Charles Augustus Hilton
Encyclopedia
Charles Augustus Hilton (July 22, 1845–October 24, 1912) was a Union
soldier in the American Civil War
and later became a Free Will Baptist
preacher. Hilton, New York
, a village in the town of Parma
, was named after him in 1896.
He was born on July 22, 1845 in Parsonsfield, Maine
, the son of George and Abigail F (Ricker) Hilton, and died in Minneapolis, MN on October 24, 1912. He was married on April 21, 1872 in Frankfort, IL to Sarah Adelaide Carpenter, the daughter of Josiah and Frances (Haradon) Carpenter. She was born on January 21, 1853 in Frankfort, IL and died in Minneapolis, MN on October 8, 1944.
He first enlisted into the 27th Maine Infantry on September 30, 1862, having just turned 17 that summer (papers say age 18). Following his mustering out in July, 1863, he moved to Lowell, MA, and was working as a clerk there when he reenlisted twice. He served as a private first in the 6th Massachusetts Infantry for a 100 day service call (7 July 1864 to 27 Oct, 1864), followed by his service with the 12th Independent Battery of Massachusetts Light Artillery (14 Nov, 1864 - 25 July 1865). During one of these military stints, he became sick with disease, as noted in his biography in the History of Parsonsfield. He filed for a pension immediately after the War, on 20 Oct, 1866.
Beginning in 1868, Charles entered the ministry as a Free Will Baptist
preacher, though having no theological training except for his own self-teaching. In his first year, he was a pastor in nearby Ross Corner (Shapleigh
), Maine, but then removed to Frankfort, IL. It was during his five years here as a school teacher and minister that he met his wife Sarah and had two of their three children. In 1874, he accepted a position at the Free Baptist Church in North Parma, NY
. His service to the village was deemed so memorable in the 7½ years he was there, that they renamed their village after him in 1896.
His biography again mentions his poor health, forcing him to "accept a field where the demands upon him would not be so exacting" (a smaller church membership perhaps?), and settled at East Kendall, New York
in 1882. Only remaining here a year, he then returned to New England
and to a church in Haverhill, MA. The two-page biography of him in the Parsonsfield history ends in 1887, with him still in Haverhill. From here, likely in 1888, he went to Chelsea, MA, and was there during the time of the 1890 census (and Veteran Schedule). Street directories show his residence there through 1893, but he removed to Randolph, MA by 1900.
His final pastorate began around 1904, when he was certified on 10 Feb as a Congregational minister and began work at the church on Fremont Ave in Minneapolis, MN. Charles had moved to the city circa Sept, 1903. It was in this city where Charles and his wife died, presumably buried here.
Charles and Sarah had three children: Edna, George Fay, and Ruth
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
soldier in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and later became a Free Will Baptist
Free Will Baptist Church
Free Will Baptist is a denomination of churches that share a common history, name, and an acceptance of the Arminian theology of free grace, free salvation, and free will. Free Will Baptists share similar soteriological views with General Baptists, Separate Baptists and some United Baptists...
preacher. Hilton, New York
Hilton, New York
Hilton is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 5,856 at the 2000 census. The community was named for the Rev. Charles A. Hilton.The Village of Hilton is within the Town of Parma.-History:...
, a village in the town of Parma
Parma, New York
Parma is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 15,633 at the 2010 census.The Town of Parma, then in Genesee County, was organized in 1808, named after Parma in Italy.-Geography:...
, was named after him in 1896.
He was born on July 22, 1845 in Parsonsfield, Maine
Parsonsfield, Maine
Parsonsfield is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census. Parsonsfield includes the villages of Kezar Falls, Parsonsfield, and North, East and South Parsonsfield...
, the son of George and Abigail F (Ricker) Hilton, and died in Minneapolis, MN on October 24, 1912. He was married on April 21, 1872 in Frankfort, IL to Sarah Adelaide Carpenter, the daughter of Josiah and Frances (Haradon) Carpenter. She was born on January 21, 1853 in Frankfort, IL and died in Minneapolis, MN on October 8, 1944.
He first enlisted into the 27th Maine Infantry on September 30, 1862, having just turned 17 that summer (papers say age 18). Following his mustering out in July, 1863, he moved to Lowell, MA, and was working as a clerk there when he reenlisted twice. He served as a private first in the 6th Massachusetts Infantry for a 100 day service call (7 July 1864 to 27 Oct, 1864), followed by his service with the 12th Independent Battery of Massachusetts Light Artillery (14 Nov, 1864 - 25 July 1865). During one of these military stints, he became sick with disease, as noted in his biography in the History of Parsonsfield. He filed for a pension immediately after the War, on 20 Oct, 1866.
Beginning in 1868, Charles entered the ministry as a Free Will Baptist
Free Will Baptist Church
Free Will Baptist is a denomination of churches that share a common history, name, and an acceptance of the Arminian theology of free grace, free salvation, and free will. Free Will Baptists share similar soteriological views with General Baptists, Separate Baptists and some United Baptists...
preacher, though having no theological training except for his own self-teaching. In his first year, he was a pastor in nearby Ross Corner (Shapleigh
Shapleigh, Maine
Shapleigh, pronounced "SHAP-lee", is a town in York County, Maine, United States which was incorporated as the state's 43rd town in 1785. The population was 2,326 at the 2000 census. Shapleigh is divided into the villages of North Shapleigh, Shapleigh Corner, Ross Corner and Emery Mills...
), Maine, but then removed to Frankfort, IL. It was during his five years here as a school teacher and minister that he met his wife Sarah and had two of their three children. In 1874, he accepted a position at the Free Baptist Church in North Parma, NY
Parma, New York
Parma is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 15,633 at the 2010 census.The Town of Parma, then in Genesee County, was organized in 1808, named after Parma in Italy.-Geography:...
. His service to the village was deemed so memorable in the 7½ years he was there, that they renamed their village after him in 1896.
His biography again mentions his poor health, forcing him to "accept a field where the demands upon him would not be so exacting" (a smaller church membership perhaps?), and settled at East Kendall, New York
Kendall, New York
Kendall is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,838 at the 2000 census. The Town of Kendall is in the northeast corner of the county and is northwest of Rochester.- History :...
in 1882. Only remaining here a year, he then returned to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and to a church in Haverhill, MA. The two-page biography of him in the Parsonsfield history ends in 1887, with him still in Haverhill. From here, likely in 1888, he went to Chelsea, MA, and was there during the time of the 1890 census (and Veteran Schedule). Street directories show his residence there through 1893, but he removed to Randolph, MA by 1900.
His final pastorate began around 1904, when he was certified on 10 Feb as a Congregational minister and began work at the church on Fremont Ave in Minneapolis, MN. Charles had moved to the city circa Sept, 1903. It was in this city where Charles and his wife died, presumably buried here.
Charles and Sarah had three children: Edna, George Fay, and Ruth
External links
- Hilton Page in History of Parsonsfield, Maine
- Hilton family page in Wentworth Genealogy
- Village of Hilton website
- History of Hilton site
- Charles A Hilton Bio at www.the27thMaine.com