John Henry Hill. — Fortunate is the county which has in its midst some man whose knowledge of county affairs and of property interests is so complete and intimate that he is recognized and accepted as authority by all. Clayton county has such a man in John Henry Hill. For many years he has been delving into the records of the county, and no history would be complete without reference to him and to his work. His record as a citizen and official and as a soldier is without a flaw, and his friends are numbered by his acquaintances. Mr. Hill was born in Waddingham, England, June 27, 1845. He was the son of John and Mary (Hird) Hill, and came, with his parents, to Bytown, now Ottawa, Ontario, at an early date, where his father took up a claim of one hundred acres in Carleton county. Mr. Hill was one of a family of five children, Thomas, who died in 1913; John Henry, the subject of this sketch; William H.; Benjamin, who is a farmer in Carleton county, Ontario, and Eliza J., who resides in Ottawa. Mr. Hill was educated in the country schools near Ottawa and, on graduating, taught in the common schools for one year. In 1863, he came to the United States, worked for a farmer near Skowhegan, Maine. Although having lived in this country but three months, he was fired with patriotic zeal for the Union, and responded to Abraham Lincoln's call to arms by enlisting in the fifteenth regiment, Maine infantry. He served faithfully and bravely until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged from the service of the United States May 31, 1865. After the war the great excitement attendant upon the discovery of oil attracted him to Western Pennsylvania, where he remained for two years. In 1867 he came to Iowa, first settling in Bremer county, where he lived until the spring of 1872. Coming to Clayton county, he resided in Mallory township until January 1, 1886. At this time he removed to Elkader, having been appointed deputy county treasurer. This position he held for eleven years, performing his duties so faithfully and giving such satisfaction to the people that he was honored with the nomination for county recorder, on the Democratic ticket, and was elected by a comfortable majority. He was twice re-elected for this office, retiring from the public service January 1, 1903. It is a remarkable evidence of the popularity of Mr. Hill, and the high esteem in which he was held, that, at the three elections when he was a candidate, he was the only Democratic candidate elected. In 1875, Mr. Hill was married to Miss Mary Hansel, a daughter of Jacob Hansel, of Mallory township. They are the parents of eight children: Eliza, J. Wilbur, Martha J., John J., Mary C., Ethel, Franklin and Florence. Mr. Hill is a member of Elkader lodge. No. 72, A.F. and A.M., Mystic Camp M.W.A., and of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Last, but not least, he is proud to be a member of Boardman Post No. 184, G.A.R. Mr. Hill has for many years followed the abstracting business and his work is so careful and conscientious, and his knowledge of property transfers so complete, that he is looked upon as an authority, and his word as to a title is as good as a guarantee deed. Mr. Hill is a kindly, genial gentleman; he has an inexhaustible fund of facts and anecdotes concerning Clayton county and its people. His life has been one of honor and integrity and he has served his adopted country well, both as a citizen and as a soldier. Few men in Clayton county have more real friends. source: History of Clayton County,
Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to the
Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II, 1916; pg.
179-180 |
