Hill, John Henry 1845-1920

HILL, BOLTER, HANSEL, WELNITZ, FALLOWS, PARK, MCLEAN

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 9/7/2022 at 11:56:39

Taps Sounded for Civil War Veteran
John H. Hill, veteran of the Civil war and one of our most highly respected citizens was mustered out of life's army at 10:00 o'clock last Thursday evening to await the final roll call of that Grand Army which has preceded us to the other shore.

He had been in rather poor health for some time and some three weeks ago was taken ill with a cold and throat trouble which developed into pneumonia.

John Henry Hill was born at Waddingham, England, June 27, 1845, the son of John and Mary Hill, and came with his parents to Bytown, now Ottawa, Canada, at an early date. He was educated in the country schools near Ottawa and then taught for a short time.

In 1863 he came to the United States working for a farmer near Skowhegan, Maine. The struggle of the Civil war was then going on and he became so interested that three months from the time he came to this country he enlisted in the 15th Maine infantry and served faithfully to the end of the war, receiving his honorable discharge from the army May 31st, 1865.

After the war the discovery of oil attracted him to Western Pennsylvania, where he was married to Miss Sarah Bolter in 1866. Three children were born to them, all of whom survive. They are: J. Wilbur Hill of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mrs. Mae Welnitz of St. Paul, Minn., and Mrs. E.E. Fallows of McGregor, Iowa.

In 1867 Mr. Hill moved to Iowa, settling first in Bremer county. Mrs. Hill died in 1870 and in 1872 he came with his family to Clayton county, Io., locating in Mallory township.

In 1875 he was married to Miss Mary Hansel, a daughter of Jacob Hansel of that township and five children came to bless their union. They are: Mrs. H.O. Park, of Fairmont, Minn.; Ethel of Schenectady, N.Y., John J. of Sioux City, Iowa; Franklin of New Haven, Conn.; and Mrs. Florence McLean of Fayette, who with their mother are left to mourn the loss of husband and father.

January 1st, 1886, Mr. Hill came to Elkader to accept the position of deputy county treasurer of Clayton county. This position he held for eleven years, performing his duties so faithfully and well that he was elected to the office of county recorder and later twice re-elected to that office.

Since retiring from public office on January 1st, 1903, he has followed the abstracting business. Through his long years of experience he undoubtedly knew the records of the county and the work of the offices of the county better than any other man has ever known them. He was an authority on all matters pertaining to the county records and his advice has been exceedingly valuable and widely sought.

Always maintaining the highest standards of honor and integrity in his relations with others, careful and conscientious in his work, genial and kindly, Mr. Hill won the esteem and friendship of all who came to know him. Few men in Clayton county have had more real friends.

In his earlier years Mr. Hill was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and later affiliated with the Presbyterian church.

The funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Congregational church and were in charge of Elkader Lodge No. 72, A.F. & A.M., of which he had been a faithful and much loved member for years. Rev. C.W. Hampstead preached the sermon. Member of the Lemka-Stendel Post of the American Legion attended in uniform and sounded "Taps" at the grave. Interment was in the East Side cemetery.

~Elkader Register, Thurs., December 16, 1920; pg 7 (included a photo, too dark to include with this obit. A photo of Mr. Hill can be viewed with his biography from the 1916 History of Clayton County, this website.)

John H. Hill, 1916 biography
 

Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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