Sonoma-El Dorado County CA Archives Biographies.....Hill, William 1829 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 1, 2006, 10:57 am

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880)

Hill, William. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this
history, was born in Cortland county, New York, on September 8, 1829. In this
county was he educated at the common schools, and where he resided till 1847,
when he determined to make for himself a home in the West and emigrated to
Racine county, Wisconsin. At the time of Mr. Hill's settlement near the shore of
Lake Michigan, he was but eighteen years old and not finding such employment as
would have suited his taste, he took whatever offered itself, which was the
cooper business, learning the trade and working at it whenever there was work to
do, and during the intervals was employed in the lumber woods with which a
portion of Wisconsin abounds. During Mr. Hill's residence in this locality, he
got together a sufficient amount of capital with which he bought teams and a
complete outfit, and in the Spring of 1853, crossed the plains, coming via Salt
Lake City, and arrived at Hangtown, California, on August 22d of that year. Like
many others who were Pioneer Californians, Mr. Hill at once engaged in mining,
prosecuting that business at Missouri Flat, but only remained till October,
1853, when he came to Sonoma county, settling on San Antonio creek, four miles
southwest of Petaluma. Here he was engaged in farming and kindred pursuits for
fourteen months, when he moved to Petaluma and followed merchandising as well as
buying and selling country produce till 1860, when he sold out this business,
and, until 1866, was engaged in the sale of land, stock-raising and farming. In
May of this year the Bank of Sonoma County was established and Mr. Hill chosen
as its President, which position he has since continuously held with honor to
himself and profit to all concerned. Nearly east of Petaluma and in Vallejo
township, Mr. Hill owns a large tract of land and superintends the cultivation
of fifteen hundred acres. On this property is situated his handsome new
residence. He married Miss Josephine P., daughter of James Pilkington. on August
12, 1862. She was born in Mendota, La Salle county, Illinois. Their children
are: Alexander B., Raymond P., William and James V. It can be truthfully said of
the subject of this sketch that he has always regarded toil as manly and
ennobling, and after passing through an honorable yet checkered life, he is now
enjoying, the comforts of a happy home beside the wife of his youth, beloved by
his children and friends, and respected by the citizens of the State in which he
lives.

Additional Comments:
Petaluma Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY
—OF-
SONOMA COUNTY,
-INCLUDING ITS—
Geology, Topooraphy, Mountains, Valleys and Streams;
—TOGETHER WITH—
A Full and Particular Record of the Spanish Grants; Its Early History and
Settlement, Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; the Names of Original
Spanish and American Pioneers; a full Political History, Comprising the Tabular
Statements of Elections and Office-holders since the Formation of the County;
Separate Histories of each Township, Showing the Advancement of Grape and Grain
 Growing Interests, and Pisciculture;
ALSO, INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE; THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG; AND BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
—AND OF ITS—
Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO:
ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1880.


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