The fifth child of Peter and Maria Garlock Hildebrand was
born 1782 at what is now the Cedar Hill area of Jefferson County,
Missouri. There was an Abraham Hildebrand living at that
location in 1780 who may have been his grandfather or uncle.
He was only two years old when his father was killed by Indians. His mother later remarried to Robert Owens and he was
reared at the fort near the French settlement of Marais de
Liards. The family later returned to the Big River area in what
became Jefferson County.
About 1800 he married Sarah Good Sullens. She was the
daughter of John (1730-1808) and Jane Childress Sullens and was
born in 1784. Her brother, Nathan Sullens, married Abraham's
sister, Elizabeth in 1801.
Abraham and Sarah made their home first in the neighborhood
of the Fee Fee Baptist Church where they are recorded as early
members. Then they lived in the Meramec Community on Big River.
He owned 640 acres which is a whole section and more than anyone
in that day could have farmed. It was no doubt divided up among
his children. The family is listed in the 1830 census with a
son age 20-30, a son age 15-20, two daughters aged 10-15 and two
daughters aged 5-10 (Their oldest son having married in 1827).
His land consisted of two surveys. Spanish survey #1977 was
quite large and is shown on the following maps. He had to prove
his claim to the Missouri Territorial board of land commissioners
in Oct. of 1808. He presented a notice of claim dated 27 June
1808. Christian Twalt Helterbrand swore that he had settled the
land in Feb 1804 and had inhabited and cultivated it since.
(Land Commissioners Minutes, Vol. 3, p. 332)
At his death, his appraisement of personal property shows
the usual accouterments of farming with 14 horses, 20 head of
cattle, and 18 sheep. Most farmers had an item that they
produced for barter and Abram had a large apple orchard and
equipment for making cider or whiskey. He had coopers tools,
barrels, a still with worm and 15 lots of apple cions.
In 1834 he was called upon to testify in a land claim by
John Payett of 464 arpents of land on the Negro Fork of the
"Maramack". Abraham stated that he was 51 years of age and that
in 1802 he helped Mr. Payett to raise a house on the land
claimed. In the fall of 1803 he passed by and ate watermelon
which grew on the land and saw a small patch of corn growing. In
the fall the Indians became troublesome and he moved to the
Maramack settlement, about 12 miles below, then returned in the
spring of 1805 and lived there until he died. He stated that his
own farm lies about six miles from there. (Land Commissioners
Minutes, Vol. 6, pp 5012, 21 Feb 1834)
Toward the end of his life, Abraham served as a judge in the
Jefferson County Court. The court records show that 6 Oct 1834
he was paid 50 cents for his services at the last and present
term of the court. He was known as Judge Hildebrand.
Illness affected the family and Dr. William Pepper was
called to attend the sick. Dr. Pepper was paid $1.50 per day for
15 days in 1835 and 15 days in 1836 for attending to a daughter.
The doctor was called for Abraham a few days in July and a few
days in August, then in December the doctor was there for 24 days
in his last illness.
Abraham died ca Dec 1836 in Jefferson County, Missouri. His
estate file is #213. It lists nine children: Peter, Jane, John,
David, Eliza, Polly (Mary), Sally (Sarah), Mahala and Priscilla.
The administrator's bond was $3,000 and the application date was
27 June 1837. John Hildebrand was appointed admr. with
securities: Nathan Sullens, David Hildebrand, Michael Null. The
court of 1838 records that Nathan Sullens was appointed admr.
after the death of John. Nathan was Abram's brother-in-law.
A court record of 1836 states that Eliza Null, one of the
heirs of Abraham Hildebrand, decd, acknowledges debt to David
Hildebrand 1/9 of tract of land confirmed to Abram Hildebrand
containing 640 acres lying in Jefferson Co., with exception of
1/3 heretofore conveyed to William Russell and 50 acres conveyed
to the said David Hildebrand.
His widow, Sarah G. Hildebrand died in 1845. Her probate
file #191 was opened 12 July 1845 with Samuel Byrnes,
administrator. Her three sons had preceded her in death. It is
not known where any of this family is buried.
The first child of Abraham and Sarah G. Sullens Hildebrand
was born between 1800 & 1810 on Big River in what became
Jefferson Co., MO. He was named for his grandfather, Peter, who
was killed by Indians. He grew up in the Cedar Hill area.
He married Elizabeth Williams 27 Dec 1827 (St. Louis
Marriage Bk 1, p. 97). She was born about 1800-10 probably in
Tennessee. She does not appear to be a daughter of Thomas
Williams from Green Co., TN or any of his nieces. Elizabeth was
not a family name in this branch of Williamses.
Peter and Elizabeth made their home north of the Meramec
River in the Bonhomme community of St. Louis. By 1841 they were
in Jefferson Co., perhaps a result of his father's land being
divided up after 1837. Their land was in survey 1331: Twp. 43,
Range 4 containing 452 arpents of land.
They sold quantities of hemp and wheat to buyers in St.
Louis. They had four men who were paid for working the hemp:
John Evans, Richard Nichols, John C. Davis, Wm. Hickman.
They had only three or four children before Peter died in
1841. His estate (file #236) lists only three surviving heirs:
Alfred Helterbrand, age 14; Stephen Helterbrand, aged 11; and
Martin C. Helterbrand, age 4 years. Court minor bonds Bk 2, p.
1723 dated June 1846 reveal that Alfred had died and only
Stephen and Martin remain as heirs. Samuel Byrns was appointed guardian with James McMullen and Adam Harness, securities.
Peter's estate was administered by Isaac Sullens with Nathan
and Peter Sullens, securities. The administrator's bond was set
at $6,000 which indicates a considerable estate for that time.
Elizabeth married Alexander Smith 16 Dec 1849 in Meramec
Twp, Jefferson Co (Vol 184971, p. 4). Stephen and Martin were
brought into that marriage. Stephen married the following year
to Ann Eliza Nichols.
The 1850 census of Jefferson County (#472) shows Alexander
Smith with children John, b. 1825; Henry b. 1829; Greenberry b.
1833; Alexander b. 1838; Mary Ann b. 1840. Elizabeth is not with
them so she may have died by then. Martin C. Hildebrand, b. 1838
was in the home.
The first child of Peter and Elizabeth Williams
Hildebrand was born in 1827 in St. Louis Co., MO. He became ill
in 1844 and died ca 1845/6 probably in Jefferson Co., MO at his
mother's home, on the land originally owned by his grandfather,
Abraham.
The second child of Peter and Elizabeth Williams
Hildebrand was born 29 May 1830 in St. Louis Co., MO. His father
died when he was about 10 years old and Samuel Byrns, his uncle,
became his guardian.
He married Ann Eliza Nichols 11 Jan 1850 at St. Louis (Bk 4,
p. 474). She was born 28 Jan 1830. They may have been in
St.Louis area in 1850 but by 1860 he is listed in the Jefferson
County census. In 1860 he has three children: Elizabeth,
Margret, and Martin all under 10. Also in the home are Ann
Nichols b. 1786 and designates Stephen as her son (son-in-law).
Stephen is listed as having $300 real estate but also in the home
with him is Walter Hildebrand b. 1839 with $4000 real estate.
(Check again: Rock Twp, p. 28) Walter is probably a misreading
of Martin the 1860 was very dim and illegible in many places).
Martin had been named an heir of his aunt, Jane Hildebrand
Williams whose estate was adminstered by Samuel Byrns (her
brother-in-law).
Stephen lived in the vicinity of High Ridge, Jefferson Co. and also had land near Murphy, MO.
A descendant wrote that Stephen was a stock-buyer bought
and sold cattle. He shoed oxen for General Grant.
Stephen died 21 Nov 1898 in Jefferson Co. Mo. He and his
wife are buried in the McCormick Cemetery near Murphy, MO. She
died 16 Aug 1902. They had about 8 children.
The first child of Stephen and Ann Eliza
Nichols Hildebrand was born ca 1851 in Jefferson Co., MO. Married Caleb Bowles.
The second child of Stephen and Ann Eliza
Nichols Hildebrand was born 22 Sept 1854 in Jefferson County,
MO.(IGI)
The third child of Stephen and Ann Eliza
Nichols Hildebrand was born 1857 in Jefferson Co., MO.
The fifth child of Stephen and Ann Eliza
Nichols Hildebrand was born 1860 in Jefferson Co., MO and appears
to be a twin to Jackson.
The sixth child of Stephen and Ann Eliza
Nichols Hildebrand was born 1862 in Jefferson Co., MO. Did she marry John M. George?
The seventh child of Stephen and Ann Eliza
Nichols Hildebrand was born in 1865 in Jefferson Co., MO. The
author received a letter from his son, John T. Hildebrand in
1965. John was at that time 71 years old. Joseph had 13
children and only three remained in 1965: John T., Linda and
Clara S. The daughters were living at Rosati, MO and had a grape
farm there of 11 acres.
Joseph farmed with oxen and owned a tract of land. He did
lumber and timber work with oxen. John T. said that he was a
farm boy and his father put him in a village shop learning blacksmithing and horse shoeing and general repairs. He later worked
for Frisco R.R. He married a lady from Washington Co. and that
is where they made their home.
The eight child of Stephen and Ann Eliza
Nichols Hildebrand was born in 1867 in Jefferson Co. MO. Md. James Sargent?
The third child of Peter and Elizabeth Williams
Hildebrand was born 17 Feb 1838 in Jefferson Co., MO. His father
died when he was just 3 or 4 years old. His mother married
Alexander Smith in 1849 when he was about 11. She must have died
by 1850 because she was not in the household in 1850c. Martin
was living with Alexander Smith, his stepfather and his children
by a previous marriage.
In 1859 his aunt, Jane Hildebrand Williams died and it
appears she left him about $4000, a small fortune in those days. He married Emma A.Bowles. (documentation?) He had a
daughter, Elizabeth Ann (St. Louis probate records, file #10456).
He died 28 Dec 1872 and is buried at the Van Dover and Bowles
Cem. beyond Fenton, MO. His wife remarried to Rufus A.Lewis.
The second child of Abraham and Sarah G. Sullens Hildebrand
was born about 1810 in Jefferson County, MO. He was reared on a
large farm near Cedar Hill, MO.
He married Polly Herrington 23 April 1829 in Jefferson Co.,
MO. They had one son, Louis (or Lewis) Martin Hildebrand in 1830
before she died. John and William Herrington were probably
brothers as they cared for her orphaned son. We know nothing
further about this Mary (or Polly) Herrington. Her son, Louis
Martin was born in 1830.
John was not listed in the 1830 census as a head of
household as far as we've found. He may have been with the
Herringtons at this point if his wife died in childbirth.
John then married Susannah Emaline Parker 10 Dec 1834 in
Franklin Co., MO. She was born 1812 in KY, probably the daughter
of Nathaniel Parker of Franklin Co. They had two children.
John was the administrator of his father's estate in 1837
and listed as one of the heirs. However our notes on his own
estate are dated 4 Feb 1837 for the opening. It appears that
father and son died within a very short space of time. Bond of
$2,500 was set for the administrator: David Hildebrand, his
brother. David died two years later in 1839 and we are left to
wonder if there was a cholera epidemic or something of that
nature to take so many of this family in such a short period of
time.
When John died he left Susy with two children and a step-son from his first marriage. It appears that the stepson was
raised by his grandfather or uncle, John Herrington. Suzy
remarried to Julius Emmons. He became legal guardian to her two
children: Maleta Emaline and John S. with John McCourtney and
Nathaniel Parker, securities. John's estate was administered by
his brother, David Helterbrand for two years when he died, then
Isaac Sullens was appointed. Israel Lee received $5 for making
the coffin (g.g grandfather of Myrtle Gunderson, researcher).
The first son of John Hildebrand and his first wife,
Mary (Polly) Herrington Hildebrand was born 1830 in Jefferson
Co., MO. His mother died at or shortly after his birth and then
he was raised by his stepmother, Susannah, until his father died
when he was about 8 or 9. At that point this orphaned son was
taken in by John Herrington who may have been his grand-father or
uncle.
His guardianship file #245 shows a $10,000 bond with John
Herrington, guardian. He apparently became of age on or before 5
April 1852 when he signed that he recieved his share (annual
payment?) of $40.89. He signed Louis J. Helterbrand. We have not yet located this person in the 1850 census or
have any further record of him.
The second child of John Hildebrand by his second wife,
Susannah Emaline Parker was born about 1832-5. We have no exact
date but her parents were married in 1834 and as best we can read
it, she was listed as 18 years old in the 1850 census of Franklin
Co.
Her father died when she was just a few years old and when
her mother remarried, Julius Emmons became her legal guardian.
She received her share 7 May 1858 from her father's estate. (See
file #218, Jefferson Co., MO)
In 1850 she was living in Franklin Co. with her younger
brother with her. (Entry #1019 need complete entry)
She married Robert B. Denny and they became the parents of
Robert B. Denny, Jr. who became the head of the Missouri Medical
Association. (Letter from Everett M. King to Anna Sartori,
1941).
The third child of John Hildebrand by his second wife,
Susannah Emaline Parker was born Feb 1837. His father died at
about that time and he was raised by his step-father, Julius
Emmons probably in Franklin County, MO.
He is listed as 14 in the 1850 census of Franklin Co. He
received his portion of his father's estate 7 May 1858 in the
amount of $247.13.
The 1860 census of Franklin Co., entry on p.25 of Calvey
Twp. has a young Hildebrand man age 24 with the Emmons family.
This is probably our John though the entry needs to be reviewed.
We find the tombstone for John S. Hildebrand in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Franklin County. It tells
us that he was born 5 Feb 1837 and died 27 June 1864. His death was during the Civil War years so
it is likely that he was a soldier or died because he carried the Hildebrand name.
The third child of Abraham and Sarah G. Sullens Hildebrand
was born ca 1810 in Louisiana Territory in what became Jefferson
Co., MO. He was raised in the Meramec Community which is in the
northern part of Jefferson Co. and close to the Bonhomme
community in southern St. Louis Co. and close to Franklin Co.
He was married in Franklin Co. to Mary Parker 11 Nov 1831.
We do not know her lineage but Nathaniel and David Parker lived
there and may be her brothers. They were born ca 1820.
David lived in Jefferson County. He had four children
before he died about 1838. He was killed by a man he was trying
to arrest. Polly then married Thompson H. Whitworth 16 April
1840 in Jefferson County. He became the guardian of the children
until Polly's death in 1847/8, then Isaac Sullens was appointed
guardian in 1848.
Thompson Whitworth was born ca 1818 in Ky. He and Polly, it
appears, had three children: Garland and Elizabeth b. 1841
(twins?) and Susan b. 1844. About 1847 Polly and her daughter, Margaret Emaline both died. By 1850 Silas M. Hildebrand is still
in the household but Thompson has a wife Elizabeth and a new
baby.
The first child of David and Mary Parker Hildebrand was
born 14 Sept 1832 in Jefferson Co., MO. Her father died when she
was about 6 years old and she was raised by Thompson H.
Whitworth. When she was about 14 years old she and her mother
died.
The second child of David and Mary Parker Hildebrand
was born 7 April 1834 in Jefferson Co., MO. When she was three
years old, her father died. Her mother married Thompson
Whitworth who raised her. When her mother died in 1848, Isaac
Sullens was appointed her guardian. (Jeff. Co., Dec. 1848, Book
2, p. 278). Samuel Byrns and Jesse D. Derreberry were
securities.
Sarah Jane married 28 March 1855 to William Austin (b. 1826
in England) (Franklin Co. Mg Bk A). They resided in Jefferson
County and had seven children. William died 20 March 1875.
Sarah Jane later married Charles Moore.
AUSTIN, Mary Elizabeth b. 22 July 1856, d. 21 Dec 1939
married George W. Douglas
AUSTIN, Augusta Adaline b. 23 Aug 1858, d. 6 Sept 1943,md
James A. Winn 23 July 1874.
A more complete record of the research on this family was
done by Mary McCurdy in the 1960s and will be shared by writing
to the author.
The third child of David and Mary Parker Hildebrand was
born 16 Jan 1835 in Jefferson Co., MO. He was raised by Thompson
Whitworth when his father died. His mother died when he was
about 12 years old. He was listed as age 13 in 1850 when he was
living with Thompson Whitworth and his new wife, Elizabeth.
His final settlement from his father's estate was 23 Dec
1857 (File #211, Jefferson Co. Probate).
He died ca 1864. This was the period of the Civil War and
it may be that he was involved. File #724 for Silas Helterbrand
in Jefferson Co. may belong to him. There was nothing in the
file to identify heirs (notes by Myrtle Gunderson)
The fourth child of David and Mary Parker Hildebrand
was born 8 (or 5) Nov. 1837 in Jefferson Co. Her father may have died before she was born. Her mother married Thompson Whitworth
then she died when Mary was about 10. Marshall King, her uncle,
became her guardian. We did not locate her in the 1850 census.
The fourth child of Abraham and Sarah G. Sullens was born ca
1820-25 in Jefferson Co., MO.
She married Michael Null, Jr. ca 1840 (record not located). They are listed in the 1850 census of Jefferson Co. (#182)
The fifth child of Abraham and Sarah G. Sullens Hildebrand
was born ca 1825 in Jefferson Co., MO. She married 1) Philip
Kounts, 2) John King, 3) John Spicer.
We know of these descendants: Maleta Koontz who married
Boles Fry; Felix Koontz who did not marry; and Melissa Koontz
who married Simeon Defoe; William C. King.
The Missouri Historical Society Bulletin Vol. XII, p. 243
notes that "John Kuntz was mentioned in the St. Louis Archives
1786-1811. In 1811 he sold his St. Louis House and purchased
from David Hildebrand a tract of 640 acres on the Meramec River,
18 miles from St. Louis at the Fishpot Creek, and lived there for
over 20 years. In 1831 he sold to R. M. Daugherty." It is most
likely that Philip is the son of this John.
Sartori notes that Felix Koontz was killed by Indians in
southwest Missouri.
The sixth child of Abraham and Sarah G. Sullens Hildebrand
was listed as an heir in her father's estate (File #213 and
mother's file #191. It says she married John Null. We know of
one descendant, Austin Null.
A child of Judge Abraham and Sarah G. Sullens Helterbrand
was born 18 in Jefferson Co., MO. Her father died when she was
young.
She married 1st a Mr. Brown, 2nd James Johnson. She
had two children by him and perhaps more: Israel and Parabell.
She married 3rd Felix Whitsett and they had four children:
Mayhood, John, Alfred, and Mamie.
A child of Abraham and Sarah G. Sullens Helterbrand was born
1825-30. She married Hamilton C. Williams, a son of Thomas and
Gemima Carter Williams. Their children were:
Other heirs listed in the estate file #906 of St. Louis were
Stark Holcomb, David Boly, and Minerva Williams.
Jane married 2nd Levi DeFoe 8 May 1851 but no children were
born to this marriage. Mrs. Henry Woerther, of Baldwin, MO,
stated that after her second husband died, Jane went with two of
her sons to Texas where she remained. She died 9 Nov 1889 in
Lawrence, TX.
[The Moving Forces in the History of Old Bon Homme by R.
Miriam Andri, 1982 her information was that Jane was born 24 May 1807, a dau. of John H. Hilderbrand. She married Hamilton
C. Williams 6 Jan 1825. However, Jefferson Co. Deed Book B, p.
249 records that Abraham and Sally gave their son-in-law,
Hamilton C. Williams 160 acres.]
The youngest child of Abraham and Sarah G. Sullens was
married to Marshall King 14 Jan 1843. He was the son of Robert
Young and Phoebe Price King. (Jeff. Co. Marriages Book E, p. 11).
KING, Robert Abraham b. 2 Feb 1854 and married Nellie A.
Martin. Everett M. King, the son of James Beverly provided some of the information in the section on Judge Abraham. He resided at
Vienna, MO.
The Hildebrand Database provides the original documentation to this work as well as for many Hildebrand lineages in the U.S.