Russell Paxton Hilleary

From History of Frederick County. p. 1115-1116:

Russell Paxton Hilleary, of Catoctin farm, Petersville District, Frederick County, Md., son of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (Marshall) Hilleary, was born at Catoctin farm, March 11, 1875.

The ancestors of the Hilleary family were natives of England. It is however, uncertain whether his great-great-grandfather or his great-grandfather was the first of the family to come to America. His great-grandfather, John Hilleary, settled in Prince George County, Md., where he spent his life in the cultivation of the soil. He was a slave holder and a successful agriculturist. He was married to Miss Perry. (For family history see biography of Clarence Hilleary, given in this volume.)

Mr. Hilleary’s grandfather, John Henry Hilleary, was married to Cornelia Williams. They had five children: 1, Ann Perry; 2, Thomas; 3. Ellen McGill; 4, John William, M. D.; 5, Tilghman.

Thomas Hilleary, father of Russell Paxton Hilleary, was born on his father’s farm, near Jefferson, Frederick County, Md., March 21, 1827. He was a child seven or eight years old when his father died, and before he reached his twelfth year, death deprived him of his mother. His aunt, Miss Elizabeth Hilleary, who was appointed guardian for the five little children, took the orphans to her own home near Steiner’s Mill, where she cared for them until they were able to care for themselves. After he had attended the schools of the district for some years, Thomas Hilleary entered college, at Alexandria, Va., but some time later, he became a student at Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa. When he had completed his college course, Mr. Hilleary returned to his aunt, and began farming, which he finally made the business of his life. Soon after his marriage, he settled on Catoctin farm, in Petersville District, Frederick County, Md., where he remained, cultivating and improving his property until September, 1907, when he retired from farm life and removed to Washington, D. C. Thomas Hilleary was married, in November, 1848, to Sarah Odell, daughter of Odell and Caroline (Dorsey) Wheeler. Their children are: 1, Charles W., died in infancy; 2, Caroline (Mrs. Thomas Chiswell), of Montgomery County, Md.; 3, John William; 4, Louisa (Mrs. Furr White), of Montgomery County, Md.; 5, Odell, died aged eighteen. Mrs. Hilleary died at Catoctin farm, August 3, 1859. In May, 1861, Mr. Hilleary was married to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of John and Rheumaha Marshall, of Shepherdstown, W. Va. Their children are: 1, Thomas Jackson, of Washington, D. C.; 2, Mary T., of Washington, D. C ; 3, Leila, deceased; 4, Anne Perry (Mrs. Edgar Price), has one son, Hilleary; 5, Rheumaha, of Washington, D. C.,; 6, and 7, twins, Marshall and Tilghman, Marshall married Miss Brooks, of New York, resides in Washington, D. C ; 8, Russell Paxton; 9, Ellen McGill; 10, Cornelia Williams. Mrs. Ellen McGill Hilleary, wife of William Hilleary, died in 1872, leaving five children: Ann Cornelia, William, Lucy Baker, Emma Williams and Laura Gray. Mr. Thomas Hilleary and his wife reside in Washington. D. C.

Russell Paxton Hilleary began his education at St. Mark’s public school in Petersville District, Frederick County, Md. He grew up on his father’s farm, and remained at home working with his father, until he attained his majority. When he was twenty-one, Mr. Hilleary went to New York, where he spent seven years as clerk in the shipping department of the National Lead Company. Realizing that his education was incomplete, Mr. Hilleary eagerly availed himself of the opportunity, and during his stay in New York, attended a night school for six months. After his return to Frederick County, Mr. Hilleary cultivated the homestead for three years. In 1906, he rented a farm near Churchville, Harford County, Md., but after cultivating it for two years, he returned to the homestead, which he rented from his father. Mr. Hilleary is a progressive agriculturist, and has greatly improved his property. He is a stanch Democrat, interested in all that concerns the good of the district.

Russell Paxton Hilleary was married, March 21, 1906, to Miss Edith, daughter of John and Mary Ann (McKown) Tabb, of Bunker’s Hill, W. Va. Mr. Hilleary is a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

Tilghman Hilleary, who resides with Russell Paxton Hilleary, was born on the homestead, in Jefferson District, Frederick County, Md., August 13, 1833. He attended the public schools of Petersville District, Frederick County, Md., an academy at Brookville, Montgomery County, Md., and the college, New Windsor, Carroll County, Md. After completing his education, he was employed in farming for thirty years. Tilghman Hilleary has been a lifelong Democrat. He attends St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Mr. Hilleary is a grandson of John W. Young, who spent his life in farming in Loudoun County, Va. He married and had children: 1, Mortimore Theodore, of Montgomery County, Va.; 2, Isiah, of Virginia; 3, Abraham, resides in Ohio; 4, Eliza Rachel (Mrs. Charles Works), of Virginia. Mr. Young and his wife were Old School Baptists.

Tilghman Hilleary’s grandfather was John Hilleary, who settled in Prince George’s County, Md. From there he moved to Frederick County, Md., and remained until his death. His grandmother was Ann Perry.