Benjamin James Hillidge has held the position of mayor in Front Royal since 1918, showcasing his dedication, enterprise, and public spirit. Born in 1871 in New York, Hillidge moved to Virginia as a teacher and later became involved in various ventures, including working for the Southern Railway and eventually establishing the Locust Pin Company. This company received recognition during World War I for its contributions. Hillidge is actively involved in various business and community roles, serving as a director in the Bank of Warren, president of the Warren Power Company, and president of the Riverton Mills Corporation. He is also engaged in civic and social organizations, such as being an elder in the Presbyterian Church, a Mason and Shriner, and president of the Rotary Club. Additionally, he has a family, having married Laura V. Gruver in 1895, with whom he has six children. Hillidge’s commitment to his community is evident through his roles as a former president of the Front Royal Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the City School Board, and a ten-year tenure as mayor of Front Royal. He currently serves as the chairman of the Warren County Health Association.
BENJAMIN JAMES HILLIDGE has been mayor of Front Royal consecutively since 1918. This honor and responsibility are significant, a tribute to his enterprise and public spirt, and probably no man in the community has been more progressive and has done more for the broadening of the industrial and civic opportunities and advantages.
Mr. Hillidge was born at Holland Patent, Oneida County, New York, December 5, 1871, son of James Gough and Mary Ann (Pritchard) Hillidge, and grandson of Benjamin Hillidge and John Pritchard. Both grandfathers spent their lives as English farmers. The parents were born in England, and after coming to the United States James G. Hillidge devoted his life to farming and the development and operation of a large quarry industry in Oneida County, New York. While living in England they were members of the Established or Episcopal Church, and in America they became affiliated with the Presbyterian denomination. Of their seven children five are living, Benjamin J. being the oldest.
Benjamin J. Hillidge was educated in an academy at Holland Patent and at Fairfield, New York, and has been a resident of Virginia since early manhood. He came to Virginia as a teacher, and during 1891-92 had charge of the commercial branches in the Shenandoah Normal College at Basic City, and removed with that school to Reliance, where he continued in charge of the commercial work and teacher of other branches from 1892 to 1898. Mr. Hillidge has been a resident of Warren County for thirty-five years.
On leaving school work he became private secretary to M. V. Richards, land and industrial agent of the Southern Railway at Washington. After one year he was made chief clerk of the department, and five years later was promoted to land and industrial agent, with headquarters at Chattanooga, Tennessee. After two years he resigned and returning to Warren County, Virginia, bought out the plant of the Locust Pin Company, manufacturing insulator pins. The company is incorporated, and manufactures a product which is sold in all parts of the world. During the World war this company received an award for distinguished service for its promptness in supplying war contracts.
While most of his time is given to this business, Mr. Hillidge is also a director in the Bank of Warren, is president of the Warren Power Company, which operates four units of four hundred horse power each, supplying electric current to a number of communities in Northern Virginia. He is also president of the Riverton Mills Corporation, operating an 150 barrel flour mill.
Mr. Hillidge married, November 20, 1895, Miss Laura V. Gruver, who was born in Warren County and was educated at Dayton, Virginia. She is a daughter of Benjamin F. and Maggie (Snyder) Gruver, and a descendant of Jacob Gruver, originator of the Hagerstown Almanac, and whose descendants now number several thousand people. Mr. and Mrs. Hillidge had six children, four of whom are living. Marie is the wife of Fred Van Ness Bradley, purchasing agent for the Michigan Limestone & Chemical Company at Rogers City, Michigan, and also connected with the Bradley Transportation Company. Mrs. Bradley is a graduate of the domestic science department of Cornell University. The second child, James Gruver Hillidge, was educated at Cornell University and is now assistant general manager of the Locust Pin Company. Ruth Snyder Hillidge finished the course in domestic science in Cornell University and is stenographer to her father. Anna Mae Hillidge had one year at Mary Baldwin College at Staunton, in the Westhampton School at Richmond, and is now attending the Massey Business College of Richmond.
Mr. Hillidge since 1891 has been an elder in the Presbyterian Church and teaches a Bible class in Sunday School. He is a York and Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, and both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. He is a past master of Unity Lodge No. 146, A. F. and A. M., served two terms as high priest of Hiram Royal Arch Chapter, and has been worthy patron of the Eastern Star. He is now president of the Rotary Club. Mr. Hillidge is a former president of the Front Royal Chamber of Commerce, was chairman of the City School Board and for ten years has given first consideration to his duties as mayor of Front Royal. He is chairman of the Warren County Health Association, which maintains a county nurse.
| Book | Virginia: Rebirth of The Old Dominion |
| Published | 1929 |
| Publisher | Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York |
| Volume | V |
| Pages | 112-114 |
| Repository | Internet Archive |
| Retrieved | February 4, 2024 |
Unity Lodge No. 146 
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