Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

Hiram and Agnes Lilliebridge

HIRAM LILLIBRIDGE.

    Among the many well-known and substantial farmers and stockmen of Waterville township, Marshall county, Hiram Lillibridge ranks prominently. He is the owner of three hundred and ten acres of splendid land in section 18, and was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on March 28, 1847, being the son of Thomas and Sophia (Brooks) Lillibridge.

    Thomas and Sophia Lillibridge were natives of the state of Vermont and there they received their education in the local schools, and later, with their parents moved to the state of New York, where they were married. The father was born in 1807 and died in 1865. The mother was born in 1818 and died in 1895.
After their marriage they established their home in the state of New York, where they lived for a time and then moved to Pennsylvania, where Mr. Lillibridge engaged in general farming. Some years later the family moved to Crawford county, Iowa, where they remained until the spring of 1860, when they settled in
Oketo township, Marshall county. Here Mr. Lillibridge homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, where he made his home until the time of his death. The trip from Iowa to their new home was made with oxen and a covered wagon, and the family experienced many of the hardships of that method of travel. They lived for a time in a dug-out on their homestead, during which time Mr. Lillibridge broke his land with his oxen and prepared the soil for the planting of his crops. In addition to his work on the farm, he was a well-known freighter, and made many trips from Marysville to Atchison with his team of oxen. His death
occurred in the Rocky Mountains. His wife died at the home of her son, Hiram, at the age of eighty-two years. They were the parents of nine children, two of whom are now deceased, Hiram being the fourth eldest born. They were active members of the Baptist church and always took a keen interest in church work.

    Hiram Lillibridge came to Marshall county with his parents. He received his education in one of the pioneer schools, held in a dug-out. He was married when he was but eighteen years of age and soon thereafter homesteaded eighty acres of his present farm in Waterville township. Here he constructed a dug-out in which he and his wife lived for some years. He at once proceeded to develop and improve his farm, which was at that time raw prairie. He had but twenty dollars when he was married. He worked as a farm hand and in that way bought himself a yoke of oxen, and he worked for twenty-five days for John Tulle and Newton Cook, in return for which they broke five acres of his land. As he began to prosper he built a log house, and in this the family lived until the present frame house was built forty-two years ago. Those first few years were trying ones to the young man and woman, who had attempted to establish a home for themselves on the wild and unbroken prairie of Kansas. They had the determination to win, and by
hard work and close economy, they did in time become successful and influential  people in the district. The territory was at that time sparsely settled, and their nearest trading point was at Marysville, where they were compelled to go for the few necessities of life that they could get. There were no roads, and
the trips to market were as few as possible.

    On July 15, 1865, Hiram Lillibridge was united in marriage to Margaret M. Cook, who was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, on January 29, 1847, and is the daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Willis) Cook. Mr. and Mrs. Cook were both natives of the Hoosier state, the former having been born in 1811 and died in 1877, at
the age of seventy-seven years; the latter was born in Rush county and died on June 3, 1884, at the age of seventy-one years. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cook established their home on a farm in Hamilton county, where they lived until 1865, when they decided to seek a home on the plains of Kansas, and that year they homesteaded eighty acres in section 19, Waterville township, Marshall county. Their early life on the prairie was fraught with many hardships, for the country was but thinly settled and was for the most part undeveloped. They shared the hardships with other pioneers, and a bond of friendship and hospitality was developed that would be hard to find in a more advanced district. Their lot was a common one and each shared the hardships and the few pleasures with the others. They had three sons who took an active part in the Civil War, one of whom was killed in battle and another died a few weeks after coming home.

    To Hiram and Margaret M. Lillibridge were born the following children: Ollie, Matthew, William, Mary, Isabelle, John, Lulu, Daniel L., Daisy and Hiram, Jr. Ollie was the wife of L. Park and to them ten children were born, four of whom with the mother are now deceased; Matthew is a farmer and stockman of
Washington county, Kansas; Mary J. is the w ife of Al Arganbright, a resident of Waterville township, and to them have been born nine children, all of whom are now living; Isabelle is the wife of Bert Arganbright, of Waterville township and to them have been born five children, one having died some years ago; John P. is
a landowner and farmer of Waterville township; Hiram, J., resides in Nebraska; Lulu, now deceased, was the wife of A. Mapes and to her three children were born; Daniel L. was killed when but two years of age; Daisy is the wife of J. Brooks of Frankfort, and to them no children have been born. Mr. and Mrs.
Lillibridge have twelve great-grandchildren and forty-five grandchildren, and one of their greatest pleasures is experienced on home-coming days. Mrs. Lillibridge is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Lillibridge is a regular attendant and a liberal subscriber to its support. They are estimable people and are held in the highest regard by all who know them.  Their lives have been active ones and they have accomplished much that is worthy the emulation of all. Their early married life was started under the most trying circumstances, but as the years came and went, they advanced on the ladder of success and in the affection of the people with whom they associated.

    Mr. Lillibridge has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the township and county. Although he has never been a seeker after office, he has felt it to be his duty to assist in the selection of the best men to administer the affairs of county and state. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Elevator at Waterville, and a man of much force and influence. He has his farm rented, yet there are few days in the year that he is not busy looking after his extensive interests.

In 1880 Marshall County Kansas Hiram N. and Matilda M. have Ollie, 14, Mathew 12, William 9, Marry J. 8, Isabell M. 7, John 5, Hiram A. 3 and Dassie E. 1.

In 1900 Marshall County, Kansas Hiram born March 1847 in Pennsylvania and Matilda January 1846 Indiana, have John P. April 1875 Kansas.

April 9, 1909

In 1910 Yuma County Hiram 33, and Agnes, 24, were both born in Kansas.  She's had one child, but none listed .

1911 "Mr. Lillibridge and family have moved into the Encil Lay property."  (town of Laird)

Hiram Noel Lillibridge registered in Morrill County, Nebraska, saying he was born December 26, 1877, and was married to Agnes Clara Lillibridge.

In 1920 Morrill County, Nebraska they have Lucile N. 9, Viola V. 7, Maxine D. 5, and Eva M. 3.  Lucile was born in Kansas, the other three in Colorado.
In 1930 they're back in Marshall County, Kansas, with Maxine 16, Eva 12, Loyld 8, Foyld 8, Earl 5, and Delma 1.

In 1940 Marshall County Hiram is widowed, and with him are Floyd, Lloyd, Earl, and Delma.

In Riverside Cemetery, Marshall County, Kansas are Hiram Lillibridge, Jr. 1877-1964 and Agnes Holle Lillibridge - 1888-1930

 Lucille, born Oct 31, 1910 in Marshall County, died March 14, 2002. She's also buried in Riverside, Marshall County.
Married Mar. 14, 1927 to Roy Nemechek in Marysville, KS.
Lucile was the mother of ten children: Mable Louise, William Melvin, Lyle Lee, Wilma Jean, Donna Mace, Donald Leroy, Vera Mae, Verna Ann, John Robert & George Laverne. 
 

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