Hildreth article by Karen!

Luman Hildreth
By Karen Cuccinello

Luman Hildreth lived his life in Gilboa mostly in the Clay Hill area, but the 1900 census stated Town of Gilboa/Village of Stamford. He was a harness maker, repaired shoes and boots, a farmer, mechanic and owned property enough that he was often renting houses.
Hildreth was born April 1839 to Harris and Mary Hildreth and had at least four older siblings who grew to adulthood, George, Osman, Martha and Charles. They spelled his name Lewman in the 1850 Gilboa census. He married Mrs. Libbie (Keator) Tupper (1842-1912) about 1867 who brought with her two sons, Ossion about age 6 and Wilber (1862-1922). The Tupper children were born in Georgia and following Mr. Tupper’s death they came back up North. Luman and Libbie had one son, Luther (1869-1908) who was a merchant in Unadilla at the time of his death.
March 20, 1884 Gilboa Monitor- Wanted – Ten or fifteen yearlings or two year olds, to run on my mountain farm. Good fences, water etc. Inquire of Luman Hildreth, Gilboa, N Y.
1904-05 Jefferson Courier- Luman Hildreth of Gilboa has his automobile home. He purchased it last summer and got it as far as Catskill when it gave out. He will have it overhauled and put in running order.
June 7, 1906 Gilboa Monitor- Luman Hildreth had his automobile out for the first time. While it is not yet in perfect running order he has proved to the doubting ones that he really has an automobile and not a gold brick as many have called it.
In 1917 Hildreth went to St. Augustine, FL for the winter.
October 11, 1917 Gilboa Monitor- Luman Hildreth is the first to subscribe to the Monitor’s tobacco fund. His contribution is $1.00. The fund now has got a start and everybody should give their bit to this worthy movement. The soldiers in France will appreciate your gifts and a smoke will make them forget for the minute, the war and its hardships. Join the tobacco fund.
March 5, 1919 Stamford Mirror-Recorder – Luman Hildreth has returned from Binghamton hospital where he has been some time for treatment of cancer of the face, which has been successfully removed.
Hildreth purchased a house and small farm at Potters Hollow in 1919 and in the 1920 census he’s in Rensselaerville age 81.
Luman Hildreth died August 30, 1920 in Gilboa and is buried in Gilboa Rural Cemetery.
Photo from Stamford Village historians Daisy DeSilva and Anne Willis now in the Stamford Village Library history room.