Johan Clemens Hilgefort was born in Dinklage, Oldenburg, Germany, on November 23, 1835. Clemens was the son of Dietrich Hilgefort and Margaret Barhorst Hilgefort. In 1847, Clemens came with his family to the New World. Grandson, Lee J. Hlgeford was told the family came to America to avoid conscription which was a compulsory military service. Lee remembered them arriving in Ft. Loramie in 1848. After Dietrich’s death in 1850, Clemens and his brother Henry were left with the responsibility of providing for their mother, a younger brother, and a sister.
On July 3, 18 59, Clemens married Mary Poppelmann at St. Augustine Church in Minister, Ohio. He proved to be a model farmer on land west of Ft. Loramie. It had much virgin timber to be cleared and split rail fences and a log cabin to be constructed. Because the land had been a thick swamp the soil was very rich. The road to the farm was named Hilgefort Road.
A substantial man, Clemens helped build St. Michael’s Church by serving on the building committee. Besides asking for donations, he would arrange for different farmers to haul sand and stones on their wagons. Clemens also helped donate a large and beautiful stained glass window of the Baptism of Jesus.
Clemens died on December 18, 18 93 at his home of typhoid pneumonia. He was fifty-eight years old and is buried at Old St. Micheal’s Cemetery Ft. Loramie, Ohio. Johan Clemens Hilgefort was listed on the Passenger Lists for Baltimore 1820-1852. His age was 11 and he arrived on September 24, 1847. His origin was listed as Dinklage and port of deportation as Bremen. The ship he came on was Albert. His father Diedrich a farmer age 52, mother Margaretha age 47, brothers Heimich age 13, Joseph, and sister Elisabeth age lO were also listed on this ship.
Johan Clemens Hilgeford may have worn clothes like this picture. These were the custom at the time of his arrival for immigrants who came from the German towns near the Netherlands. It is know in Minister and Ft. Loramie, Ohio that these ancestors wore wooden shoes.
Resources:
- Sankt Cathanina Vital Records, Dinklage
- Oldenburg, Germany
- Lee J. Hilgeford, grandson
- Annals of St. Michael’s Parish
- Shelby County History Book
- Karen Anthony, Ft. Loramie, OH
Johan Clemens Hilgefort was listed on the Passenger Lists for Baltimore 1820-1852.His age was 11 and he arrived on September 24, 1847. His orgin was listed as Dinklage and port of departation as Bremen. The ship he came on was Albert. His father Diedrich a farmer age 52, mother Margaretha age 47,brothers Heimich age 13, Joseph, and sister Elisabeth age 10 were also listed on this ship.
Johan Clemens Hilgeford may have worn clothes like this picture. These were the custom at the time of his
arrival for immigrants who came from the German towns near the Netherlands. It is know in Minister and Ft.Loramie, Ohio that these ancestors wore wooden shoes.