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Biographical sketch of WILLIAM S. HILL from the book entitled, "Biographical Memoirs of Saint Clair County, Michigan," published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Publishers in Indiana.
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WILLIAM S. HILL
This well known farmer and live stock breeder of Greenwood township, St. Clair county, Michigan, was born in Lower Canada, September 11, 1842, and is the eldest of eight children that constitute the family of James and Almeda (Schegel) Hill, both of whom were born in the state of Vermont, in 1820 and 1823, respectively. The paternal and maternal great-grandfather of W. S. Hill were among the gallant heroes who achieved the independence of the American colonies, rescuing them from the sway of Breat (sic) Britain and aiding in founding the grandest republic the world has yet seen. The paternal great-grandfather, however, was born in Ireland, which fact doubtless increased his love for his adopted country and his animosity toward Albion. The paternal and maternal grandfathers of Mr. Hill were natives of Vermont, which state James Hill, the subject’s father, left while still a young man and sought a home in Canada, where he married, his wife being of English descent. The eight children alluded to above as constituting the family of James and Almeda Hill were named as follows: W. S.; Ann E., who is the widow of John P. Cure, late a farmer of Grant township, St. Clair county, who died in 1899 and where she still resides; Aaron, who was born in Canada in 1846, married a Miss Potter and is now farming in Greenwood township; Royal, born in 1848, is also a farmer, resides in Clifford, Lapeer county, and is married to Mary A. Schegel; Henry, born in 1850, married for his first wife Clara Streeter, and was again married; he is a shoemaker and harnessmaker and resides in Coleman; James E., born in 1853, is a blacksmith by trade, but is now mining in northern California and is married to Delilah Cline; Frank A., born in 1855, married a Miss Bradley, and is a merchant at Avoca, this county, and Emma J., who was born in 1857, is married to Frank Nesbitt, who is operating a saw-mill at Big Sandy, Michigan. When James Hill first located in Canada he engaged in lumbering, but later became a farmer. He left the New Dominion in 1865, came to St. Clair county, Michigan, and purchased an eighty-acre tract of land near Jeddo, Grant township, which he cleared up, and, being a very industrious man, also cleared up at least two hundred acres for other parties. He died July 31, 1890, but his family are all still living. He was a Republican in politics but never aspired to office, and in religion he was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
August 12, 1867, W. S. Hill was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Nancy Finney, a daughter of John and Mary Finney, natives of Scotland, but who passed the latter part of their lives in Canada. John Finney was a blacksmith by trade, was a highly respected citizen, and to him and wife were born six children.
Mr. Hill’s farm in Greenwood township, St. Clair county, comprises eighty acres, but he has cleared off at least two hundred acres within the limits of the township. On his home place he carries on general farming and also gives a great deal of attentions to stock-raising, devoting much time to short-horn cattle, Berkshire hogs and more or less to all-purpose horses.
The only child that has blessed the marriage of W. S. and Nancy (Finney) Hill was born in Grant township, St. Clair county, Michigan, August 31, 1868, and is named Telford E.; he is married to Estella Gardner, daughter of William Gardner, a pioneer of Grant township, and to them have been born two children, Harold and Verna L. He is now the manager of the old Hill homestead and is also the manager of a famous Percheron stallion, which was imported from France at the cost of fifteen hundred dollars. In po9litics W. S. Hill is a Republican, has been a justice of the peace fourteen years and health officer for twelve years and has also filled all the school offices. In religion his membership is with the Methodist Protestant church, and his fraternal connections are with the Modern Maccabbees at Fargo, and the Grange.
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PLEASE NOTE: I do not have any personal interest in researching the HILL surname or the St. Clair county, Michigan location. I am merely posting a select number of the biographical sketches found in the above-referenced book *upon specific written request* as a service to the genealogical community. Therefore, please do not contact me with regard to research interests in the above. Thank you.
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