The son of a hard-working Norwegian immigrant father and a devout Catholic mother, Conrad Nicholson Hilton grew up in the small mining town of San Antonio, in the New Mexico Territory. Hilton, known as Connie, was born December 25, 1887 to August and Mary Laufersweller Hilton. He was the second oldest of eight children and the oldest son. August Hilton was a trader and a prominent citizen of San Antonio. He owned a general store and, at various times, he also owned or operated the town's post office, bank, telegraph office and a small hotel. Hilton grew up among these businesses. Later in life, he said he learned about hard work from his father and about prayer from his mother-two lessons that remained with him throughout his life.

Hilton attended Goss Military Institute, New Mexico Military Institute, and St. Michael's College. At one point, the family moved to Long Beach, California, "because we were rich," Hilton said in his autobiography, Be My Guest. But soon after moving, August Hilton lost a lot of money in an economic downturn and the family returned to San Antonio.

The Hiltons lived in a large house across from the railroad station. As the family grew, August Hilton added rooms onto the house. When the children began leaving home, August got the idea of renting rooms to boarders for $2.50 a day. Conrad Hilton and his brothers walked to the railroad station where they would greet visitors and carry their luggage back to the boardinghouse. This was Hilton's introduction to the hotel business. Before long, the family was back on its feet and the boardinghouse was abandoned.

At the age of 21, Hilton took over management of his father's store and began sharing in the profits. He soon became frustrated with his lack of autonomy and began thinking about another career. In 1912, New Mexico became a state and Hilton was elected to the state legislature as a Republican. He worked in the legislature for two terms before leaving out of frustration with red tape and underhanded deals.

Hilton returned to San Antonio and raised $3,000 to start a bank. When the United States entered World War I, Hilton sold the bank and enlisted in the army, where he served in France in the Quartermaster Corps. In 1919, Hilton was discharged, following his father's death in a car accident. Hilton went back to San Antonio to take charge of his father's businesses.

August Hilton's empire had shrunk. He'd lost the mercantile business during the war, when it became difficult to obtain merchandise. Having seen other parts of the world, Hilton didn't want to stay in San Antonio. He was 31 years old and was anxious to make his own way.

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