Cornelius Rasmussen Hill (1862-1896)

HILL, WILLIAMSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/26/2025 at 15:43:58

From Jewell Record March 5, 1896 (page 5)

"WHEN I AM GONE!"
Untimely Death of President Cornelius R. Hill, of Jewell Lutheran College.

WHEN I AM GONE.
When I am gone! I wonder then
Will hearts that love so fondly now--
When cruel wounds are healed again--
Some little thought on me bestow?
Some gentle thought of pleasant woe,
Without a single bitter chord,
Across the heart-strings come and go,
And fond, sweet memories restore?

When I am gone! And others claim
The love now fondly claimed by me,
When I am to you but a name--
A long-past page in memory;
Some time when sitting all alone,
As twilight shadows westward flit,
Say, will some sweet longing come
For him who first your heart flame lit?

Ah, listen then! I'll be near by--
If spirits are allowed to roam;
I'll touch your brow, your lips, your eyes,
And whisper in your ear of Home.
I'll watch our little ones and you
Till all your pilgrimage is o'er;
And what a welcome when anew
I meet you on the Other Shore.

The above pathetic, and, alas, prophetic lines were written by Prof. Hill, on September 23, 1895, and published in THE RECORD's College Department on September 26. Within these few simple lines of poetry this noble, Christian gentleman, this tender husband and father, the masterful educator, unconsciously foresaw and prophesied his own destiny. Tenderness, love, sympathy and charity were his prominent characteristics. He lacked that vicious, relentless spirit that makes men rich in this world's goods and prominent in many of the questionable walks of life; yet he was so crowded full of that spirit of Christian benevolence, of love of his chosen life's work, and for the dissemination of education, that he wad grand and glorious indeed. The following biographical sketch of the life of this truly noble man is from the pen of his friend and schoolmate, Prof. Edward W. Schmidt, of Red Wing, Minn.:

Cornelius Rasmussen Hill was born on Nov. 12, 1802, at Four Mile Grove, LaSalle county, Illinois, and died on March 4, 1896. At the age of fourteen he left the district school and taught the following year. After this he attended Red Wing Seminary one year. In the fall of 1881 he entered the preparatory Greek class at the University of Wisconsin. At the same time he took preparatory work at the high school, in order that he might fulfill all the requirements for entrance at the university. His eagerness to learn, his faithful application combined with clear and grasping powers, enabled him to finish the ancient classical course with special honors. This he did, notwithstanding the fact that during his sophomore year he was compelled to teach school in Illinois, and therefore had to be absent the greater portion of the year. Through extra effort he was enabled to continue with his class the following year.

During his stay in Illinois he first met Miss Belle Williams [should be Williamson] at a gathering of people that were trimming a Christmas tree.

In the fall of 1885 he returned to the university and continued his studies uninterruptedly until he graduated in time 1887. Besides the regular course of studies, he applied himself to additional work, and had on certain days as many as five recitations. Thus he finished the course leading to B.A. degree, and had in addition completed the requirements for a degree in another course.

On September 4, 1887, he was married to Miss Belle Williams at Badger, Iowa. They have had three children, the two younger ones, Ruth Marguerite, aged six, and Carl Olaf, aged four years, still surviving.

In the latter part of September, 1887, Prof. Hill moved to Red Wing, Minn. Although being offered a position at Milwaukee, he refused the one thousand dollar salary and accepted the six hundred salary at Red Wing Seminary. In accordance with his deceased father's wish, he determined to work for the church his father had cherished. Here for eight years he worked hard and unselfishly for the best interests of the school. While he was working there, he also obtained the A.M. degree from University of Wisconsin.

When the peace at Red Wing Seminary was broken by the trouble now existing there, he left with the feeling that he had complied with his father's wishes in all respects.

The beginning of his serious illness dates to the summer of 1893, a cold that he caught then, and never left him. Different doctors at different times told him that he had bronchitis, but about the beginning of February of this year, Dr. Schwartz declared him to be consumptive. Had he known this before he would have gone to California last summer. AS it was, he determined to go as soon as possible, but on Tuesday evening of last week, he had hemorrhage of the lungs. A second attack came upon him Thursday night and from then life continued ebbing until he died at 5 a. m. March 4th.

Prof. Hill died without a single apparent doubt as to his future happiness. At 5 a. m. on March 4, while Mrs. Hill, his brother Knute, and his cousin, John, were at his side, he died with the full confidence that he was now going to meet his Father in the heavenly mansions that Christ Jesus had prepared for him.

Last Sunday, Rev. Svingen administered the sacrament to him, and on Tuesday Rev. Heidahl prayed and at the Professor's request sand for him. His remains will be taken to Lee county, Ill., and placed beside those of his father and his brother. The deceased leaves four brothers, two sisters and a mother to mourn his loss. Many friends will share their sorrow.

Friends of the deceased, remember in your prayers, her who proved to be unto the deceased a patient, kind and loving wife in life, and who in the last days of her husband's life, toiled night and day in the most useful manner. Pray that her bleeding heart may here below find consolation in the never-failing promises of the widow's friends, and that in life to come, she may join us all in eternal glory. Remember Christ's testament: "Father, I ill that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory."