J. CLYDE HILLIARD, residing on the old Hilliard farm of 170 acres in Spring Creek Township, comes of one of the most prominent and oldest established families in Miami County. He was born January 31, 1870, on his present farm and is a son of James and Adelaide (Gill) Hilliard, and a grandson of Joseph and Sarah (Reid) Hilliard.

John and Elizabeth Hilliard, the great-grandparents of our subject, were one of the first families to locate in Miami County, coming here in 1797 under the direction of Col. Simms. They entered the land on which our subject lives, and it is the oldest tract of land in the county which has been continuously in the name of one family. In about 1816 the house in which J. Clyde Hilliard was born was erected, it being considered quite a mansion at that time, and with the exception of one cabin. which was a trading post, was the only house between here and Dayton. Here Joseph Hilliard engaged in agricultural pursuits and he reared a family of seven children: Nancy, Mary, Susan, Jeruslia, John R., Amanda, and James G., father of our subject, all of whom are now deceased.

James G. Hilliard was reared on the home farm, obtained his educational training in the district schools and at McMurdy's Academy, after which he engaged in farming on the home place, he died July 14, 1906, at the age of eighty-three years. After losing his sight, in 1852, he dealt extensively in horses and in cattle, and became one of the best known stockmen in this section of the county. He was united in marriage with Adelide Gill who was born near Milford Center, Union County, Ohio, a daughter of David and Eleanor Gill, residents and farmers of Union County. Mrs. Hilliard was one of a family of six children, the others as follows: William, Maskel, Rueben, Robert, and Jennie. She was seventy-six years of age on May 30, 1909, and makes her home with her son, the subject of this, record. James G. Hilliard was identified with the Republican party in politics. For fifty-four years he was a member of the order of Odd Fellows and his religious membership was with the Baptist Church.

J. Clyde Hilliard was reared and has always lived on his present farm. He attended the schools of this district and at Piqua, subsequently going to the West for some time, and upon his return home assumed the management of the home place, where he carries on farming in a general way, but owing to ill health rents out a portion of the land. He was united in marriage with Josephine Lawrence, who is a daughter of Col. Lawrence, who was a prominent attorney of Marysville and a veteran of the Civil War, who entered the army as captain of Company A., 121st Regiment, and returned as its colonel.

In politics, Mr. Hilliard is an adherent of the Republican party. Fraternally, he is a member of the J. O. A. M. and the Elks.