Hamilton Briscoe Hillyer

Imprint used on some
H B Hillyer CDV and Cabinet Cards

Note: There are no examples of the work of this photographer in LOST GALLERY.
This page is in conjunction with the page on
Nathan Miles Wilcox.

Hamilton Briscoe Hillyer
(1835 - 1903)

Timeline
1835 Aug 14
Coweta Countya, GA, H B Hillyer is born to Rev John Freeman Hillyer and Mary Adeline Briscoe
1850
Goliad, TX, US census at age 15 H B Hillyer is living with parents
1856-1858
Goliad, TX, from Victoria (TX) Advocate of 17 May 1964 news feature item says Hillyer lived in Goliad from 1856 to 1858 (see article below)
1858 Mar 04
Grimes, TX, H B Hillyer and Mary Emma Storey marry
1860
Grimes, TX, US census, H B Hillyer as farmer
1867 Aug 13
Williamson, TX, Texas voter list, H B Hillyer listed
1872
Austin, TX, city directory H B Hillyer as photographer at Hickory st, near Market House
1877 Feb 21
Austin (TX) American Statesman, small display ad for H D Hillyer “Photo Artiste” so corner of the Avenue and Hickory street

1880 Jun 01
Austin, TX, US census Hillyer as photographer
1881
Austin, TX, city directory H B Hillyer as photographer at 916 Congress; res same
1883 Jan 16
Austin (TX) American Statesman, small item promoting H B Hillyer’s “Superb” gallery; mentions “25 years in the business, 16 in the city”
1884 Apr 02, May 23
Austin (TX) American Statesman, small item for H B Hillyer photographer at 916 Congress Avenue
1894 may 28
Galveston (TX) Daily News item mentions Hillyer has written a paper called “Life as manifest in trees”
1885
Austin, TX, city directory, Hillyer as photographer at 916 Congress; res same
1886
Austin (TX) American-Statesman news ads: It may be significant to note that a December 4, 1886 ad shows “H B Hillyer” photography and a December 14 ad, just ten days later, shows the studio as “H B Hillyer and Son”
1887
Austin, TX, city directory, Hillyer as photographer at 916 Congress; res same

1887 May 14
Williamson, TX, state records, H B Hillyer and Alice Frances Stout/Turner marry
1887-1888
Austin, TX, city directory, H B Hillyer as photographer with Hillyer and Son, 916 Congress; res same
1887 Nov 06
Austin (TX) American Statesman small display ad N M Wilcox buys H B Hillyer and Son Gallery; note that the Austin, TX, city directory for 1888 must have already gone to press
1888
Dallas, TX, city directory, Hillyer as photographer with Hillyer and Son at 701 Elm; res 576 San Jacinto
1888 Jun 08
Galveston (TX) Daily News item says Hillyer of Dallas was appointed secretary pro tem at the meeting of the Texas State Photographers association meeting in Waco, TX.
1889
Austin, TX and Dallas, TX, city directory, Hillyer NOT listed
1891
Bell County, TX, H B Hillyer on county tax roll
1895
Bell County, TX, H B Hillyer on county tax roll
1896
Bell County, TX, H B Hillyer on county tax roll

1900 Dec 22
Montague, TX, US census, Hillyer as Fruit and Seed Grower
1903 Dec 10
Bowie, Montague County, TX, state records, H B Hillyer dies at age 68


The first documentation of Hillyer, as a photographer, is in the 1872 Austin, TX, city directory. His studio is on Hickory Street. He is still on Hickory street in 1877 according to a small newspaper ad. By 1880 he has moved to 916 Congress Avenue in Austin, TX. He remains there until at least 1888.

In 1888 the Hillyer and Son firm is listed in the Austin, TX, city directory and in the Dallas, TX, city directory at 701 Elm. This may be a second location or perhaps a move during that year. In any case, it does not last as there is no listing in either the Dallas or the Austin directory in 1889. This is the last mention of Hillyer in connection with photography.

1891 through 1896 tax rolls say Hillyer is now living in Bell County, TX.

According to his obituary in the Austin American-Statesman newspaper, he moved to Bowie, TX, in 1897.

In 1898 and 1899, Hillyer of Bowie, TX, is mentioned in farming articles in Iowa, Ohio and North Carolina. He appears to be an expert on seeds and planting.

He is still in Bowie, TX, for the 1900 US census when he is listed as a fruit and seed grower. He writes a paper called “Utilization of Horticultural Waste Products” which is quoted in newspapers of the time. He is mentioned also in a lengthy article about seeds and farming in the Progressive Farmer, a newspaper for Winston Salem, NC.

Hillyer dies in December of 1903 at age 68.

photographer: H B Hillyer
Belton and Taylor, TX
Example from PhotoWeb
probably finished between 1891 and 1896

reverse of Card at the left

Victoria (TX) Advocate - 17 May 1964

Austin (TX) American Statesman - 21 Feb 1877


Austin (TX) American Statesman - 16 Jan 1883


Austin (TX) American Statesman - 02 Apr 1884


Austin (TX) American Statesman - 30 May 1884

Galveston (TX) Daily News - 08 Jun 1888







photographer: credited to Hillyer
unknown source

Austin, TX, American Statesman - 18 Dec 1903

photographer" H B Hillyer
Austin, TX
Example from Ancestry.com

reverse of cdv at the left

photographer: H B Hillyer
Cor Avenue and Hickory St
Austin, TX
example from auction site

photographer: H B Hillyer
Austin, TX
example from Texas Archives

photographer: H B Hillyer
Austin, TX,
from Flickr member depthandtime

reverse of card at left

photographer H B Hillyer
New Gallery
Austin, TX

Photographer: Hillyer
Belton and Taylor, TX
contributed by

Photographer Hillyer
Belton and Taylor, TX
example from Portal on Texas History

photographer: H B Hillyer
Belton and Taylor, TX
example from pinterest no source shown

photographer:H B Hillyer
Belton, TX
example from auction site

photographer: Hillyer
Belton, TX
example from auction site

photographer: Hillyer and Son
Belton and Taylor, TX
example from auction site

photographer: H B Hillyer
Bowie, TX
example from auction site

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.

This is a work always in progress.

Aditional information and New examples are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made.

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Do not crop.
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Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity and presentation here.

This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately removed.