Gaston, Joseph. "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders." Vol. 3. Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 470. CHARLES HILTON A vessel which steamed into the harbor of San Francisco in the fall of 1858 carried among its passengers Charles Hilton, then a young man of twenty years, full of hope, determination and energy. The Pacific coast was to be the scene of his labors from thenceforth and much of the period has been passed in Oregon, where his efforts have constituted an effective force in the substantial development of the state. He was born at Cornville, Somerset county, Maine, on the 1st of February, 1838, a son of Joseph and Comfort Hilton, the former a farmer by occupation. His education was acquired in the public schools of his native town and the spirit of adventure and a laudable ambition to attain success brought him to California in 1858. He made the journey westward by way of the isthmus route and settled in Placer county. He was quite successful during the period of his residence in California, which continued until May, 1864, when he went to Silver City, Idaho. There he met with reverses, losing all that he had formerly gained. He, therefore, sought a position in the internal revenue service, acting as deputy assessor in Idaho from 1866 until he came to Portland in January, 1870. It was his purpose to go to California, but on reaching this city he was induced by friends to remain in Oregon and became a factor in furnishing supplies for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company during its construction from Kalama to Tenino. He left Portland in October, 1873, and established his home in Wasco county in eastern Oregon, where he turned his attention to stock-raising, in which business he has continued to the present time. He was one of the pioneer sheep-raisers of the state, devoting his attention largely to that undertaking on a ranch eighteen miles from Fossil, the county seat of what is now Wheeler county. When he went there, The Dalles was his nearest market and to obtain supplies there he had to travel a distance of eighty miles. As the years have passed he has extended his efforts as a stock-raiser and has conducted a large and profitable business, having now a well equipped ranch of eight thousand acres on which are from ten thousand to twelve thousand sheep and other stock. For the past ten years, however, he has made his home in Portland but also maintains a residence in Wheeler county. On the 11th of May, 1880, Mr. Hilton was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Hale, who was born in Anson, Somerset county, Maine, and unto them has been born a daughter, Florence Des Chutes Hilton. Mr. Hilton is a stalwart republican in his political views and has exerted considerable influence in the ranks of the party, to which he is ever most loyal. In 1888 he was elected joint senator from Wasco and Gilliam counties, serving during the sessions of 1889 and 1891. In 1896 he was elected a delegate at large from Oregon to the national republican convention held in St. Louis in June of that year. Governor Lord appointed him a member of the board of regents for the University of Oregon and Governor Bowerman appointed him a delegate to the national irrigation congress held at Pueblo, Colorado, September 26-30, 1910. These appointments give indication of his prominence as a citizen and his recognized public spirit and ability. While at the republican national convention in St. Louis he was made a member of the notification committee and went to Canton, Ohio, to notify Major McKinley of his selection as the presidential candidate of the party. Mr. Hilton belongs to the Masonic fraternity, which he joined in 1866, becoming a member of Owyhee Lodge, No. 5, A.F. & A.M., at Silver City, Idaho. In 1882 he was made a Knight Templar in Oregon Commandery, No. 1, of Portland, and in 1888 crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in Al Kader Temple of this city. In 1902 he attained the thirty-second degree grant master of Masons for the jurisdiction of Idaho and his close conformity to the teachings and principles of the fraternity has made him one of its exemplary representatives. He is a believer in the Christian religion and his influence is always on the side of right and progress. About ten years ago he became a life member of the Oregon Historical Society and is interested in the preservation of the accounts of early days in this state when history was in its formative period. Throughout the years of his residence in Oregon he has taken active and helpful part in the work of general progress and improvement and the worth of his service has been widely recognized by his fellow citizens and also by government appointment. He is an advocate of all of those steps of progressive development which are reclaiming the arid lands and converting Oregon into one of the most productive and populous states of the Union. Transcriber's additional notes: Census Indexing: 1840 HILTON JOSEPH ME SOMERSET CORNVILLE p 148 1850 HILTON JOSEPH (CHAS 13) M W ME ME SOMERSET CORNVILLE p 19 1860 HILTON CHAS 22 M W ME CA PLACER DUTCH FLAT P O p 709 1870 HILTON CHARLES 32 M W ME ID OWYHEE SILVER CITY p 187 1880 HILTON CHARLES 42 W ME OR WASCO BAKEOVEN 1880 p 210 1900 HILTON CHARLES 62 M W ME OR WHEELER CLARNO PCT p 11 1900 HILTON CHARLES 59 M W ME OR MULTNOMAH 2-WD PORTLAND p 128 1910 HILTON CHARLES 72 M W ME OR WHEELER CLARNO PCT p 278 1920 HILTON CHARLES 82 M W ME OR MULTNOMAH PORTLAND; 201 1/2-PCT p 204 OR Death Index: <>http://www.heritagetrailpress.com/DEATH_INDEX/ Hilton, Charles January 17, 1929 City of Portland 210 Hilton, Mary Elizabeth January 8, 1929 City of Portland 103 ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.