Howard C. Hillegas
Encyclopedia
Howard Clemens Hillegas was an American
author, newspaper correspondent, and newspaper editor. Hillegas traveled to South Africa as a correspondent for the New York World
to cover the Second Boer War
.
on December 30, 1872. Hillegas was the son of John Gery Hillegas and Catharine (Zeigler) Hillegas. He was a descendant of Michael Hillegas
who was the first Treasurer of the United States
.
Hillegas graduated from Perkiomen Seminary in 1890, and Franklin & Marshall College
in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
in 1894. After briefly working for newspapers in Pennsylvania, in 1895 he moved to New York City to pursue a career in journalism.
Hillegas was married and had two sons and a daughter. Hillegas's daughter was born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y in February 1902.
Hillegas's youngest son, Fred Hillegas, worked as a newsperson on the radio, television, and for newspapers. Although Fred followed in his father's line of work, he did not directly know his father since he died approximately a year after Fred was born.
In 1895 Hillegas began employment as a writer for the New York World and was sent to South Africa
to cover the hostilities between the Brits and the Boers. Hillegas was the first journalist to report that the fighting between Britain and the Boers had started in the Second Boer War.
After his return to the United States he authored several books about South African Wars, including Oom Paul's People and With the Boer Forces. Hillegas recounts his interview with South African Republic
President Paul Kruger
in the book Oom Paul's People. While in the county, Hillegas developed a friendly relationship with South African Republic statesmen. PostmasterGeneral Van Alpen, Commissioner of Mines P. Kroebler, Commissioner of War J. J. Smidt, Justice of the Peace Dillingham, and former Commandant-General Stephanne Schoeman attended the meeting between Hillegas and the President. According to Murat Halstead in Briton and Boer in South Africa, Hillegas "holds the Boers to be a nation, and his pages are full of highly colored partiality for their cause". An article written by Hillegas about President Kruger appeared in the December 1900 issue of Outing magazine.
In May 1901, The New York Times reported that Hillegas's book The Boers in War , published as With The Boer Forces in Britain, was suppressed by the British authorities.
In 1901, after returning from traveling abroad, Hillegas worked for the Saratoga Sun in Saratoga Springs, New York
as an editor and publisher. Additionally, Hillegas worked on the staff of The World, The Evening World
, and The New York Herald
. During his time at the New York Herald, he held positions as the city editor
and an editorial writer.
Hillegas resigned from the New York Herald in September 1917 and began employment at The Hotel Reporter as associate editor.
to cover the conflict between Britain and the Boers. During the several years that Hillegas spent in the area, he reported on the long campaign from the Boer point of view. Hillegas's account included details about the composition and organization of the Boer forces.
from pneumonia on January 29, 1918. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author, newspaper correspondent, and newspaper editor. Hillegas traveled to South Africa as a correspondent for the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
to cover the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
Family and education
Howard Clemens Hillegas was born in Pennsburg, PennsylvaniaPennsburg, Pennsylvania
Pennsburg is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,843 at the 2010 census.It is part of the Upper Perkiomen School District....
on December 30, 1872. Hillegas was the son of John Gery Hillegas and Catharine (Zeigler) Hillegas. He was a descendant of Michael Hillegas
Michael Hillegas
Michael Hillegas was the first Treasurer of the United States.-Biography:Hillegas was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Margaret Schiebenstock and George Michael Hillegass , an immigrant from Germany and a well-to-do merchant involved in iron and sugar...
who was the first Treasurer of the United States
Treasurer of the United States
The Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
.
Hillegas graduated from Perkiomen Seminary in 1890, and Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College is a four-year private co-educational residential national liberal arts college in the Northwest Corridor neighborhood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States....
in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
in 1894. After briefly working for newspapers in Pennsylvania, in 1895 he moved to New York City to pursue a career in journalism.
Hillegas was married and had two sons and a daughter. Hillegas's daughter was born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y in February 1902.
Hillegas's youngest son, Fred Hillegas, worked as a newsperson on the radio, television, and for newspapers. Although Fred followed in his father's line of work, he did not directly know his father since he died approximately a year after Fred was born.
Career
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to cover the hostilities between the Brits and the Boers. Hillegas was the first journalist to report that the fighting between Britain and the Boers had started in the Second Boer War.
After his return to the United States he authored several books about South African Wars, including Oom Paul's People and With the Boer Forces. Hillegas recounts his interview with South African Republic
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
President Paul Kruger
Paul Kruger
Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger , better known as Paul Kruger and affectionately known as Uncle Paul was State President of the South African Republic...
in the book Oom Paul's People. While in the county, Hillegas developed a friendly relationship with South African Republic statesmen. PostmasterGeneral Van Alpen, Commissioner of Mines P. Kroebler, Commissioner of War J. J. Smidt, Justice of the Peace Dillingham, and former Commandant-General Stephanne Schoeman attended the meeting between Hillegas and the President. According to Murat Halstead in Briton and Boer in South Africa, Hillegas "holds the Boers to be a nation, and his pages are full of highly colored partiality for their cause". An article written by Hillegas about President Kruger appeared in the December 1900 issue of Outing magazine.
In May 1901, The New York Times reported that Hillegas's book The Boers in War , published as With The Boer Forces in Britain, was suppressed by the British authorities.
In 1901, after returning from traveling abroad, Hillegas worked for the Saratoga Sun in Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
as an editor and publisher. Additionally, Hillegas worked on the staff of The World, The Evening World
The Evening World
-History:The first issue was on October 10, 1887. It was published daily, except for Sunday. The final publication was on February 26, 1931. It was merged with New York World and the New York Telegram and became the New York World-Telegram....
, and The New York Herald
New York Herald
The New York Herald was a large distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between May 6, 1835, and 1924.-History:The first issue of the paper was published by James Gordon Bennett, Sr., on May 6, 1835. By 1845 it was the most popular and profitable daily newspaper in the UnitedStates...
. During his time at the New York Herald, he held positions as the city editor
City editor
A city editor is a title used by a particular section editor of a newspaper. They are responsible for the daily changes of a particular issue of a newspaper that will be released in the coming day...
and an editorial writer.
Hillegas resigned from the New York Herald in September 1917 and began employment at The Hotel Reporter as associate editor.
War correspondent
In 1895 Hillegas traveled as a special correspondent for the New York World newspaper to South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to cover the conflict between Britain and the Boers. During the several years that Hillegas spent in the area, he reported on the long campaign from the Boer point of view. Hillegas's account included details about the composition and organization of the Boer forces.
Death
Hillegas died at his home in New Brighton, Staten IslandNew Brighton, Staten Island
New Brighton, formerly an independent village, is today a neighborhood located on the North Shore of Staten Island in New York City, USA. The neighborhood comprises an older industrial and residential harbor front area along the Kill Van Kull west of St. George.The village of New Brighton was...
from pneumonia on January 29, 1918. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.