Jesse Hildebrand was born on May 29, 1800, near Cold Springs, Pennsylvania. He moved to Washington County, Ohio, around 1814. He joined the state militia, and by 1828, he had become a major general. He married Asenith Fowler on April 20, 1826. They had at least five children: Eliza, born around 1827; Arius, born around 1831; William, born around 1832; Frances, born around 1835; and Cynthia, born around 1842. He worked as a mail contractor in Marietta, Ohio, and by 1860, he owned $2,000 of real estate and $450 of personal property.
He received a commission as colonel of the 77th Ohio Infantry. The regiment took part in the Battle of Shiloh. After the battle, army officials assigned the regiment to prison guard duty in Alton, Illinois. He died there of pneumonia on April 18, 1863.
Image: Jesse Hildebrand (Cadwallader & Tappan,
Colonel Jesse Hildebrand, 77th Ohio Regiment in uniform with sword / Cadwallader & Tappen, photographs, Marietta, O., United States, None. Photograph.
https://www.loc.gov/item/2022631510)