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1907 Past and Present Biographies
James C. HillMr. Hill is one of Iowa's native sons,born July 30, 1851, in Clayton county, and has always seemed imbued with the spirit of progress and enterprise which has been the dominant factor in the growth of the state. His father, James Hill, was a native of England, in which country the mother, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Hatter, was also born. In that country they were reared and married, and in 1843 they bade adieu to friends and native land and crossed the broad Atlantic to the new world. Landing on the eastern coast, they did not tarry long in that section of the country but made their way at once to Janesville, Wisconsin, where they lived for eight years. On the expiration of that period they came to Iowa, settling in Clayton county, where Mr. Hill purchased a farm and began its development, giving his attention through his remaining days to general agricultural pursuits. Here his death occurred in 1867, when he had reached the age of fifty-three years, while his wife passed away in 1853. In their family were four children, three daughters and a son, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth West, now living in Churdan; Mrs. Eliza Howard, also of this place; Mrs, Mary Reynolds, whose home is in Nebraska; and James C., of this review. The last named was reared in the county of his nativity, no event of special importance occurring to bring variety into the routine of farm life. His time and attention were divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the home farm. In 1872, when he had attained his majority, he started for Greene county with J . W. West, making the journey by team. They spent about fourteen days upon the way for the season was very wet and the roads were therefore in poor condition. There were also many mosquitos and insects, being so thick that it was almost impossible for the men to get any rest at night. At length they reached their destination and Mr. Hill took up his abode in Bristol township. He has since lived in the county, being numbered among its old settlers, his residence here covering more than a third of a century. At first he lived in a small house built of rough lumber, and shared in many of the hardships and trials incident to life on the frontier. He first purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, which had been partially improved and with characteristic energy he began its further development and cultivation, living upon that farm for a number of years, after which he came to Churdan. Here he turned his attention to the hotel business, conducting the first hotel at that place, and later he was for a year engaged in the grain and lumber trade, while he continued in the sale of farm implements for four years. He thus became well known in commercial circles in the town but eventually he sold out and made investment in one hundred acres of land east of the town, for which he set aside fifteen acres as an addition to the village. He realized the possibilities for development and erected a number of good houses upon his addition and sold land, until now almost the entire tract has been built up, making it one of the good residence sections of Churdan. He also erected fine buildings upon his farm and otherwise improved it. He became well known because of his operations in real estate and in building, and through these avenues he contributed in large measure to the of the town. At length he sold his farm east of Churdan and afterward bought the Frank Smiith farm in the eastern part of the township, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, which he still owns. Realizing the value of good drainage, he has ditched and tiled his land and otherwise improved it in keeping with modern ideas. He now rents the land, which is bringing him a good financial return, and he also continues as a real-estate dealer and builder, thus doing much for Churdan’s advancement. His labors have been of a most practical character, and while he has always striven to avoid anything like inflation of prices or the installation of a "boom,” which is usually followed by a collapse, he has nevertheless done much to raise realty values in the town and contribute largely to the growth of the city, the attractive appearance of which he has enhanced by his building operations. Mr. Hill was married in Wisconsin, in 1870, to Miss Mary Williamson, a daughter of John and Jeannette (Loveland) Williamson, who arrived in Clayton county, Iowa, at an early day, their daughter’s birth having there occurred. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hill have been born ten children, but only three are now living, namely: Rhoda Catherine, now Mrs. Downing; Merton J. and Fred, who are engaged in the drug business. They are enterprising young men and are conducting a well equipped establishment here. The family is well known and the members of the household occupy an enviable position in social circles. The parents are both members of the Methodist church and Mr. Hill is a republican in his political endorsement |
Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead," by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver, Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.  Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer |