James H. Hill is a respected and honored member of the farming community of Amity Township, and is worthy of our attention. His great-grandfather was a native of Ireland, and there is a tradition that he settled in Pennylsvania and was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. John Hill, his son, was born in Pennsylvania, and there married a Miss Simmons; to them were born Stephen, Samuel, William and John. The family were early settlers in Highland County, Ohio, and followed agriculture. John Hill, Jr., was born in the "Buckeye" State, and was reared to farm life. He married Mary Simmons, and of this union three sons were born, all natives of Ohio, and all residents of Page County, Iowa. The father died in Highland County, Ohio, when James H. was a lad ten years of age. The mother resides in Clarinda with Robert, and Joseph E. Hill is an attorney at that place. (See sketch, page 442.)

James H. Hill was born January 16, 1840, and in his youth was trained to the details of farming. When there was a call for men to go to the defense of this country he responded, becoming a member of Company F, Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After thirteen months' service he re-enlisted as a veteran in Company H, First Ohio Cavalry, and served to the close of the war. He was in all the skirmishes of the Atlanta campaign, and on a raid with Kilpatrick; in 1863 he was in General Wilson's grand raid from Grand Springs, Alabama, to Selma, Alabama; he was at the capture of Columbus, Georgia, and at the surrender of Macon, Georgia. He was honorably discharged at Hilton Head, South Carolina, September 13, 1865. In 1867 he came to Iowa, and December 31, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Morledge, a daughter of John R. and M.L. (Branum) Morledge. On first coming to Iowa Mr Hill lived four miles south of Clarinda, and then settled on his present farm of eighty acres. His family consists of five children: Charles T., William R., Mamie M., Edward and Josephine. Charles T. is a student of Amity College. The mother died in April, 1886, and since then Mr Hill has had no assistance in his household, but has cared for the children himself, being both father and mother to the motherless ones. He is a man [page 725] of rare force of character, and of a kind and gentle disposition, and has manfully borne the sorrow that has come upon him.

Mr Hill has won the entire confidence of the people of his township, and has been called to represent them as Justice of the Peace and as school director. He is an honored member of Warren Post, No 11, G.A.R.

J.E. Hill, of the law firm of Clark & Hill, has been associated with Page County and its interests since 1860. He is a native of Ohio, born in Highland County, February 26, 1844. Our subject was reared on a farm, where he remained until 1860, when with an idea that there was a better country for him farther west he came to Page County, Iowa, and went to work on a farm.

In the beginning of the civil war he enlisted in the service June 15, 1861, as a member of Company F, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry. In August of that year he was sent to St Louis and thence to Pilot Knob, Missouri, where he remained until October; his regiment then joined the forces under the leadership of General John C. Fremont. In 1862 he was with General J.C. Davis, and was with Pope's expedition when 1,300 prisoners were taken. The regiment joined General Grant at Fort Donelson, and participated in the fierce struggles at that point, Shiloh, Cape Girardeau, Chalk Bluff, Jackson Post, and was in many skirmishes. Upon the reorganization of his regiment in the fall of 1864 he re-enlisted, and was sent to the western plains to quiet the Indians. He served until July 1, 1866, when he was honorably discharged without having been in the hospital or receiving a single wound. After the close of the war he returned to Page County and engaged in agricultural pursuits.

In 1870 Mr Hill removed to Clarinda, having been appointed deputy sheriff, which office he filled three years. In the autumn of 1874 he was elected clerk of the courts of Page County, and was re-elected five consecutive terms. His early education was received in the common schools before he was sixteen years of age. While in the clerk's office he read law and was admitted to the bar May 17, 1884, Judge D.D. Gregory presiding. In 1885 he began the practice of his chosen profession at Clarinda. In November, 1887, he formed a copartenership with the Hon T. E. Clark, which still exists.

Mr Hill was united in marriage July 4, 1867, to Miss R.A. Wright, a native of Adams County, Ohio. By this union five children were born: W.W., E.E., G.G., Mabel, deceased, and Helen.

Mr Hill married for his second wife, Miss Emma J. Spunaugle, a native of Virginia. Two children have been born of this marriage: Belle and Joseph. Our subject is an honored member of the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Grand Army Post at Clarinda. Politically he is an uncompromising Republican.