The Hiltons of Amsterdam, New York, are descendants of the old and prominent English family of Hilton so prominently identified for many years with the cities of Liverpool, Manchester and Oldham, where the family is still numerous.
(I) Thomas Hilton, the founder, born in Oldham, England, about 1826, died about 1880 in Amsterdam, New York. Oldham lying so near Manchester draws largely upon the former's place for mill operations, and Thomas was early employed there in a cotton mill, where he learned to be a spinner. He was an expert workman, and after marriage decided the United States offered better opportunities for advancement. He settled in Amsterdam, New York, where he followed his trade until his death. He was successful in life and highly respected for his many qualities. He married, in England, Martha Hill, born May, 1847, in Manchester, England, daughter of Marshall and Mary (Sands) Hill, lifelong residents of Manchester, where Marshall Sands was a merchant. Children:
- Andrew Johnson, born April 14, 1865; see forward.
- Abraham L., twin of Andrew J., married Anna Sauwater, and has Harold.
- Mary A., a resident of Fort Plain, New York.
- Lydia, March, 1871; married John Jacobs, of Amsterdam, and has
- Valentine, born May 21, 1888;
- John H., July 22, 1891, a cigar-maker and cartoonist, and
- Lillian M., January 13, 1895.
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Martha (Hill) Hilton, married, John Nelson, a native of Hamburg, Germany, born 1855, came when a young man to Amsterdam where he became a color sorter in a broom factory. So educated is his eye that the broom corn is assorted into seven classes, each of a different shade of coloring. They have no issue.
(II) Andrew Johnson and brother, Abraham Lincoln, born on the eve of the tragic death of the "Great Emancipator," received his name and that of his successor in office. Andrew J. was reared and educated in Amsterdam, where at an early age he began his business career as a clerk. After a time he began business for himself with a partner, but they soon closed up. He then entered the employ of the Inman Box Company, where he remained nineteen years, becoming an expert and rapid worker, said to have no equal in eastern New York. Always possessed of a love for things beautiful, he was particularly susceptible to the beauties of plants and flowers, and interested in their culture. During his many years at the box works he had accumulated some capital and started a greenhouse for the growth and sale of flowers. He has been very successful, his business has greatly outgrown its original quarters and he has been forced to remove the salesrooms to commodious quarters on Market street, to build a large greenhouse on Bunn street. He is highly regarded in the trade as capable, reliable and enterprising. A feature of his business from the start has been the raising of animals for house pets. He is a member of the Baptist church, and an adherent of the Republican party. He married, in Amsterdam, May 31, 1879, Hannah M. Lepper, born near Amsterdam, May 6, 1861. (See forward.) Child:
- Maud M., born July 5, 1862; educated in the city schools; married Ferdinand Avery, born in Oneida county, New York, January 2, 1876, reared and educated in that county, now in business in Amsterdam, associated with the Empire Steam Laundry. Children:
- Thelma May, born October 7, 1899,
- Minnie Madeline, October 17, 1902.
Mrs. Hannah M. (Lepper) Hilton is a daughter of Fred and a granddaughter of Joseph Lepper, who emigrated to the United States from Germany over a century ago, and purchased a large tract of land in Montgomery county, near Akin. With the rapid development of the county and the building of the New York Central Railroad, his timber, sand and other products of his farm came into a profitable market. He became wealthy, owning a great deal of property in other states. He lived to be ninety-seven years of age, was twice married, was the father of twelve children, six by each wife, six are still living, all near or over eighty years old, and all widowed. Fred Lepper married Catherine E. Dixon, of English parentage, born in Mayfield, Fulton county, New York, 1837, died January 7, 1895.