From The Thirteen Towns:

W. L. Hilliard, Civil War Vet, Succumbs Sunday

William Luman Hilliard, last of the veterans of the Civil War of the East Polk county community passed away at the hospital [can't read] Sunday afternoon at 2:55, and leaves the number of veterans of the war of rebellion at one. The lone survivor is J. O. Sargent of Crookston.

At the turn of the century here at Lengby, were quite a number of Civil War veterans, wearers of the uniform of the Grand Army of the Republic. One by one, however, they succumbed to the toll of time, until only William L. Hilliard, who enlisted at the age of sixteen years, remained. Sturdily active in the affairs of the G.A.R., he was forced to curtail his activites in the organization two years ago, but until the end retained his interest in its affairs.

Intensely patriotic, service in other wars was a natural bond between their veterans and Mr. Hilliard. He was especially friendly to veterans of the Spanish-American war and of the World War. War service was a characteristic of the family. A great-great grandfather fought for the English in the French and Indian war. His great grandfather, Jonathan Hilliard served in the continental army against the British, and a great grandfather on his maternal side was in the War of 1812. Three nephews served with the American forces in the World War.

Mr. Hilliard was a private in Company L of the First Regiment of Wisconsin Cavalry in the Civil War, enlisting at LaCrosse, Wis., August 18, 1864. He was mustered out of service at Edgefield, Tenn., July 19, 1865. His discharge paper gives his age at 18 years, although actually he was two months short of arriving at his seventeenth birthday. Also he lacked a month of being sixteen years old when he enlisted as a substitute, taking the place of a drafted man.

William Hilliard was born near Avon, Ohio, Sept. 19, 1848, the oldest son of Joseph Warren and Lorinda Griswold Hilliard. He was married to Mary Lockman in La Crosse county, Wis., February 22, 1866. To this union were born six children, two of whom survive.

In 1880 he moved with his family to Hawley, where he engaged in the machinery business, and also operated a blacksmith and wood working shop. At Hawley he became interested in the temperance movement and was at one time Chief Templar of the Hawley I.O.G.T. lodge, and took a prominent part in the activities of the organization. While at Hawley he also served as deputy sheriff of Clay county.

Disposing of his interests at Hawley, he moved with his family to the Thirteen Towns in 1893, building and operating one of the first sawmills in Columbia township. When the railroad was built through in 1898, he moved the mill to the shore of Spring lake and operated it for a short time.

For the past several years, Mr. Hilliard has divided his time between Bemidji and Lengby. While a resident of Lengby he took an active part in the affiars of the community.

Active in the affairs of the G.A.R., he missed few encampments, and for many years was patriotic instructor for the Minnesota Department. He was state commander of the G.A.R. in 1931-32. In the early days of his residence in Lengby he assisted in the organization of Grand Army posts throughout northern Minnesota.

Surviving are his son, Wilfred Hilliard, a daughter, Mrs. Cora E. Albright of Lengby, two brothers, C.E. Hilliard of Lengby and J.W. Hilliard of Brainerd, and a sister, Mrs. Annie Gill of Minneapolis. Also surviving are ten grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at Lengby Wednesday afternoon in Fridhem church at 2 o'clock preceded by a short service in the home of Mr. Hilliard's daughter, Mrs. Cora Albright. Rev. G.W. Sanstead, pastor of the church, officiated at the services, using as his text the second epistle of Paul to Timothy, verses six to eight of the fourth chapter. Wallace B. Ruud sang a solo, and Mrs. Luhman and Katie Krause sang a duet. Nearer by God to Three and Rock of ages were sung by the audience.

World War veterans from Lengby, Fosston and Bemidji provided military rites, an often expressed wish of Mr. Hilliard. Pallbearers were six veterans of the Lengby Post of Veternas of Foreign Wars. Tangen Post of the American Legion provided color bearers and color guards and a firing squad. Taps were blown over the grave by John Sather.