhoppen Reformed church. He served as treasurer of the Greenlane and Goshenhoppen Turnpike Road Company for thirty-seven years.

On October 1, 1859, he married Sallie W., daughter of Daniel Eberhard, a farmer of Lower Milford township, Lehigh county. They had one child, Cyrus Ellsworth, who died in infancy.

Mr. Hillegass is a worthy descendant of worthy ancestors. He is a progressive and public-spirited citizen, taking an intelligent interest in everything that is likely to benefit his community. He is widely known and greatly respected.

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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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