Obituary of Rev. Daniel Hilton, by Dr. John Mason Peck, printed in the Baptist Banner and Western Pioneer, May 28, 1840, p. 1, copied from the book New Design Baptist Church Historical Cemetery, by Rev. L. Leininger: "OBITUARY "Your fathers, where are they - and the Prophets, do they live forever?" "Two more aged ministers have fallen in the ranks of Illinois, and gone to join the church triumphant. Elder DANIEL HILTON died at his residence, New Design Settlement, Monroe County, Illinois, March 6, 1848, after an illness for a few days of the winter fever, in the sixty-first year of his age. Elder Hilton was a native of the District (now State) of Maine, his nativity was the town of Bristol, county of Lincoln, where he resided more than thirty years. He married Martha Wellman, who still survives him, and with whom he lived in peace and harmony about forty years. At the age of twenty-eight he professed religion, and united with the Free Will Baptists and was baptized by Elder Cunningham, a noted and pious minister in that connection. The region of his residence was then comparatively new, and much destitution of a preached gospel - and the mind of brother Hilton became powerfully impressed with the duty of trying to preach the Gospel. After due trial, he was licensed bythe church and commenced public labors. In 1813, he removed to Ohio, where he was ordained, and where he assisted in building up several churches, and labored with success. In 1818, himself and most of the members of one of the churches in which he officiated, removed to Monroe county, Illinois, where his ministerial labors were continued. At that period the Canteen Baptist Church, distinguished as "Friends to Humanity," (from their opposition to perpetual and hereditary slavery,) extended from St. Clair to Monroe county, and in 1821, Elder Hilton and his brethren united with this body, from which, in the month of June the same year, the Fountain Creek Church was formed by Elders James and Joseph Lemen and John Clark. In this church, and in the adjacent counties, and frequently by long excursions into Missouri, Elder Hilton labored until his death. Though his early education was quite limited, Elder Hilton evinced a clear and sound mind, a good judgment, ready perception, clear views of gospel truth, and much benevolence of feeling. He was a warm and active supporter in all measures to educate the rising ministry, in missions, in Sunday School labors, and in every good work. He was uniformly pious, devout, practical and consistent in his profession. His public labors, usually performed gratuitously, were constant and perservering. Though possessed of but small property, he was so industrious and economical of his time and means, as to consecrate much in the service of the Lord, besides raising a large family. In sustaining meetings at his own house, and in travelling and preaching to the destitute, his sacrifices, upon the most moderate computation, would equal fifty dollars each year for thirty years. And we do not mention his as a case by any means extraordinary, but to present a fact very common to western ministers of labors and sacrifices scarcely ever thought of by people in the old States, or by those who receive these labors. Elder Hilton was hospitable and kind, ready to visit the sick and dying and always punctual to attend meetings. The last years of his life were afflictive, and yet he always appeared cheerful and reconciled. A few months before his death one of his sons was thrown from a horse and expired in a few hours.A few weeks before he followed, a lovely and pious daughter died, strong in faith. His own health had been on the decline for several years, and he felt admonished his departure was near. For several weeks of the last of his public labors, he appeared unusually devoted to God; and the last sermon was the funeral of an old friend and neighbor." Submitted by Janet Flynn.