Thomas Hilyard

Son of Jeremiah and Mary Ann Hilyard

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Family of Thomas Hilyard

Thomas Hilyard was born 13 Nov 1840 in Ohio, and died 8 Aug 1882 in Delphos, Allen County, Ohio.  He married Rachel Cremean 29 Dec 1864 in Allen County, Ohio, daughter of Curtis Cremean and Sarah John.  She was born 11 Mar 1844 in Allen County, Ohio, and died 29 Oct 1931 in Elida, Allen County, Ohio.
 
Children of Thomas Hilyard and Rachel Cremean are:

1. Jesse John Hilyard, born 19 Dec 1865 in Lima, Allen County, Ohio; died 18 Jul 1946 in Paoli, Orange County, Indiana.  He married Alice Arah Holtzapple 26 Dec 1892 in Putnam County, Ohio; born 20 Oct 1872 in Buckland, Logan Township, Auglaize County, Ohio; died 20 Jan 1959 in Paoli, Orange County, Indiana.

2. Curtis Edmond Hilyard, born 9 Feb 1868 in Ohio; died 16 Jun 1947.  He married (2) Anna Foster; born Unknown; died Unknown.  He married (3) Zona Braden; born Unknown; died Unknown.  He married (1) Lucy Roush 23 Dec 1888; born 16 May 1866 in Van Wert, Allen County, Ohio; died 30 May 1923 in New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.

3. Henrietta Hilyard, born 12 Jul 1871 in Ohio; died 1958 in Allen County, Ohio.  She married Sherman Walter Holtzapple 1887 in Allen County, Ohio; born 1868; died 1936.

4. Sarah Ann Hilyard, born 12 Aug 1873 in Marion Township, Allen County, Ohio; died 12 Sep 1900 in Lima, Allen County, Ohio.  She married Milton Dow Askins 1892 in Allen County, Ohio; born 15 May 1871 in Elida, Allen County, Ohio; died 16 Jan 1902 in Lima, Allen County, Ohio.

5. J. Griffith Hilyard, born 18 Dec 1875 in Allen County, Ohio; died 18 Mar 1877 in Van Wert County, Ohio.

6. Luella M. Hilyard, born 18 May 1879 in Jackson Township, Van Wert County, Ohio; died 22 Mar 1881 in Jackson Township, Van Wert County, Ohio.

Civil War Pension File of Thomas Hilyard

    Thomas Hilyard inlisted in Company E of the 81st Ohio Volunteer Regiment on September 1, 1861 for a term of three years.  This regiment fought in the western theater.  It was involved in the famous battles of Shiloh, Corinth, and the march through Georgia and siege of Atlanta.  Although Thomas (as well as others) was discharged September 10, 1864 due to poor health, much of the regiment was retained in service and continued on Sherman’s infamous march to the sea, being released from duty July 13, 1865.
    Based on testimony by Joseph Wagoner, a comrade in his company, Thomas probably contracted tuberculosis (known then as consumption) while serving in Corinth, Mississippi.  This insidious disease haunted him the rest of his life, eventually killing him at the age of 41.
    Rachel Cremean, a girl he had most certainly known for some time, must have been aware of his state of health when they were married, only two months following Thomas’ discharge.  Yet she stood by him, and bore him six children, four of whom grew to adulthood.
    Rachel applied for a widow’s pension July 12, 1886 (certificate #251146).  At that time, widows received $8.00 per month, plus $2.00 for each minor child.  Jesse John was already 21 by this time, but her three youngest, Curtis, Henrietta, and Sarah Ann, all qualified.  The pension was increased to $20 per month in 1916, and increased again in 1928 to $40 per month.

Affidavits

1.  Dr. Richard Rice age 63, of Elida, Allen County, Ohio:  swears that he has been a physician for 35 years, and the family physician of Thomas Hilyard for 10 years.  Swears to the births of his children Curtis Edmund on February 9, 1868; Henietta on July 12, 1871; and Sarah Ann on August 12, 1873.
    He also treated Thomas at different times during those years, but his records have been destroyed and he cannot give exact dates.  Regarding Thomas’ condition, he states:  “...he was able at some times to perform labor, and again would require medical aid...He was not a sound man after his return from the war.  Complained of weak breast pain of lungs which...increased (until it resulted in confirmed consumption and died in 1882 [sic]).  Signed 19 Nov 1888.

2.  Dr. Henry G. Stemen age 36, of Delphos, Ohio:  “I was called to examine and treat on the 27th day of May 1882 Thomas Hilliard, who was then living in Delphos, Allen County, Ohio.  I treated him from that time untill he died August 8th, 1882.  His disease was pulmonary consumption.”  Signed 3 Aug 1886.

3.  Joseph Wagoner age 44, of Allentown, Allen County, Ohio:  “[I] was well acquainted with Thomas Hilliard, comrade.  I was also a member of same company and regiment.  I know of Thomas Hilliard being sick and bleeding at the lungs which was at Corinth, Mississippi in the year 1862.”  Signed 21 Apr 1888.

4.  Joseph Roush age 49 of Allentown, Allen County, Ohio:  “I was acquainted with said Hilliard at least 12 years before the war, and lived near neighbors to him, within a half mile.  I have worked with him a great deal before the war, at all kinds of work, and I always found him a stout, hearty, healthy young man as I ever knew.  I never knew him to be sick a single day up to the time of his enlistment and I know that if he had been subject to any complaint or disease I would have known it.
    “When he returned from the service he came back to live in the same place.  He returned in the fall of 1864 shortly after I had enlisted a second time, and I saw him immediately on my return in June 1865.  I know that he was not then in good health; he seemed to be very much broken down, and I have often heared him say he was broken down and could not perform the labor he once could.  He came to work for me soon after my return, and I know he was not able to perform manual labor equal to a well man, nor as he could do before his service in the army.
    “I remember that one of his symptoms was what is called a hacking cough, which troubled him constantly, and I think his cough gradually grew worse, and after a few years he began to have spells of bleeding from the lungs and his disease became fully developed as a case of consumption.  During the last six years of his life I did not live so near to him as I had before, but still saw him frequently so that I know his disease continued right on in its course untill he died....His habits were exemplary and strictly temperate.”  Signed 26 May 1888.

5.  Abraham Stever age 47, of  Elida, Allen County, Ohio:  “[I] was acquained with said Hilliard for at least ten years before the war, and lived in same neighborhood, or within about one and a half miles, and have worked with him at hard labor.  I know that up to the date of his enlistment he was a sound, able-bodied, robust young man.  He was entirely healthy or I would have known it.  I never heared him complain of any sickness or disease up to that date.
    “I returned home from the service on the 12th of June 1865, and then I lived within about a half mile of Hilliard.  I saw him within a day or two after I got home.  He was then very much out of health, complained of a pain in his breast, and suffered from a cough, and raised thick yellow matter from his lungs.  I noticed that sometimes after coughing he would spit out matter tinged with blood.  I saw this more than once and can not be mistaken about it.  I worked with him quite frequently when he was able to work up to 1877 and after that I saw him often, and had knowledge of him all the time untill he died.
    “He was able to do some light work at first, but not very much; was not able to do hard work at all and had frequent spells when he would not be able to do anything.  This continued, and his disease of the lungs continued to increase in severity untill for a considerable time before he died he was not able to do any work at all.  Soon after his return his disease became a settled disease of the lungs from which he ultimately died.”  Signed 10 Apr 1888.

For further reading on the activities of the 81st Regiment, consult History of the Eighty-first Ohio Infantry Volunteers, by W. H. Chamberlin, 1865.  This book can be found at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN.  Thomas is mentioned on p. 183 in the muster-out rolls.

Florence Hilyard Baumgardner obtained a Civil War star from the Veteran’s Administration and placed it on Thomas’ grave in the Allentown Cemetery.  A local veterans group now places a star and flag on the grave yearly.