Smith Cemetery ~ Paul Hiltibrand ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
Hiltibrand, Paul
LAST: Hiltibrand FIRST: Paul MID: 
GENDER: M MAIDEN NAME:  TITLE: 
BORN: 7 June 1823 DIED: 28 Sept 1895 BURIED: 30 Sept 1895 (Smith Cemetery)
OCCUPATION:  
BIRTH PLACE:  Adams Co, Ohio
DEATH PLACE: Polk Co, Oregon
NOTES: 
Donation Land Claim #3229 - Paul Hiltibrand, Polk Co; b 1825, Adams Co, Ohio; settled claim 15 Dec 1847; m Evaline 2 July 1846, Polk Co, Ore. Aff: Gabriel Hardison, Matthew M. Neally
1850 OR CENSUS - Paul Hiltibrand (25y, b Ohio, occupation farmer) enumerated with Eveline (22y, b Missouri), Lavina (3y, b Oregon) and Elizabeth (1y, b Oregon)
1860 OR CENSUS - Paul Hiltibrand (35y, b Ohio, occupation farmer) enumerated with Eveline (32y, b Missouri), Lavinia (12y, b Oregon), Elizabeth (10y, b Oregon), James (9y, b Oregon) and John (8y, b Oregon) and William Dooly (25y, birthplace unknown, occupation laborer)
1870 OR CENSUS - Paul Hiltibrand (47y, b Ohio, occupation farmer) enumerated with Evaline (43y, b Missouri) and John (18y, b Oregon)

BIOGRAPHY - Paul Hiltibrand, who has been a worthy and successful resident and farmer of Polk county for forty-seven years, came to his present location in 1845. He was born in Ohio, June 7, 1823. His father, John, was born in Germany, and came to America in 1798, and settled in Pennsylvania with his father Jacob. He served in the war of 1812, and was wounded in the wrist by a gunshot in the famous battle of New Orleans. He removed to Kentucky, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred November 7, 1867. He was a Baptist in religion, and was a worthy, good man. He had been twice married; his first wife, our subject’s mother, died in 1846. By her he had eight children, only three of whom are now living.
Our subject was reared in Ohio until his eleventh year, when they removed to Kentucky, where he resided until he came to Oregon, in 1845. He was in his twenty-third year when he made the trip, in company with Stephen and Isaac Staats and others. They were a set of brave young men, and have all proven themselves worthy Oregon pioneers. They made a safe and pleasant journey of seven months and sixteen days, counting from the time they left St. Joseph, Missouri, until they arrived in Polk county. They arrived at Rickreall, near the present site of Dallas, November 14. He remained here three weeks, and then came to his present location, where he took up 640 acres of land. Here he built a little hewn-log hut.
He was married July 3, 1846, to Miss Evaline Tetherow, daughter of Solomon Tetherow, who was the captain of the company with which our subject crossed the plains, and it was to the captain’s experience and ability that they owed their escape from the Meek’s cut-off. He advised going north, and struck off with his own teams, and the others followed. Mrs. Hiltibrand was born in Missouri, March 27, 1828. Her parents settled on their donation claim, and were honored and respected until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Hiltibrand settled on their first donation claim in 1846, one mile north of his present home, and after a year he sold his right and paid $300 for the right to his present farm. He bought it from Mr. Porter Lock. Here he has lived, labored and improved his farm, and made of his donation claim one of the fine farms of the county. He has added 466 acres to his original farm, making him, in all, the owner of over 1,100. The property has increased in value until it is now worth $40 an acre. At first our subject dealt largely in stock-raising, but later he has been engaged in general farming in addition to the former pursuit. Mr. and Mrs. Hiltibrand have had five children, namely: Savina [sic, Lavinia], now Mrs. Outhouse, a widow, who resides in La Grande; Iffa Elizabeth, now Mrs. Marshall Schofield [sic; Scrafford], resides with her parents; James is on a part of the farm; and John W. is also on the farm. These children were all born on this farm. Mr. and Mrs. Hiltibrand are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an Elder and Clerk, and is one of its substantial pillars. His politics are Democratic, but he has been retiring and has attended to his own affairs, so has not figured much in politics. He has lived a good, industrious life; made a good record as a citizen, lived at peace with his neighbors, and now he and his wife are enjoying the evening of their lives in the shade of their own vine and fig tree. May they be spared many years to enjoy the fruit of their united labors.
Hines, H.K., An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1893); pp 963-4
OBITUARY: 
Died at his home on the Luckiamute in Polk county, Oregon, on Saturday, September 28, 1895, Paul Hiltibrand, of heart failure, aged 72 years, 3 months and 21 days. Paul Hiltibrand was born in Adams county, Ohio, June 7, 1823; emigrated to Oregon in 1845, and was married to Miss Eveline Tetherow, daughter of Solomon Tetherow, July 3, 1846. The deceased was a mere youth, only 22 years of age, when he made the long and toilsome journey “across the plains” to Oregon, but he possessed the true pioneer spirit and by sturdy industry managed to surround himself and family with the comforts of a pleasant home. He located his donation land claim on the south bank of the Little Luckiamute, in one of the most fertile and beautiful regions of the Willamette valley, and for a half century this favored spot has been his home. Paul Hiltibrand was an honest man, a useful citizen and his friends, and even the stranger at the gate, were always welcome to his hospitable board. Polk county has few citizens more widely known and none more highly respected than this sturdy old farmer whose death strickens another name from the roll call of the Oregon pioneers. It is commonplace to speak no ill of the dead, but in reviewing the life work of this man there is no ill to speak. He may have stumbled now and then in his journey through life, but who is it that does not, and Paul Hiltibrand passed smoothly over ground where most men slip and fall. He was morally a sound man and mentally and physically a strong man; possessed deep religious convictions, but was broad and charitable towards those who could not see the light that was so clear and dear to him. Paul Hiltibrand lived a long and useful life. He passed the three score and ten mark when summoned to that “bourne from whence no traveler returns.” One of his most marked characteristics was affection for his family, and he was always ready to aid his children with wise counsel gleaned from the field of experience and when occasion demanded he never refused to give them financial assistance. He left a widow now nearing her 70th year, and four children, namely: James and John Hiltibrand, Mrs J.T. Outhouse and Mrs Mart Scrafford. The funeral services were conducted by Rev L.S. Fisher, of Monmouth, and all that was mortal of Paul Hiltibrand was laid to rest in the Smith burying ground on Monday September 30th. An honest man has passed away from the trials and troubles of earthly life, but the memory of his good deeds will ever remain fresh and green in the hearts of those who knew him best and loved him most.
Independence Enterprise, Thursday, October 3, 1895, 1:3-4 

Died at his farm home on the Luckiamute, Saturday evening, September 28, 1895, Paul Hiltibrand, aged 72 years, 3 months and 21 days, of heart failure. Remains were interred Monday in Smith cemetery, Rev L.S. Fisher officiating. Paul Hiltibrand was born in Adams county, Ohio, July 7, 1823. He came to Oregon in 1845, and in July 1846 he married Miss Eveline Tetherow, a sister of Samuel and James Tetherow. His wife, now blind, and four children are left: James and John Hiltibrand, and Mrs Mart Scrafford who reside on the home farm, and Mrs L. Outhouse of LaGrande. Mr Hiltibrand was a careful business man, and while he cared for his family he still accumulated property and owned 1200 acres of fine farming land at the time of his death which he has left to be divided among his children. He was a kind father, a good neighbor; his heart was ever open to the call of the needy, and for over 43 years he was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Paul Hiltibrand is a sample of the pioneer, who came to Oregon and helped settle it.
Independence West Side, Thursday, October 3, 1895
INSCRIPTION: 
Paul Hiltibrand
Born June 7, 1823
Died Sept 28, 1895
SOURCES: 
Genealogical Material in Oregon Donation Land Claims, Vol 2, page 38, entry 3229
1850 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, FA#58)
1860 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, FA#694)
1870 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, Luckiamute, FA#688)
Independence Enterprise, 3 Oct 1895, 1:3-4
Independence West Side, 3 Oct 1895
Hines (1893), pp 963-4
CONTACTS: 
ROW: 26-6