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ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS
A part of Genealogy Express
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Welcome to
Piatt County,
Illinois
History & Genealogy |
Biographies
Source:
Past and Present of Piatt County, Illinois
together with biographical sketches of many
prominent and influential citizens.
Publ.:
Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
1903
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Joshua Hill, one of the early settlers
and highly respected citizens of Piatt county, Illinois, now leading
a retired life in the village, of Bement, was born in Franklin
county, Ohio, December 16, 1826, and during his early boyhood was
taken to Piqua county, that state, by his parents, Joshua and Hannah
(Cramer) Hill. (See Note 1) The father
was a native of Delaware and when a young man removed to Ohio, where
he engaged in farming. He was by trade, however, a shoemaker,
and for a few years he followed that pursuit. In his farming
operations he prospered, and at that time of his death he was the
owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land in Piqua
county, Ohio, constituting one of the finest farms of the locality.
Fraternally he was a Mason, and for many years he was a worthy
exemplar of the craft, but he belong to no order. Politically
he was a Whit in early life, but he attended the first Republican
convention of Ohio, held in Columbus, and after gave his support to
the principles of the new party. He died at the age of
seventy-eight years and was survived for about two years by his
wife. She was born in New Jersey near the town of Hope, and
she also passed away at the age of seventy-eight years. A
member of the Methodist church, she was an earnest church worker, a
devout Christian woman and a devoted wife and kind, loving mother.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hill were born ten children, of whom six reached
years of maturity, while the others died in infancy. At this
time Joshua Hill has two sisters and one brother living.
The "temple of learning" in which Joshua
Hill obtained
his education was built of logs, after the primitive manner of the
times. He worked upon the home farm in his youth, and
afterward spent some time as a clerk in different stores.
About the year 1850 he came to Illinois, locating in Piatt county,
and for four years he carried on farming here in the summer and
taught schools for three terms in the winter. On the
expiration of that period he returned to Ohio, and when he again
came to Piatt county he established his home near Lodge station,
where he has resided since 1861, covering a period of forty-two
consecutive years. He removed to Bement on 27th of December,
1862, and established the first regular dray line and conducted the
business during his active life, and it is still carried on by his
sons. About 1893 he retired he retired from further business
cares and is now enjoying the fruits of his former toil.
On the 2d of September, 1857, Mr. Hill was united in
marriage to Miss Lydia Peoples, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of
Alexander and Rachel (McClish) Peoples. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have
become the parents of eight children, William H., a resident of
Decatur, Illinois, married Etta Curfman, and they have two children.
Sarah E., is the wife of John W. Powell, of Piqua county, Ohio, a
conductor with headquarters in Columbus, and they have four living
children. Charles, who is engaged in the dray business in
Bement, married Jennie Fisher and has four children.
Edward,
in Newcasstle, Indiana, wedded Saddie Swigart.
Lewis is
engaged in the dray business in Bement. Franklin, who resides
on the property adjoining his father's home, and is working for the
Wabash Railroad Company, married Willie Dawson, and they have six
children. The other two children of the family died in
infancy.
To the great political questions which divide the
country into parties Mr. Hill has given considerable thought, and
his views on these have occasioned him to ally his force with the
Republican party. He was assessor of his township for fourteen
years, out otherwise he has never been an office seeker, preferring
to give his time and attention to his business affairs, rather than
to political cares. For at least half a century he has been
identified with the Masonic fraternity, and he has long been a
faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he
served for a number of years as trustee. His life interest has
centered along those lines through which flow the greatest good to
the greatest number, and he has ever favored reform, progress and
improvement. When he came to this county, nearly all the land
was wild prairie, and he has been a witness of nearly all the
changes made as the county has emerged from pioneer conditions to
take its place with the leading counties of the commonwealth.
During his early residence here he taught for a number of years in
the district school and was a very successful educator. He and
his wife now have a pleasant home in the village of Bement, where
they are spending their days in the midst of children, grandchildren
and friends, who entertain for them the warmest regard. |
NOTES:
* Picture
Note 1 - Film Series M653
Roll 1023 Page 6 - 1860 Scioto Twp., Pickaway
Co., Ohio.
Dwelling 69 Family 69
| Joshua Hill |
64 M |
Farmer |
$2030 |
$637 |
b. Delaware |
| Hannah " |
62 F |
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b. New Jersey |
| William " |
28 M |
Farmer |
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b. Ohio |
| Hiram " |
26 M |
" |
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b. Ohio |
| Malinda " |
24 F |
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b. Ohio |
| Alexine " |
20 F |
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b. Ohio |
| Joseph I. " |
16 M |
Farmer |
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b. Ohio At School |
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