We do not know the birth and death dates of John's children. We hope that by publishing the record as far as we have it that others will take an interest and perhaps some of the family records will surface. We will list the children as they appear in the probate record. This couple most likely had other children but perhaps they died young given the extreme circumstances in which this family lived. His brother, Peter, lost several children to Indians and perhaps John did too.

I. ANN HILDEBRAND/HELTERBRAND

A daughter of John and Margaret Hildebrand. She was in Kentucky in 1793 and married William Drennon or Drennen 13 August. (Jeff. Co. KY Mg. Bk 1, p. 20). Jefferson Co. is at Louisville on the Ohio River. William Drennen was born 23 Dec 1757 in Pennsylvania (Rev. War Pension App) and he died 20 Oct 1840 in Jefferson Co., MO.

We do not know Ann's birthdate but can estimate that if she were 20 years old at the time of marriage, it was at least as early as 1773. William Drennen was 36 years of age when he married Ann so her birthdate may be earlier than '73. Ann died before 1808 and was recorded as deceased in her father's papers. Their children were:

DRENNEN, Jane born 1800/8 in Jeff Co., MO. She married Peter Sullens. She may have married a Mr. Johns later. After Ann died William Drennen married Elizabeth Leffler Sept 1808. They had three children: Elizabeth; Anna b. 1822 who md Robert Scantling; James b. 1817 md Sarah Cain ?, Seville Wideman, Catherine Mordedoch 30 Jan 1848.

William died in 1840 and administrators appointed were Gabriel J. Johnston and Jonathan Drennen. Securities: James Drennen, Robert Scantlon, Wm. Drennen and Jonathan Drennen. (LDS film #966102, J Mc)
(Robert V. Drennen, family researcher)

Sarah Drennen married Isaac Herrington and they reared their family in Jefferson County. Her husband died about 1821 and their heirs are listed in File #241:

The last three children were listed as minors at the time of their father's death in 1821.

Jane Drennen married Peter Sullens. It is likely that this Peter was born ca 1770-4 and was the son of John and Virginia Childress Sullens.

The testimony of Elizabeth McCourtney was that John had at one time gone down to Natchez where two of his daughters were married. If there were daughters other than Ann, we have not located any record of them. We wonder if her memory was wrong, that John had gone to Louisville, KY, where his daughter was married. Perhaps a descendant of this other daughter will contact us.

IV. JOHN HILDEBRAND/JONATHAN HELTERBRAND

Jonathan Helterbrand served as co-administrator with Margaret Helterbrand (John's widow) in the probation of his father's estate. We have birth dates for 1762 and 1783 for Jonathan or John. The only date which can be documented is the 1783 found in the census. There is enough of a gap in the dates to indicate two generations. Also with John who md Margaret given the birthdate of 1733 from Henry's history, there is space for two more generations. Jonathan's sister, Ann, was probably born between 1760- 1775.

The first mention of John's wife's name is in the land record of 1807. Margaret is also listed as widow when John died in 1814. Prior to that time we have no record to identify his wife.

The only date we can confirm for Jonathan is 1783. The birthdate of 1762 is from Anna Sartori's work. Jonathan was listed in the 1850 census, living with Drury Rogers and he gives his birth as 1783 in TENNESSEE. Is it reasonable that this birth was by Margaret who was married to a man born in 1733? It is possible that there are two generations represented, both named John or Jonathan. John the pioneer removed to Kentucky about 1780 and took his family with him. We do not know if his son, John had married by this time or if he married while gone. There is no marriage recorded for him in St. Louis. He could have even been married in Tennessee and a son born there. There is almost a 20 year gap between 1780 when the family left and 1799 when they took out land again on Big River.

We need to look for the earliest marriage records in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Orleans for HILDEBRAND/HELTERBRAND or any variation.

The John born 1762 (if truly there was one) may have decided to fight with Clark in the struggle for the west. There is a record from Illinois that a John Hildebrand and David Hix fought with Clark and then was granted land in Illinois. If he did join the group who were trying to defend Kentucky, it is said that some of them went downriver after they abandoned Fort Jefferson. Downriver we have Tennessee and Natchez.

The book EARLY INHABITANTS OF NATCHEZ DISTRICT by Gillis gives many tax lists of the area. American settlements began there about 1763. Rosalie was renamed Fort Panmure and then renamed Natchez. In 1776 there were 78 people and about that many slaves there. Some people came to Natchez down the Ohio River (p.4) The 1792 Spanish census of Natchez district listed a David Hildebrand at Villa Gayoso (p.27) Another listing on p. 49 of settlers gives David Helterbrand age over 21 and 5 females over 21 in Franklin (Co.?). A John Herrington is in Adams and a William Herrington in 1805 in Wilkinson. There were King, Owens, Parker, Williams, Wilson, and House families listed. (Note: The Ancestral File has the David Hildebrand from Natchez but they did not know his parentage, Apr. 2000)

Wherever their journeying took them, they returned to Big River and took up land there about 1799.

In St. Louis, 13 Dec 1811, Jonathan Hildebrand sold 24 acres on Little Rock Creek to Mathias Brinley. (C471)

In 1817 & 18 there are two land records at the St. Louis Court house that Anna Sartori noted. A John with wife, Mary, sold land to a Caldwell. This should be researched. If this man was a Hildebrand, this is the only record we have for the wife's name.

The plat book shows a Spanish survey No. 556 granted to John Hilderbrand for use of Jonathan Hilderbrand, Veteran Survey #359.
This is in Range 3, Township 42 in the current sections of 23, 24, 25, and 26. (Why was this called a veteran survey? Could this relate to service in the Revolution?)

The land owned prior to the Louisiana Purchase remained in litigation for many years. Land speculators jumped in and cheated many pioneers out of their land. Testimony was being presented for many years. Missouri Land Claims by Polyanthos (1976) records some of these testimonies. In 1808 Jonathan (assignee of of Jesse Cain, assignee of Robert Owens, assignee of John Megar) claimed 200 acres on Negro fork of the Merimack. William Bellen swore that John Helderbrand in about 1778 made improvement on the land, inhabited and cultivated it for five years before selling to John Megar (who by his tenant, David Helderbrand, cultivated the same one year more). The board denied the claim because John Helderbrand had already had a grant of 400 arpens.

John, born 1762 had two sons that we know of: John, born 1783 in Tennessee (and perhaps a David, born in the 1780s in Kentucky). A Samuel Hildebrand testified for William Drenan in 1823. He probably belongs to one of these Johns as there are no Samuels in Peter's family that are known. There was also a Christian Terwalt Hildebrand in the area who signed petitions regarding land claims and government in MO Territory in 1805 and 1806 along with John, Jonathan, Isaac, and David Hilderbrand. He lived on Big River and also in Marais de Liards. Peter's David purchased land that had been Christian's.

There is also Benjamin who lived in Madison County, just below St. Francois Co. This man was born in 1777. He named his sons Henry D., Benjamin and George. He was first in the Cape Girardeau court records which would indicate a tie with Daniel's family there. However, Madison was cut out of Cape Girardeau and he may always have been in the same location. More research is needed on this connection. His daughter, Barbara Anna who md Griffith Stegall was erroneously placed as a possible child of Jonathan but is now know to belong to Benjamin. One researcher has his father as John Hilderbrand who md Barbara Eaker. This needs to be investigated further.

1. JONATHAN HILDERBRAND

Jonathan was born 1783 in North Carolina (what became Tennessee), married about 1810 (record?) In the 1830 census he is listed with children's births:

Because there have not been located any probate records for either of the two above Jonathans, we are left without confirmation of their descendants or a clear record to separate them.

In 1824 Jonathan purchased land in Jefferson Co. at a Sheriff's sale, property of Sam. Hammond. No wife mentioned.

Jonathan's first wife died between 1825 and 1828. He married Mrs. Sarah Jones (nee Wickerham) 22 March 1829. She was born 1792 in Ohio. Since the census (above) was taken in 1830, one year after this marriage, it is possible that some of the children listed by ages are Jones children by her previous marriage. She had been married to Marshall Jones who died before 6 Mar 1828. She was administratrix of his estate in Jefferson County.(Allan Huskey) We need to know the names and birthdates of the Jones children.

Some of the Jones family are listed on p. 433 of the 1850 census of Jefferson Co. There is a William C. Jones who married Ann Drennen 2 May 1838, Jeff. Co. and a younger William Jones living with Sarah Hildebrand. They had a daughter, Mariah Jones who married DeLafeyette Huskey. Who were Sarah's other children by the first husband?

In 1834 and 1840 Jonathan and wife Sarah, are listed in the Jacob Wickerham estate papers. (V214) They, with the other heirs of Jacob, sold some of the land from the estate to D. Pitzer for $60 in 1840. (Bk E, p.412)

In 1835 they sell land in St. Louis County. In 1840 Jonathan (no wife's name) sells 400 arpents in Jeff. Co. to Claiborn Thomas for $237.13. (E361). In 1848, Jeff. Co. Jonathan sells an Original grant to T. H. Maddox for $30, no wife mentioned. (I190) In 1849 Jonathan and Sarah sell land in Jefferson Co. to T. H. Maddox: 340 acres, cemetery excepted) for $1,203, an original grant, conferred to John Hildebrand who conveyed it to Jonathan from a St. Louis Co. record. (I378)

Some of the above records without a wife's name may belong to his father, Jonathan. A study of the original records needs to be made

In 1834 Jonathan gave testimony for John Payett's land claim (see Polyanthos, 1976, p. 203) ". . . being duly sworn, says that he is in his fiftieth year; that, in 1801 or '02, he cannot say which of those years, he passed by said Payett's house, but did not see any white person; there he found an Indian, with whom he passed the night in said Payett's house, the said Indian being a friendly one, and not an Osage; that in 1805, he saw the said Payette living on said place; that he knows said Payett lived on the land claimed till his death . . . " This would place Jonathan's birthday at about 1784. Also, this land was located on Negro fork.

In 1850 Jonathan, age 67, was living with his daughter, Elizabeth and her family, the Rogers. (Entry #408) His wife, Sarah, age 58, was in another house (entry #397) not far away. She had two children with her, possibly grand-children: William Jones, age 9 and Jane Fife, age 8. (The entry for Jane is in error because the sex is given as male). These were from her previous marriage. We do not know the reason for the separation but perhaps Jonathan was ill and the daughter was caring for him.

The first child of Jonathan (b. 1783) was born in 1811 in Missouri. There is a marriage record in St. Louis for a John who married in 1833 to a Delia or Delila Young. The age would fit for this to be this John's first marriage. However, we do not find them in the 1840 census as a household.

He married Susannah Holt which appears to be a second marriage for her as she has three children she brings to the marriage. She was born 1812 in Kentucky. They were married 28 March 1847 in Jefferson County. (Bk 1838-49, p.215) Her children were John Holt b. 1834; Nancy E. Holt b. 1835; Sarah Holt b. 1840. Perhaps a Holt researcher can tell us her maiden name.

In the 1850 census they have two daughters from this marriage. We did not find them in the 1860, but it was very faded out.

Anna Hildebrand, born 1813 is the Barbara Anna, daughter of Benjamin of Madison Co.. She md Griffith Stegall approximately 1840/2. He was from Washington Co. They resided in Reynolds Co. by 1850. They have a family story that Sam's wife and daughters spent the night with Anna's daughter, Frances, when they were hiding out. They were of the opinion that the food they prepared was for Sam while he was in hiding. Frances and Sam would have been 2nd cousins according to Shirley Blanton, researcher for Anna. This would tie Benjamin to the John Hildebrand line. There is still some discussion about this connection. See the Benjamin Hildebrand record for her children: BEN

The fourth child of Jonathan Hildebrand (b. 1783) was born 1815-20). There was a William W. born 1818 and was in Maries Co. in 1880. His children bear the names of this line.

The land records show a William and wife Elizabeth owning a considerable portion of land in Sections 27 and 34 of Twp 42, R3. They sold in three transactions in 1837 & 8. They sold to Henry Hildebrand, Jonathan Drennen, and James Owen, all relatives. Witnesses were Samuel Hildebrand, Samuel Graham, James Winn, and J. McCustion. (See Roots Researchers H-35 Jefferson County Deed Records).

Elizabeth died between 1850 and 1857. (Were there any other children born to this marriage?) Drury married Sarah Hinson 27 Jan 1858. Sarah was the widow of Benoni Hinson. Fredric Z. Saunders writes: "Her maiden name was Sarah Hetibel Herrington, the daughter of Joshua Herrington and Sarah Drennen. Sarah Drennen was the daughter of William Drennen and Ann Hildebrand."

In 1860 D. Franklin Hildebrand (age 8) was living with the Drury Rogers family. He was probably a grandson of Jonathan but it is not known how at this point.

The seventh child of Jonathan Hildebrand was born 1820/25. There was a Jackson Hildebrand born about this time.

Some of the above persons listed as children of Jonathan may belong to the Mr. Jones and Sarah from her previous marriage. She did have children but their names and ages are not researched. It would also seem likely that they would name one son for Jacob Wickerham as that was tradition.

It seems appropriate at this point to make a listing of some families who have not been placed in the family tree and may belong in Jonathan's branch. It must be remembered that there was an influx of Germans into the St. Louis area in the mid 1800s and some of them bore the Hildebrand name or some of the variations. With clerks writing the names as they heard them, it will be difficult to sort out these families.

B. ca 1820 was in the 4th U.S. Cavalry, Company C. He married Sophia who died 13 July 1913 at age 77. He died 24 July 1901 and is buried in the Fee Fee Cemetery in St. Louis. He may have been a member of the Fee Fee Baptist Church. Judge Abraham lived for a while near Fee Fee but they moved to Jefferson Co. and his family was not buried there.

Born 1823 in MO. He married 24 Sept 1843 in Jefferson Co., to Levina NULL (b. 1820). He resided in Meramec Twp. and his entry was found in the 1850 census.

A Jefferson Co. record has a William Hildebrand born ca 1820 and md to a Mary. In 1880, Maries Co. census a Wm. W. Hildebrand b. 1818 was married to a woman too young to be the mother, but was his wife: Barbara b. 1844. Their children:

HILDEBRAND, John S., b. 1854
HILDEBRAND, Adam M., b. 1856
HILDEBRAND, Eleanor, b. 1858
HILDEBRAND, William C., b. 1860
HILDEBRAND, Elizabeth, b. 1863
HILDEBRAND, Charles N., b. 1865
HILDEBRAND, George W., b. 1867
HILDEBRAND, Margaret, b. 1869
HILDEBRAND, Samuel, b. 1873
HILDEBRAND, Robert, b. 1879

2. DAVID HILDEBRAND/HELTERBRAND

The second child of Jonathan (b. 1762) and his wife (Mary?) was born in the 1780s in Kentucky (1880 census). The son reporting his parents birthplaces stated that both parents were born in Kentucky. His wife's name was Mary (Jeff Co. Admr. Bonds, (LDS film #966102). Their first child was born in 1809 in Jefferson Co., MO so it is likely they were married there but the possibility exists that she was someone he grew up with back in Kentucky and he went back there to marry her. They named their only daughter, Mary, which would indicate that her mother or her grandmother's name was Mary.

We have not located this David in the 1830 census. His two oldest sons were married by then and had their homes established but we have not accounted for the rest of the family.

Anna Sartori notes that David Hildebrand in 1802 sold land in St. Louis county to a Mr. Thurmond. As this was 6 or 7 years before David, son of Peter, married, that record probably belongs to this David. There is no documentation. Another record found in D-199 is a David selling land to Joseph Glover. It may be an early enough record to belong to this David. These clues need to be researched.

David's son, Henry born in 1815, kept the family records. We do not know the whereabouts of these records as they are probably among the descendants of the Samuel S. family. They were used by the author of the Samuel S. biography. Henry's records are quoted as saying that David lived to be 100 years old and that he had taken out land in MO. in 1802. We can verify the land but the age is incorrect. David lived in Jefferson County on Big River.

David died about 1838 in Jefferson Co. and Isaac Sullens was appointed administrator Jan 9, 1839. (Isaac the son of Elizabeth, dau of Peter) Mary relinquished rights. Samuel Byrnes and Peter Hildebrand, securities.

There is controversy over this lineage. The descendants of the son George claim this David as ancestor while the descendants of the son Bartholomew omit David and give Jonathan as Bartholomew's father. We will include the chart made by Robert L. Hildebrand of Lansing, Michigan who has been a Hildebrand researcher for many years. We hope that the descendants of these pioneers will continue the research and resolve these descrepancies. Most are in agreement that Samuel (1809-1874), George (1810-1850), Bartholomew (1813-1875), and Henry (1815-1899) were brothers.

The first child of David/or Jonathan Hildebrand was born in 1809 in Jefferson County, MO. He married Sarah Mariah Everett 3 Jan 1828 in Jefferson Co. (Vol. 1826-38, p. 5l). She was born ca 1810 in VA. In the 1830 census they are listed with one son under five. We have not located them in the 1840 census.

Samuel and Sarah had seven children before she died. Samuel then married Margaret Scantlin 27 June 1850. She was born 1820-5 in Virginia. Witnesses to the marriage were John B. Scantlin and Mahala. Margaret bore him three sons. She lived until ca 1881. This family lived through the perilous Civil War days and we wonder if bearing the same name as Samuel S. Hildebrand didn't cause this uncle a great deal of difficulty. We know that Samuel S. visited his relatives in Jefferson Co. when there were many orders for his capture.

Samuel died about 1874 and his records are in probate File #1238 in Jefferson Co. He left three minor heirs: William, Jane, and Nathan. P. A. Hildebrand was appointed Admr. When Margaret died in 1882, Prince Albert was again appointed Admr.

Samuel was buried in the old Sullens-Hildebrand cemetery near Cedar Hill but the grave is not marked (Sartori)

The first child of Samuel and Sarah Mariah Everett Hildebrand was born 1829 in Jefferson County, MO.

He married Mary Elizabeth Peppers in Meramec Twp., Jefferson Co., MO. 10 Jan 1848. (Bk 1838-49, p 237). She was born 1832 (1860c:70) but we do not know her parentage. They had five children although we do not know the name of the second one. The last one was born in 1862 and after that the Civil War occurred and possibly Hiram was a soldier.

Hiram's estate file is #977 and was opened 21 March 1870 with his widow, admx with bond of $600. Securities were Isaac Sullens and Samuel Helderbrand. File #1315 contains the papers for his minor heirs. The son born in 1854 did not survive his father.

The second child of Hiram and Mary Elizabeth Pepper Hildebrand was listed in the 1860 census of Jefferson Co. at age 6. The record was too dim to read the name. B. 1854.

The third child of Hiram and Mary Elizabeth Pepper Hildebrand was born 1858 in Jefferson Co., MO. A marriage record for William md to Susan E. McDaniel 23 Dec 1885 Jeff. Co. Mo. may belong to this William.

The fourth child of Hiram and Mary Elizabeth Pepper Hildebrand was born in 1860 in Jefferson Co., MO.

The fifth child of Hiram and Mary Elizabeth Pepper Hildebrand was born in 1862 in Jefferson Co. She married a Mr. Roth by 1884.

The second child of Samuel and Sarah Mariah Everett Hildebrand was born in 1831 in Jefferson County. We know nothing more about him at this time.

The third child of Samuel and Sarah Mariah Everett Hildebrand was born in 1838 in Jefferson Co., MO. She married Henry Clay Sullens. He was born 27 Aug 1842 in Jefferson Co. (See Sartori, p. 37)

The fourth child of Samuel and Sarah Mariah Everett Hildebrand was born in 1841 in Jefferson County, MO. She married Willis Owens 12 March 1857.

Samuel married later to a lady named Jennie who bore him at least two children: Laura and Isabel.

The first child of Mathias and his first wife, Elizabeth Ann Sullens, was born in 1862 in Jefferson Co. and died the following year.

The second child of Mathias and his first wife, Elizabeth Ann Sullens Hildebrand, was born and died in 1864 in Jefferson Co., MO.

The fourth child of Mathias and his second wife, Jennie Hildebrand, was born in 1878 in Jefferson County, MO. She married a man by the name of Nimerick and died giving birth to her only child, Marion. She died in 1891. (From James B. Walter)

The eighth child of Samuel and his second wife, Margaret Scantlin, was born in 1850. We know nothing further about her.

The ninth child of Samuel and his second wife, Margaret Scantlin, was born in 1852 in Jefferson Co., MO. He married Ella Mae Hendrickson 18 Dec 1877. She was born 1847 in MO. (1880 c, p.3, #234, Dist. #195). Preston Albert became the Superintendent of Schools in Kansas City in the early part of the century as well as owner of the Kansas City Coal and Mining Co. His second wife's name was Nora. They had children but we only know three of them:

The tenth child of Samuel. Her mother was Samuel's second wife, Margaret Scantlin. She was born in 1856 in Jefferson Co., MO.

Born ca1856 and married Mary Kite in 1879. Is it possible that he is also a son of Samuel and Margaret Scantlin Hildebrand?

They are recorded in the 1830 census of Jefferson County, then in 1832 they moved farther south, up toward the headwaters of Big River. They built their new home in St. Francois County. It was a two-story stone building that they built by quarrying and hauling the stones themselves. It was finished inside with hand carved walnut and native hardwoods. They had to clear the land for farming for it was a forested region.

In 1850 George died and the boys had to continue the work. George died intestate; admr was Milton Poston 16 Oct 1850. Securities were Charles Myers and John W. Hill. (St. Francois Abstracts of Wills etc. Bk A (1822-52).

Henry C. Thompson, historian, writes that there are a number of court records in St. Francois county concerning the ownership of hogs that run wild. Most people in those days did not pen up their stock but allowed it to run free to forage on the acorns from the oak forests. As new people moved into the area, there were many disputes over ownership, involving the Hildebrand family. We recommend to you the book by Thompson, SAM HILDEBRAND RIDES AGAIN. We do not know of the availability of it but it was published in 1950 and much more accessible than the original Autobiography of Samuel Hildebrand.

Rebecca remained on the homestead until events of the Civil War forced her to leave. Her daughter, Mary Ann born in 1844 died young and then the events preceding the Civil War took their toll with several of her sons murdered. She was born in 1806 and by this time was about 60 years old when forced out by Union soldiers. We do not know how long she survived these events.

There is a record of a Rebecca who md Joseph Foucher 5 Apr 1877 in St. Francois Co. but this may have been a granddaughter as she would have been ca 65.

The 1830 census of Platin Twp shows George with two sons born by the time the census was taken that year. We do not know, at this time, what the name is.

The second child of George and Rebecca McKee Hildebrand was born in 1830 in Jefferson Co., MO. He died in the Civil War.

                    {3} GEORGE WASHINGTON HILDEBRAND

The third child of George and Rebecca McKee Hildebrand was born ca 1832 in Jefferson or St. Francois Co. This was the year the family moved. Washington had tried to stay removed from the hostilities of the Civil War. He has working in the St. Joe Mine when on the 6th of July 1862, the French company of Militia under Capt. Flanche descended on the mining camp. He and Landusky were working down in the mine and were called out. They were ordered to walk off a few paces, then the order was given to fire and the whole company fired their musket balls into these two men. This was because they were family of Sam.

The fourth child of George and Rebecca McKee Hildebrand was born ca 1834 in St. Francois County, MO. She married an Adams. Wanda Frazer (researcher)

The fifth child of George and Rebecca McKee Hildebrand was born ca 1836 in St. Francois Co., MO. His life story can be found in his Autobiography and in a book written by Henry C. Thompson, "Sam Hildebrand Rides Again," 1950. We will not try to summarize all the events of Sam's life but refer you to these books and let you draw your own conclusions.

Thompson gives a physical description of Sam, "a tall man standing well over six feet tall but he weighed only about 175 pounds. He had a sandy complexion and blue eyes that were very keen and sharp. His voice was soft and almost effeminent. Many people commented on the fact that his voice was so soft for one of his reputation. Sam had a rather prominent nose, almost beak-like, and he affected a thin and straggly beard. He looked much taller for he had the habit of walking straight and had a very military appearance."

After escaping mobs, vigilanties, and Union soldiers, Sam joined southern forces and made his home in Greene Co., Arkansas for the duration of the war. At one point he managed to get his wife and children there also. He married Margaret Hampton 30 Oct 1854 and had built his own place in St. Francois Co. before the outbreak of hostilities. The names of his children have never been printed. He operated as a Bushwacker during the war and was well known by everyone in the state and greatly feared by Union people, especially those who had perpetrated the wrongs done to his family and friends.

After the war Sam attempted to go back to his home place. But with a price on his head, he was sought out by detectives and law officials and the killing went on. Sam and Margaret moved from place to place and was a short time in Texas where his wife died leaving him with a large family of children. Sam moved to Pinckneyville, Illinois and tried to live under an assumed name but bounty hunters were after him and he was finally arrested and killed in the process. His body was brought back to the courthouse at Farmington but nobody would make an identification and thus no one was given the reward. He was buried in the Hampton Cemetery just back of the Methodist Church in Elvins, the original land of John Williams, his uncle.

The first child of Samuel S. and Margaret Hampton Hilderbrand was born 1858. He married Anna (Gendron or Williamson) 16 Mar 1884 in Chester, Ill. They had five children: George, b. 1886, d. 192_; Samuel b. 1888, md twice and resided in FL, no ch.; Stephen b. 1890, d. 1947 and resided in St. Louis with one son, Stephen Jr.; Abraham (twin to Abeline) b. 7 May 1893 d. 1977, md Vida Giler and had 5 ch; Adaline b. 1893, d. 4 Aug 1970 md. 1911 to Fred Everett Weese, 2 ch.

The second child of Samuel S. and Margaret Hampton Hilderbrand was born 12 March 1859. She married Joseph Valentine Forchee in 1877. He was born in 1850. They had 9 children: Ella Margaret b. 19 Feb 1880 and md Henry John Barren; Arazona Belle b. 10 Aug 1882, md Dailey Peter Dotson; Annie who md Henry Marler; Joseph who md Minnie Snead; Myrtle May Ivy who md Wesley Fielding Albaugh; Jessie Pearl b. 9 May 1888 and md Eli Hobaugh 24 Dec 1905; Samuel Henry b. 13 Oct 1889, md Mary Caroline Morris 4 Aug 1911; Genevieve Ambrozine b. 29 Sept 1901, md Charles Haggard Lawson 24 Dec 1920; Walter whom it is believed died young.

                              [3] GEORGE W HILDERBRAND

The third known child of Samuel S. and Margaret Hampton Hilderbrand was born in 1861 in Kentucky. He married Harriet Ingram who was born 1871 in KY. They had four children and only one name is known: Freda who md a Powell.

The fourth known child of Samuel S. and Margaret Hampton Hilderbrand. She is known to have had two children.

The record of the descendants of Samuel S. Hilderbrand is furnished by Michael James Howard, descendant and researcher.

The sixth child of George and Rebecca McKee Hampton was born in 1838 in St. Francois Co., MO. He joined the Union forces during the Civil War no doubt before the trouble that descended upon his family. William M. married Mary V. Lawrence 21 Feb 1867 in St. Francois Co., MO.

The seventh child of George and Rebecca McKee Hildebrand was born in 1842 in St. Francois Co., MO. He grew up on the family farm and was helping to work it after his father died in 1850. He was accused of stealing a horse. He consulted Judge Franklin Murphy and was told to go join the Union forces. He attempted to do this but Captn. Castleman held him and turned him over to his accuser, Firman McIlvaine. The Vigilantes, who were Union men, took him back to Judge Murphy who guaranteed them a trial. This was not what the mob wanted and took him to two other justices with stories that the theft had occurred in their counties but always with the same reply. So they took Frank out to a tree several miles from Punjaub and hung him to a tree without any kind of trial and no specific charges. He was killed 20 Nov 1861 and friends found the body more than a month later and gave it a burial (probably not far from the incident). It was after this incident that Sam joined the South.

The eighth child of George and Rebecca McKee Hildebrand was born in 1844 in St. Francois Co. We know that she lived to young adulthood because she became engaged to marry a man by the name of Landusky. This man was working in the St. Joe Mine when the Union Company under Flanche came to the mine and called him and Sam's brother, Washington, out and the whole company fired on them at once. This happened July 1862 The only genealogical note we had about Mary Ann was that she died young. However, she was still alive in 1869 when she helped nurse Sam when he was wounded in the thigh. He went to a cave on the old homeplace and Mary Ann brought him food and provisions for a while until he could move on. This was after the episode at Mary and John Williams's place.
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The ninth child of George and Rebecca McKee Hildebrand was born ca 1848 in St. Francois Co., MO. His father died when he was two or three years old so he was reared by his mother and older brothers. As the war broke out, he was left on the home place taking care of the farm and his mother.

After his brother Frank was killed, Sam began his bushwacking activities. After being given his commission in Ark., Sam returned and the first person he killed was the man responsible for killing Frank, Firman McIlvain. At that the Union forces were called out and three companies were moved to Big River with orders to take Sam Hildebrand, under Captains Esroger, Adolph and Flanche.

They ordered Rebecca to leave the country as they intended to burn the place and destroy the property. The only thing she was allowed to take was her Bible and one bed, which she took to the home of her brother, Harvey McKee, on Dry Creek in Jefferson County.

On July 10th just four days after Washington was killed, Captains Esroger and Adolph went back to the Hildebrand homestead to burn it down. Esroger ordered Henry to leave the place. Henry mounted a horse and as he was leaving, he was shot and killed. A few days later some neighbors found the body and buried it. Of such was the CIVIL war in Missouri. It is small wonder that Sam struck out with such vengeance against the Union people and especially the German units.

The tenth child of George and Rebecca McKee Hildebrand was born in 1849 in St. Francois Co., MO. She married a William Harris 4 March 1866 in St. Francois Co, MO. (IGI)

The third child of David or Jonathan (b. 1783) was born 18 Dec 1813 near Byrnesville, Missouri Territory, in what later became Jefferson County. He grew up in the Big River country in the Meramec settlement. It is noted that Bartholomew was the name of the first Herrington pioneer into the county. This causes descendants wonder if Herrington is a lineage.

Bartholomew married Anna Richardson 16 April 1837 in Jefferson Co. She was born 18 June 1819 to Amos Richardson from Kentucky. In 1966 an Amos Helterbrand photocopied the family Bible record. Amos was living in Chilhowee, MO at that time and owned the Bible. It gives the births of Bartholomew, his wife and children and only the marriage date of B. and Anna. We also have good entries for this family in the 1850 and 1870 censuses of Jefferson Co. They raised a large family of eleven children. We know of only one who died during the Civil War-- Amos.

In the 1850 census, Isabel Richardson was living with the family. By the 1870 census Bart and Anna had only Jonathan, Nancy, Amos and Michael at home. The other children have not been located at that time.

Bartholomew died 18 June 1895. He was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery. We have not located a probate record for him. Anna was also buried at Cedar Hill also known as the Local Cemetery. She died 18 July 1885.

We have received assistance from descendants: Florence Burgess and Emma Wilson many years ago.

The first child of Bartholomew and Anna Richardson Helterbrand was born 26 June 1838 in Jefferson Co., MO. He married Jane Medley 16 May 1864. Jane was the daughter of Rachel (Harness) and William Henry Medley.

This was a period of great upheaval. George's first cousin by the same name was shot and killed by Union soldiers. This couple moved to Johnson County, MO in 1866 along with Jane's father. Most of their children were born there.

George W. died 24 Apr 1919 near Leeton, Johnson County, MO and was buried at Providence Cem., Post Oak Twp., Johnson Co., MO. Jane died 4 Dec 1935 at the same place and burial the same. They had nine children. See appendix for History of Johnson Co., G. W. Helderbrand.

The first child of George Washington and Jane Medley Helterbrand (Melissa? Emma), was born 31 Aug 1865. She married John Albin and resided near Warrensburg, MO. She died 8 July 1956.

The second child of George Washington and Jane Medley Helterbrand was born 31 July 1867. She did not marry. She died 22 July 1869.

The third child of George Washington and Jane Medley Helterbrand (Mary J.?), was born 3 Aug 1869. She married Dan Phillips and resided near Leeton, MO. She died 20 Sept 1957.

The son of George W. and Jane Medley Helterbrand was born 7 Sept 1871 in Johnson County, MO. He married Ida May Burton, and daughter of Lewis and Sydene McMullen Burton 6 Sept 1878 in Indian Territory. He died 30 April 1951 and is buried in the Cimarron Cem., Garfield Co., OK.

The daughter of George W. and Jane Medley Helterbrand (Rachel R.?) was born 8 March 1874 in Johnson Co., MO. She lived with her parents. She died 20 Aug 1941.

The sixth child of George W. and Jane Medley Helterbrand was born 30 March 1879 in Johnson Co., MO. His wife's name was Minnie. He died 6 Dec 1905. Minnie later married a Mr. . Ward. Albert is buried at Providence Cem.

The seventh child of George W. and Jane Medley Helterbrand was born 9 Dec 1885 at Johnson Co., MO. He married Falbia E. Cecil 9 Sept 1909 and resided near Chilhowee, MO.

                              [8] MINNIE E. HELTERBRAND

The eighth child of George W. and Jane Medley Helterbrand was born 21 Nov 1888 at Johnson Co., MO. She did not marry. She died 12 Feb 1900.

The ninth child of George W. and Jane Medley Helterbrand was born 14 Dec 1892 at Johnson Co., MO. She married Joe Bowie and resided near McLouth, Kansas. She died in Oct of 1959.

The above record was taken from the family Bible of Amos Helterbrand of Chilhowee, Mo in 1961. Mr. Daniel G. Webber, Box 345, Okarche, OK is the family historian.

The second child of Bartholomew and Anna Richardson Hildebrand was born 24 March 1840 in Jefferson Co., MO. He did not marry but died 28 Dec 1875. He is buried at the Cedar Hill Cem.

The third child of Bartholomew and Anna Richardson Hildebrand was born 23 Nov 1841 in Jefferson Co., MO. He appears in the 1850 census with his family but not the 1870. We know nothing further about him.

The fourth child of Bartholomew and Anna Richardson Hildebrand was born 17 March 1844 in Jefferson Co., MO. She married Lafayette Graham 17 March 1861. He was the son of George W. and Margaret West Graham. Elizabeth died in 1920 and is buried at Local Cemetery.

The fifth child of Bartholomew and Anna Richardson Hildebrand was born 8 Apr 1846 in Jefferson Co., MO. He married Margaret Ann McKay 19 Nov 1871. The family moved to Houston, MO (Texas County) ca 1875 where he homesteaded in the area of Hamilton Creek. Noah was born there. Across the creek Absalom built a new house and Edgar, Olda and Gertrude were born there. He then traded his homestead for George Herrington homestead which his family moved to March 1, 1887.

Absalom died 19 April 1921, his wife had died in 1920 and they are both buried at Cedar Bluff, Texas Co., MO. A descendant, Jim Helterbrand, writes that they had 11 children:

The first child of Absolom and Margaret Ann McKay Hildebrand was born 27 Sept 1872 in Jefferson Co., MO.

The second child of Absolom and Margaret Ann McKay Hildebrand was born 14 Feb 1874 in Jefferson Co., MO. (IGI)
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The third child of Absolom and Margaret Ann McKay Hildebrand was born 8 June 1876 in Texas Co., MO. (IGI)

The fourth child of Absolom and Margaret Ann McKay Hildebrand/Helterbrand.

The fifth child of Absolom and Margaret Ann McKay Hildebrand/Helterbrand.

The sixth child of Absolom and Margaret Ann McKay Helterbrand.

The seventh child of Absalom and Margaret Ann McKay Hildebrand/Helterbrand.

The eighth child of Absolom and Margaret Ann McKay Hildebrand was born 6 Dec 1885.

The ninth child of Absolom and Margaret Ann McKay Hildebrand was born 23 July 1888. Resided in Texas Co., MO.

The tenth child of Absolom and Margaret Ann McKay. Resided in Texas Co., MO. in Cabool. We do not have the birth date for this man so he was probably born between 1877 and 1884.

The sixth child of Bartholomew and Anna Richardson Hildebrand was born 21 May 1848 in Jefferson Co., MO. She married Michael Graham, brother of Lafayette 9 Jan 1863. In 1870 they were living two houses down from Bartholomew.

Mary Jane died 12 Oct 1901. Michael died Sept 1913 and his records are found in file #3728, Jefferson Co. His son, Lora Graham was administrator:

The seventh child of Bartolomew and Anna Richardson Hildebrand was born 2 June 1851 in Jefferson Co., MO. He married Louisa Wease about 18712. She was the daughter of John Wease and possibly Anne Eliza Hildebrand Wease. They had seven children.

He died 22 March 1897 in Jefferson Co., Mo. Louisa died April 1910 at House Springs and her papers are in file #3452, Jefferson Co. Admr. was W.J.A. Schubel with U.H. Pilleard and John Miller, securities.

The first child of Silas Green and Louisa Wease Hildebrand was born 15 Jan 1873 in Jefferson County, near Cedar Hill.

The second child of Silas Green and Louisa Wease Hildebrand was born 22 Aug 1874. He married Rhoda J. Lucas. She was the daughter of Jesse and Harriet Elizabeth Sullens Lucas (b. 1839). They lived at Barnhart, MO. His will proven 11 May 1946 (file #7362) does not name any children but leaves possessions to sisters and friends.

The third child of Silas Green and Louisa Wease Hildebrand was born 24 Oct 1877 in Jefferson Co., MO.

The fourth child of Silas Green and Louisa Wease Hildebrand was born 12 Oct 1879. She married Frank Votary.

The fifth child of Silas Green and Louisa Wease Hildebrand was born 15 June 1882 in Jefferson Co., MO. She married James Leonvel Ogle and they lived in St. Louis.

The sixth child of Silas Green and Louisa Wease Hildebrand was born 22 Dec 1884 or 5 in Jefferson Co., MO. She married Nathan J. Lucas and they lived for a time in Hazelwood, MO. She died in Florida in 1961. He had written to Anna Sartori just before the author met her.

The seventh child of Silas Green and Louisa Wease Hildebrand was born 14 August 1893. She married Roy Burgess. The author visited her home in 1965.

The eighth child of Bartholomew and Anna Richardson Hildebrand was born 6 Dec 1853. There is a Louisa J. Helterbrand listed in the 1880 census (p. 11 #80) who is probably this woman. It gives her age as 1855 which is very close for a census record. The cursive I is hard to distinguish from a J. The Jefferson Co., Mg. records show her married to Nathaniel Ogle 21 March 1869. Their children listed in 1880 are:

OGLE, Mary E. b. 1860 in Jefferson Co., MO

OGLE, William E. b. 1873

OGLE, George B. b. 1876

OGLE, James H. b. 1878

OGLE, Annie M. b. March 1880

There is also a record of a Louisa Hildebrand marrying Joseph Shoultz 25 Dec 1868. We do not know if this was a previous marriage or if there is another Louisa Hildebrand.

The ninth child of Bartholomew and Anna Richardson Hildebrand was born 11 May 1856 in Jefferson Co., MO. He did not marry. He died 24 Jan 1882 and is buried at Cedar Hill Cem.

The tenth child of Bartholomew and Anna Richardson Hildebrand was born 7 Oct 1858 in Jefferson Co., MO. She married R. P. Stewart 1 Jan 1879 in Jefferson Co., MO.

The eleventh child of Bartholomew and Anna Richardson Hildebrand was born 4 March 1861 in Jefferson Co., MO. He married Sarah Herrington 16 Nov. 1884. He was listed with his father's family in the 1850 census. Also in the next dwelling was another man by the same name whose age was 24, b. 1826. Was he a brother to Bartholomew?

The fourth child of David/or Jonathan b. 1783) was born 13 Feb 1815 in Missouri Territory, the Meramec settlement in what became Jefferson County, Missouri. He married Elizabeth Herrington 10 April 1836. We have located this family in all the censuses from 1840 to 1880 and pieced together this record. They reared eleven children that we know of.
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We found in the Assessment Roll for Jefferson County, 1863, that Henry Hildebrand (age 48) resided at the Merrimac with property valued at $1460. He was of Union sympathy and paid $44.60 as a tax to pay for the State Militia.

Elizabeth died ca 1881 when she was 60 years old. Henry died 2 Oct 1899. Burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

The first child of Henry and Elizabeth Herrington Hildebrand was born ca 1838 in Jefferson Co., MO. He is recorded in the 1840 census but not in 1850 so he may be a child who die before age 10.

The second child of Henry and Elizabeth Herrington Hildebrand was born ca 1839 in Jefferson Co. MO. Her name was recorded in the 1860 census but it was hard to distinguish with certainty.

The third child of Henry and Elizabeth Herrington Hildebrand was born ca 1840 in Jefferson Co., MO.

The fourth child of Henry and Elizabeth Herrington Hildebrand was born ca 1843 in Jefferson Co., MO. (1850c).

The fifth child of Henry and Elizabeth Herrington Hildebrand was born ca 1845 in Jefferson Co., MO.

The sixth child of Henry and Elizabeth Herrington Hildebrand was born 31 Aug 1847. He married Malinda J. Drinnen 2 Aug 1871 (Mg Vol 187181, p.6). He died 6 Nov 1906 and his records are in file #3013 in Jefferson County. He left no children at the time of his passing. Buried at Cedar Hill Cem.

The only known child of Charles A. and Malinda J. Drinnen was born 28 Jan 1873 and died 12 Oct 1873. She was buried at Cedar Hill.

The seventh child of Henry and Elizabeth Herrington Hildebrand was born ca 1849/50 in Jefferson Co. (1850c).

The eighth child of Henry and Elizabeth Herrington Hildebrand was born ca 1853 (1880c). He married Augusta T. McDaniel 5 July 1891 in Jefferson Co. (IGI) She was born 17 June 1870. They had at least 7 children. They lived on Rt. 1, Hillsboro, MO.

He died 22 Sept 1915 in Jefferson Co. and his records are in file #4521. Augusta died 15 Nov 1941 and was buried at Cedar Hill Cem.

The fourth child of Edward J. and Augusta Hildebrand was a minor at the time of her father's death in 1915. She was born ca 1900.

The fifth child of Edward J. and Augusta Hildebrand was a minor at the time of his father's death in 1915. He was born ca 1903.

The sixth child of Edward J. and Augusta Hildebrand was a minor at the time of her father's death in 1915. She was born ca 1905.

The seventh child of Edward J. and Augusta Hildebrand was a minor at the time of her father's death in 1915. She was born ca 1911.

The ninth child of Henry and Elizabeth Herrington Hildebrand was born ca 1855 in Jefferson Co., MO. (1860c)

The tenth child of Henry and Elizabeth Herrington Hildebrand was born in 1856. These two names are recorded differently in the censuses. In 1860 he is listed as David but in 1870 and 80 he is listed as Samuel but the birth date for all is 1856 so it appears that they changed what they were calling him.

The fifth child of David /or Jonathan (b. 1783) was born probably about 1817 in Missouri Territory, Meramec Settlement in what became Jefferson County. She married John Williams. They had a one-room log house on Owl Creek with out-buildings and a springhouse.

Mary became a skilled mid-wife and delivered many of the children of the Hildebrand family. She was also a skilled nurse and worked under the direction of Dr. Keith when Sam Hildebrand was brought to her with a serious wound in 1869. In a few days a posse showed up thinking it would be easy to capture Sam while he was wounded. John Williams was in the corn crib when they arrived and they used him as a shield to get to the house. In the melee that followed, John escaped and left the country. Mary was left in the house with a granddaughter. After Sam had put enough bullets in the posse to scare them off, Mary drew water for Sam and told him there were enough provisions in the house for a month and she took the granddaughter and also left.

After reinforcements arrived they tried to set the cabin on fire and Sam shot McLaine on the roof. While others tried to get to the body, Sam escaped by crawling two miles for help. He got a horse and went to his sister Mary Ann's house.

We don't know what happened to John and Mary Williams after that. It would not have been wise to return to their cabin after this episode.

We are assuming the birth of another son to David Hildebrand/or Jonathan (b. 1783) because we have a number of stray Hildebrands which we cannot account for and seem to be related to this family. Each of the following people's records should be evaluated separately as they may have no relationship to each other. They are listed here for convenience.

There was a John Hildebrand born ca1820 who md Elizabeth Martin in Jefferson County, MO. in 1843. We do not know who this John is and may belong here.

James was born ca 1829. He married Edith Herrington 25 July 1850 (Jeff. Co. Mg Bk 1849-71, p. 13) This marriage was witnessed by Hiram and Elizabeth. Hiram was born the same year so it is not likely that James was also a son of Samuel. Although the census records only give approximate ages. They were taken during the summer months, not at the end of a year, so ages can be off by one year.

Born 1846 and was living next to the Bartholomew family in the 1870 census. However, Bartholomew's Michael was just a child at the time and was probably named for this relative or they were both named for a prior relative perhaps on the female side. We do not know who David's wife was at this point.

Born ca 1856 in Jefferson Co. We have a marriage record that in 1879 he married Mary Kite.

Probably a son of Jonathan. He was a witness for William Drenan in 1823 when William inherited from John Hildebrand. This Samuel would have been born in the 1780s about the time Jonathan and David were born. He and David both probably died before the 1830 census of MO. He could not have been a child of Jonathan (b. 1783) as he would have been too young to be a testator in the papers of John Sr. who died in 1814. It becomes more likely that John (b. 1862) had the three sons: Jonathan, David, and Samuel. This is the only record we have of this person (as of 1996, J Mc). Land records may turn up to establish these early Hildebrands.

This man was born before 1760 and would be the age to be a son of the original pioneer John. We have a record that he was on Negro Fork in 1780. This was the early name for Big River. The reference to this man was found in Houck's THE SPANISH REGIME IN MISSOURI. It would be good to locate the original records on which House based his record. Robert L. Hildebrand, researcher, thinks this reference is to the heirs of Peter Hildebrand who received land grants for military service.

This man would probably have been born ca 1765 or earlier, perhaps much earlier. Houck has him on Negro Fork in 1785. This would be during the time that John Hildebrand had left the area. There was also a David Hildebrand in Natchez in 1805. We have not found anything to indicate that either this Abraham or David remained in the Big River vicinity to establish a family.

A search such as this leaves almost as many questions as it does answers. We hope to continue the search and hope others will help us fill in the many gaps. We hope others will back-track and review the original records for anything we may have missed or misinterpreted. We especially need records from Pennsylvania and the early records from Virginia and Tennessee.

We are indebted to Bob Hildebrand of Lansing, Ill for many years of research and coordination of efforts. We hope others will continue to show interest and bring the record up to date.

We would like to include a link to your email address or website as the researcher to contact for your family. Please send that in to us, so that we can help coordinate the research on these families.

The Hildebrand Database provides the original documentation to this work as well as for many Hildebrand lineages in the U.S.