page 208-9
Henry A. HILPIRT is a brother to John T. HILPIRT, whose sketch precedes this, and was born in Switzerland, April 25, 1844. He was a small child when brought to the United States, and was reared in Cleveland, Ohio, receiving a common-school education. When the great Civil War broke out he was but sixteen years of age, but he promptly enlisted in Company A, First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after serving with the same three months, enlisted in the Regular Army of the United States, in Company C, Fifth Regiment United State Artillery, and after serving three years enlisted for three more years in the same regiment and company. He was shot through the knee by a musket-ball at Antietam, and was in the hospital twelve months, and was then on duty two months in the hospital and at the regimental headquarters at Ft. Hamilton, N. Y., and in September, 1865, was
honorably discharged on account of his wounds. He was in the following
battles: Dranesville, VA., Fredericksburg, White House Landing,
Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862; Gaines Mills, June 27, 1862; Savage Station, Charles City Cross Roads, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, June 30, 1862; White Sulphur Springs, Va, Manassas, Bull Run, August 27, 1862; South Mountain, Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862; draft riot, New York City, Locust Grove and Mine River, Nov. 27 and 30, 1863; Wilderness, May 6, 1864; Po River, May 10, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864; North Anna River, May 21, 1864; Cold Harbor, June 7, 1864; Deep Bottom, June 28, 1864; siege of Petersburg, Weldon, R. R., Appomattox and surrender of Lee. He was in thirty battles and a great many skirmishes, and was a faithful and courageous soldier. He was taken prisoner at Bull Run, but escaped the next day. He returned to Cleveland, Ohio, after the war, and attended school for six months. He then learned the carriage maker's and blacksmith's trades and came to Lawrence County, Mo., in 1881, and purchased 173 acres of land, which is now a fine farm. December 8, 1869, he was married to Rachel LAMOREAUX, in Canada West, and by her became the father of one son, John J. The wife died in 1880, in the township of Mayfield, near Cleveland, Ohio, and November 5, 1885, he was married to Elizabeth, a daughter of Seth and Catherine (FARRELL) WHALEY. The Whaleys were early settlers of Tennessee, and came to Missouri in 1851. Mr. Hilpirt and his last wife have one
child, William Henry. Mr. Hilpirt is a stanch Republican, true to the
colors he so bravely fought under; he is a Mason of the third degree.
There are very few men f his age who can hand down to their descendants the war record that he can.
page 208
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; Fredericksurg, 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. Hilprit 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.
Return to Lawrence County Biographies