The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-01-23
VIRGIL ID. HILTON
Mr.. Hilton's Passing Deprives the Re-
porter of a Trusted and Valued
News Writer and Somerset County
oi An Esteemed Citizen

VI eleven o'clock, ON the night of
January 16 Virgil Delphino Hilton
Went peacefully To sleep to wake no
more Mr. Hiltons health was un-
dermined three years ago when he
contracted lead poison, but he had re-
covered so that he worked in the field
during the past spring and early sum-
mer In August he had an attack of
bronchitis which left him in a weak
ened condition, and for the last five
months he was confined to the bed,
but thru all his long illness he was
very patient and cheerful.
Mr.. Hilton was the son OF Joel and
Lucy X. AIitchelD Hilton. He was
born in North Anson. April 80, 1856.
on the Hilton farm out on the kenne-
bee river, a farm which was settled
by his Revolutionary ancestor John
Hilton, in ITS, and which has never
passed out of the family. His boy
hood was spent on the farm with his
widowed mother. three brothers and
one sister. The loss of his father
when he WIS a young boy was great
blow to him and young, fatherless
boy always appealed to his large SYM
pathies. Mr. Hilton was educated at
the district school and at Anson
Academy and was a thoro scholar.
History, grammar and literature were
favorite studies From his mother
he inherited a poetical strain and in
earlier years occasional poems were
published. He was close student
all his life and an ardent lover OF
history and thruout his long illness
was deeply interested in the whirl-
wind history the world was making,
and daily kept in touch with the pro-
gress of the terrible war. and rejoic-
ed that he ha,l lived to see the world
at peace.
In 1871. he entered the Office of the
Union Advocate to learn the job
printers trade and remained there
until the death of the senior editor
Hon Albert Moore, and for one year
longer doing job work and working on
the newspaper until 1895, when the
Union Advocate passed into the hands
of J. O. Smith of Skowhegan, after
which he continued as North Anson
newswriter for the paper. and fre-
quently at the solicitation Of Mr..
smith. he wrote editorials. When
/ the Union Advocate was merged into
the independent Reporter, he was re-
tanned as the North Anson CORES
pondent. and he was faithful and con-
scientious in giving clean creditable
news
With the exception of two years
spent in New York, when he was stem
ographer and typewriter with the Os-
borne Harvester Company and later
assistant city clerk at Auburn, n. Y.
Mr.. Hilton had been a lifelong resi-
dent of North Anson. He married
Oct IS. 1894, Miss Geneva E. Allbee
of North Anson Quite a number OF
years ago. while engaged in historical
research for the genealogy OF the Hill
ton family. he became interested in
compiling a history of his native town
and had collected a large amount OF
data, both historical and genealogical
Mr. Hilton became member of the
Maine Society of the Sons of the
American Revolution. Dec. II. 1908
and traced his descent from eight
Revolutionary soldiers, William Hill
ton. John Hilton. Josiah Everett Sr
Josiah Everett Jr.. Moses TwitchelI
Sr. Moses Twitchell, Jr., John Dolle\
and Ehenezer harrington. In poll
ties, Mr. Hilton was a Democrat and
served as secretary of the town com
mittee but he never sought public of
fee.
FOT HullptI VI 9'di - Nj M.
and his brother have farmed on me
original Hilton farm while residing
at the village. He was a member Oh
Northern Star Lodge of Masons ana
Anson Grange. He was man oI
broad religious thought and no man
ever was wronged by him. lie pc
lieved in honest, square dealinf5 with
his fellowmen and he kept his lie
pure and unsullied. Beside ms "lo-
ow, Mr. Hilton leaves one brother W.
Everett Hilton OF North Arson ana
one sister, Mrs. Emma fIagg OF
Skowhegan.
The funeral was held. sunday at
twelve o'clock. at the home on upper
Main street. it being private iuherai
for relatives. neighbors and old
friends Rev. f. W. Kennison ofiici-
ated. The bearers were W. {. Elm
cry, W. S. Jones, 6. L. HoVey ana
Harold Collins. old friends and broth
er Masons. The burial was in Sun
set cemetery.