An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 313-314

HENRY J. HIBBARD, one of the prominent men of Wasco county, is now living a
retired life at Hood River. He has been very active in laboring for the benefit
of the country and was for a time one of the most skillful and successful fruit
raisers of the section. He was born in Vermont, on July 19, 1846. His father,
Joseph B. Hibbard, was a native of Vermont as were also his parents and their
parents so far as is known were of English descent. The Hibbard family have been
leading people for many generations and were well known in business circles, at
the bench and in other professional lines. Especially in the medical profession
were they prominent in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The mother
of our subject, Olive H. (Pratt) Hibbard, was also born in Vermont. The Pratt
family is well known as one of the colonial families of patriotism and spirit.
They were especially prominent in manufacturing lines, having some very large
establishments in Connecticut, and also through-out New England. When Henry J.
was four years of age, his parents came to Wisconsin which was then a pioneer
country. He did freighting and various work after arriving at manhood's estate
and in 1877, as stated above, came west. He located in Klickitat county,
Washington, and gave his attention to stock and grain raising and took up
government land. In 1891, he closed out the stock business and came to Oregon,
settling in Hood River. Here he purchased forty acres of first class fruit land,
four miles out from town and planted an orchard. He displayed marked skill and
care in this labor and when he sold the property in 1902, it was considered one
of the best orchards in the entire valley. The place was in every respect, a
model. After that, Mr. Hibbard purchased land in Hood River and erected a
residence where he dwells at the present time. In political matters, we find Mr.
Hibbard a strong Republican and he has participated in campaigns for years. He
attends most of the conventions and is a prominent figure there. In 1902, he was
elected commissioner of Wasco county and is giving excellent satisfaction in
that important office.      

On November 1, 1866, in Wisconsin, Mr. Hibbard married Miss Emma Axtell, a
native of Maine and descended from an old and prominent family. Her mother,
Nancy Judkins, was also a native of Maine as were her ancestors for many
generations. The father of Mrs. Hibbard was Thomas Axtell, born in Massachusetts
and an agriculturist. Mr. Hibbard has no brothers or sisters, living and his
wife has one brother Alvin, retired at Fairview, Oregon, and two sisters, Ellen,
the widow of Peter Damon at Sumas, Washington and Mary, widow of Judson Owen, in
Dodge Center, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Hibbard have one child, Edwin T., a
carpenter of Hood River.      

Our subject is a member of the A.F. & A.M., of the I.O.O.F., and the Encampment,
while he and his wife both belong to the O.E.S. and the Rebekahs. Mr. Hibbard
assisted in organizing the I.O.O.F. lodge here and is a director and charter
member of the same and was the first noble grand. He has frequently been
delegate to the grand lodge and is prominent in political circles.      

Edwin T. Hibbard has married and has three children. Florence M., Mary L., and
Fred H., aged seven, five and two years, respectively.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.