Charlie Fenton Hill

HILL, KUHNEY, WRIGHT, CALKINS, LAW, CARRMICHAEL, ANDREWS, LAW

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 2/21/2012 at 15:51:18

Charlie Fenton Hill was born in Warsaw, New York, December 24, 1864 and died very peacefully at his home in Corning, on April 17, 1947, aged 82 years, 3 months, and 23 days. He was the youngest of eight children born to Spenser Bisby and Hannah Phelps Hill, all of whom have preceded him in death.
When Charlie was six years old, the family, with the exception of the two eldest sisters, who were then married and living in Wyoming County, New York, moved to Iowa and arrived in this city on may 3, 1870 and their first stop was at the Old Corning House presided over by Captain W. A. Simons and was located on the lost across the street west from the present County Jail.
Four sisters and three brothers preceded Mr. Hill in death. They are Amelia Wright, and Aurelia Calkins of Warsaw, New York, Mary Law, Louella Carmichael, Hiram Hill, Henry Hill, and William Hill, all of Corning.
On May 13, 1886, he and Emma Louise Kuhney were united in marriage. To this union two children were born, Glen Hill and Helen Hill Andrews, both of Corning. His wife preceded him in death on October 7, 1921 and since that time he and his son and family have made their home with each other.
Charlie has been a barber since 1886 and has had a shop located on main street for 61 years. When he was twenty years old, he had an opportunity to learn the barber trade in the shop of Willis Buntz, which was located in the same place as the Hill shop is located today. About a year later he purchased the shop. At that time Corning was a young and growing community and the present Okey-Vernon Bank Building was one of the few brick buildings in the town and seepage of water into the basement of the building where the newly acquired Hill shop was located made it unfit for use, so he moved from that location to a room where the Parker Jewelry Store is now located and still later to the room now occupied by the Candy Kitchen. It was here and probably about 1894 that Ward Campbell became his partner. The Hill and Campbell Barber Shop, as it was then called, was moved to the room under the bank, so Mr. Hill returned to barber the same room where he had learned his trade and continued there until a few weeks ago when failing health forced him to retire. The partnership with Mr. Campbell existed until 1930 when Mr. Campbell became a state barber inspector. Since then, Glen, his son, has been associated with his father in the Hill shop.
At one time during his life he was a member of both the Masonic and Knights of Pythias Lodges, but in later years became inactive and allowed his membership to drop in both organizations. he also was one of the organizers of the Volunteer fire Department of Corning in the early days and gave freely of his services when needed.
Until the last few years, Mr. Hill had enjoyed almost perfect health and his recipe for keeping well was keeping busy. He has lived an honorable and exemplary life among us, a life that his family can always be proud of, and one that has always been for the betterment of the community as he was given the light to see it. He was devoted to his family and his home and to his profession.
Beside his son and daughter, he leaves to mourn him, six grandchildren, three great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
The grandchildren are Mrs. Kathryn Hill Houchen of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Nancy Hill of Corning; Ruth Andrews of Akron, Ohio; Ted Andrews and Fred Andrews of Corning. The great grandchildren are Tom and Jack Houchen and Gregory Andrews.
Funeral services were held from the Boyd Roland Funeral Home in Corning at 2 p.m., Sunday afternoon, April 20, conducted by Rev. A. E. Nelson of Federated Church. Interment was in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Music for the service was furnished by Mrs. Donald Hill and Mrs. Kathryn Harrison with Mrs. Lyle Posten, pianist.
Pall bearers were Otto Anderson, Ralph Readhead, Dale Ireland, Francis Turner, Joe Hayes, Oscar Means.
Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were Miss Ruth Andrews of Akron, Ohio, Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Houchen and two sons, Tom and Jack of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Spicer of Red Oak.
Adams County Free Press, April 24, 1947, page 20