Luther Hill (1945)

COLLADO, HILL, JOHNSON, THOMAS, TOMKINS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 4/2/2015 at 13:32:21

Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, October 25, 1945

Luther Hill was the eldest son of Mark D. Hill and Mary Hill and was born December 24, 1864, in Randolph county, in the State of Indiana. He was a birthright member of the Friends church and was throughout his lifetime actively interested in its work and welfare. At an early age he removed with his parents in the State of Iowa.

Thereafter and in 1868 he and his parents moved to Madison county, Iowa, and set up his home for many years in the town of Earlham in that county. There he lived to grow into young manhood and was of great aid and assistance to his parents in the establishment of their home and in the care of his younger brothers and sisters. Luther attended Penn College and graduated in the class of 1891 and thus widened his acquaintance and started on a course of self-education that never ended during his life.

He was much interested in geology and kindred subjects and after the demands upon him at home became less imperative, he traveled quite extensively. He was much interested at all times in agricultural pursuits and ranged from the Texas Gulf ports and coast to a period of time working in the coal industry in Canada. Later he and his brother Harry acquired and for a period of time he managed and operated a ranch in Cuba.

Interested as he doubtless was in his travels and work away from his parents home in Earlham, he saw fit to return to be of comfort and assistance to his parents and it was while at Earlham that he met May Tomkins and from the time of their meeting it was apparent that he had found his ideal helpmate. Luther Hill and May Tomkins were married on August 28, 1907, and a few months later they came to California to determine whether they should make their home here. The climate, living conditions were such as the people were so friendly and congenial that Luther and May decided to make their home in Whittier. Visits made by his parents and the member of his family were instrumental in inducing them in turn to come to California to make their homes.

While still in Iowa, Luther assisted his father Mark in the operation of a bank, a grist mill, farming operations and ice pond and packing house. He was also engaged for a time at Winterset in the office of the county treasurer. His training and experience on these lines was invaluable to him throughout his life. In April of 1910 a daughter, their only child was born to Luther and May Hill at Whittier, California. It was not long thereafter that Mr. Hill purchased a lemon ranch near Tustin, Orange county and started his long, uninterrupted career as a citrus grower. Luther was very successful in his work in horticulture and showed a great interest in the science. He believed in doing his own work whenever possible and was always close to nature in dealing with trees, plants, vines, shrubs and birds and animals. He knew how to plant, cultivate, fertilize, water, prune, and bring to maximum fruition the fruits he raised with such pleasure and success. He dearly loved flowers and their beauty and they responded to his calls on them to yield their beauty to his touch.

After long years Luther sold his property at Tustin and acquired a ranch and moved to East Whittier. In their declining years he was a great comfort and strength and aid to his parents Mark and Mary, and made sacrifices to be with and assist them. What a bond of love and affection existed between them no one can ever know. Meantime his daughter Mary was obtaining her education in the Whittier schools, and it was in July of 1944 that Mary Thelma Hill and John Collado were married at the home of her parents on Strong Avenue in Whittier. It was recognized by Luther in the winter of 1944-1945 that of necessity he would be compelled to be less active and he sold his ranch at the edge of the city and acquired and made his home at 310 East Hadley Street in Whittier. Luther was at all times interested in national and civic affairs and in his own quiet way participated therein.

He is survived by his wife, May T. Hill, and his daughter, Mary H. Collado and by two sisters, Mrs. Ellen Hill Thomas, and Mrs. Mabel Hill Johnson, the latter of Oskaloosa, Iowa. All who knew Luther will miss him, but to all who knew him he will be with them in memory forever.------Whittier News, Whittier, Calif.

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