James M. Hill, better known as
"Yankee Hill," was born May 16, 1820, in Oneida
County, N.Y., son of Alden L. and Lydia (Bates) Hill,
natives of New England. He was educated in the East. He
traveled for a woolen manufactory in 1846, and did some
farming. In 1848 he removed to Princeton, Ill., remaining
one year, then returned to the East, and in 1858 removed
to Clayton County and followed farming, selling
agricultural implements, etc. In 1867 he bought a farm of
167 acres on section 1, Boardman Township, where he
resided until September, 1880, when he went to St. Olaf
and bought out a saloon and boarding house, which he now
conducts. Mr. Hill was married Sept. 12, 1843, to Matilda
Stone, of New York. They have had but one child - Evlah
M., born Nov. 4, 1860, who still lives with them. Mr.
Hill is well known all over this section as a genial,
whole-souled landlord, and, as he says, a boy in spirits
tho' an old man in years. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1135 |