Wayne County, Indiana
WILLIAM J.
HILLIGOSS.
Connected with the Rader family by marriage was that meritorious
soldier of the Civil War, William J. Hilligoss. He was of German-Scotch
ancestry but was himself born in Rush County, Indiana, October 3, 1837.
He removed to Madison County, Indiana, with his father, where he worked
on the farm and was educated in the district schools and at the Marion
Academy.
During the Civil War, he enlisted in Company G, 75th Indiana Infantry,
and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a Sergeant
of the company, July 28, 1862. His regiment was brigaded with the 87th
and 101st Indiana Infantry, constituting the famous "Indiana Brigade,"
which was the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the
Cumberland. He participated with his regiment in the Tullahoma Campaign
and the march towards Chattanooga and was wounded at Chickamauga,
Georgia, September 20, 1863. During the Atlanta Campaign, he especially
distinguished himself. He participated in Sherman's 'March to the sea,"
and the campaign through the Carolinas and the final events of the war.
April 26, 1864, he was promoted First Lieutenant of his company and was
mustered out of the service June 8, 1865.
In August, 1862, a few days after his enlistment in the army, he was
united in marriage with Elizabeth Rader, the third daughter of Jesse
and Diana (Hoover) Rader. After his return from the war, they resided
at Middletown, where for six years Mr. Hilligoss was engaged in
business. They then moved to Bluffton, Wells County, where he practiced
law. In 1877 he took charge of the Huntington Democrat, as business
manager and editor but sold out the business in 1885. In 1882 he was
elected to the Indiana State Senate from the district composed of
Huntington and Wells counties. In politics he had been a Republican
until 1872 when, in common with many others, during the liberal
movement of that time, he joined the Democrats. In 1886 Mr. Hilligoss
bought an interest in the Anderson Herald and moved with his family to
that city. He was in charge of the paper for a short time only, for in
December, 1886, he was appointed Chief of the Eastern Division, in the
Pension Department. Washington City, where they went to live. In 1889
Mr. and Mrs. Hilligoss returned to Indiana, where he bought an interest
in the Muncie Herald and afterwards engaged in the law and real estate
business in that city until his. death which occurred January 19, 1901.
During their residence at Middletown, Henry County, two daughters were
born to Mr. and Mrs. Hilligoss. Luetta, the younger daughter, was
married in January. 1887, to W. G. McEdward. an official of the Erie
Railroad. In June of the same year, the elder daughter, De Lenna, died
in Washington, D. C.
Mr. Hilligoss was, during his later years, greatly interested in the
cause of temperance and religion. He was an earnest and devout member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Upon his death, the funeral
ceremonies were held in that church under the auspices of the Masonic
Fraternity and the Grand Army of the Republic, of both of which
organizations he was a member. His remains were interred at
Anderson.
Source: Hazzard's History of Henry County, Indiana, 1822-1906 by
George Hazzard 1906
Transcribed and contributed by Larry Wells
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