JOHN LEWIS HILDRETH

John Lewis Hildreth, son of John Caldwell and Harriet Maria (Blanchard) Hildreth, was born November 29, 1838, at Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He received his preparatory training at Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, New Hampshire, and entered college at the beginning of Freshman Fall term, August 24, 1860. He left us at the close of Sophomore year, but in 1879 he returned to Hanover, and received his degree of Bachelor of Arts, as a member of the class of 64. He also received the degree of Master of Arts.

After leaving college, in the Summer of 1862, he made a sea-voyage of two months for the benefit of his health. Upon his return, he went to Washington, D.C., with the expectation of entering the Service as Hospital Steward; but being disappointed in that, he made application for a position in the United States Sanitary Commission, which he secured about eighteen months after reaching Washington. He was sent with General Banks on the Red River Campaign, and thence to New Orleans, Louisiana, to inspect the camps and hospitals in that Department, which service he performed until November, 1864, when he was taken with a severe attack of diphtheria. His recovery was only partial, and he was sent home on a furlough, and finally left the Service in the Spring of 1865. He then went to Peterborough, New Hampshire, and became Principal of the Academy there, and at the same time pursued the study of medicine. He went to Hanover, New Hampshire, in the Summer of 1867, and attended his final course of lectures at Dartmouth Medical College, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine in the Fall of that year. He began the practice of his profession immediately, at West Townsend, Massachusetts, where he remained until 1870, when he removed to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has continued in practice up to the present time, doing a very large and lucrative business.

In June, 1878, he took a trip to Europe, being absent about five months, during which time he visited England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Holland, France, Switzerland and Italy. In the Summer of 1883, he made a visit to Dakota, and made some pecuniary investments. He is President of the Dakota Mortgage Loan Corporation, of Milnor, Dakota, the Eastern office of which is at 296 Washington street, Boston, Massachusetts.

He was married March 4, 1864, to Miss Achsah B. Collum, of Temple, New Hampshire. They have three children: John Lewis, born in August, 1870; Beulah G., born in June, 1873, and Alfred H., born in September, 1874.


Source: "Memorialia of the Class of '64 in Dartmouth College" complied by John C. Webster, Shepard & Johnston, Printers, 1884, Chicago

Submitted by Deborah Crowell