Fulton-Chattooga-Clarke County GaArchives Obituaries.....Hill, William Rhoderick "Rhode" November 6, 1895 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Vicki Bannister vickiban@bellsouth.net February 20, 2005, 9:32 pm The Constitution (Atlanta, GA) November 8, 1895 The Constitution (Atlanta, GA) November 8, 1895-Front Page W. Rhode Hill Dead One of Atlanta’s Best Known Citizens Suddenly Stricken He Died of Heart Failure Was Taken Suddenly Ill Wednesday but was Better Yesterday. Lived Here More than Thirty Years Was One of the First conductors on the Western and Atlantic Railroad. Sketch of His Life Mr. Rhode Hill, after a short illness, died suddenly last night at 8 ‘clock at his residence on Peachtree street. The death of Mr. Hill was due to heart failure. He had been ill since Wednesday night and his sudden death was unexpected. While at dinner Wednesday afternoon he was seized with a sudden attack of congestion. Drs. Doy and Elkin were hurriedly called and responded promptly. By 10 o’clock Mr. Hill was resting easier and he was thought to be entirely out of danger, although he was quite a sick man. Yesterday morning his condition had not changed and as no symptoms that were unfavorable had appeared his family hoped that he would recover. During the day he appeared to be better and the physicians in attendance thought his condition much improved. Last night at 7 o’clock he became worse. In a few minutes after the attack his condition was alarming and his physicians were summoned. At 8 o’clock he quietly passed away as a child that falls asleep. His wife and daughter and brothers were at his bedside when he breathed his last. Those who had been watching at his bedside hardly realized the change for the worse before his death occurred. He was conscious to the very last and spoke to those in attendance just before he died. It was while he was a dinner Wednesday afternoon that he was seized with the first attack. He had been down in the city that afternoon and had just returned before the dinner hour. He was perfectly cheerful and in the best of sprits. He had not been feeling well for several days, but Wednesday was greatly improved. In fact, he stated to several of his friends whom he met down town that he felt perfectly well at the time. When he reached home he chatted with the members of his family and then went into the dining room. The attack was very sudden. For several hours he was considered to be in an extremely critical condition, but at 10 o’clock rallied and was much better until last night just a few minutes before his death. The funeral arrangements have not been announced. The funeral will occur Saturday, but the hour has not been arranged. Mr. Hill leaves a wife and one daughter, Mrs. Carroll Payne. Mr. John M. Hill is a brother and he has several near relatives in the city. Mr. Hill has been identified with the interests of the city for a great many years. Since 1885 he has not been actively engaged in business, as he retired at that time. He has been prominently connected with some of the largest enterprises in the city. For several years he was a director of the Atlanta National Bank and was a large stockholder in several other banks. On many occasions he has shown a magnanimous spirit that has seldom been equaled. He was noted for his liberality and public spirit. His sixty-third birthday was celebrated last June and though he had reached a mature age he was active and energetic until his death. He was a prominent figure on the streets and was beloved by all. He was one of the old landmarks of Atlanta and his death will be sincerely mourned by all. For over thirty years he had been a citizen of Atlanta and almost every one knew him. The funeral arrangements will be announced later. Sketch of His Life Mr. Hill was born at Campbellton, in Campbell County, Ga., sixty-three years ago. His father was a man of sturdy character and his mother a lady of refined and gentle traits. Early in life Mr. Hill moved from Campbell county to Summerville, in Chattooga County. Here he resided for quite a while. He subsequently moved to Rome and was engaged in business for three years in that city. He next entered the service of the Western and Atlantic railroad as a conductor and remained with the railroad for several months. After this, he traveled for a wholesale whisky house in Nashville, Tenn., and acquired a thorough knowledge of that business in all its details. After the war he came to Atlanta, becoming a member of the wholesale firm of Cox Hill & Co. Mr. Joseph Thompson was subsequently admitted and the firm became Cox, Hill & Thompson. Mr. Cox, the senior member of the firm, died about twelve years ago. In 1885, shortly after the death of the partner, Mr. Hill retired from active business. He has since devoted himself to the affairs of his household and had led a very quiet, uneventful life. He has taken a deep interest, however, in public affairs and has given his cordial support to all public enterprises. - - - - -- - - The Constitution, Saturday, November 9, 1895 Funeral of Mr. Rhode Hill It Will Occur from the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The funeral of Mr. W. Rhode Hill will occur this morning at 11 o’clock from the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Hundreds of Atlanta’s best citizens will gather to pay their last tribut of respect to one of Atlanta’s most successful businessmen. Mr. Hill was universally esteemed by all classes in the community and his death is a sorrow that is felt by all in common. The following gentlemen will act as pallbearers: James F. O’Neill, Charles E. Currier, W. C. Glenn, Isham Daniel, Hugh McKeldin, J. M. Alexander, Charles Harman, Albert Cox, J. F. Burke and B. B. Crew. Escort—George Winship, E. W. Marsh, James R. Wylie, G. W. Adair, R. D. Spalding, John L. Hopkins, James H. Williams, Samuel M. Inman, Paul Romare, N. J. Hammond, Frank P. Rice, Henry L. Wilson, Frank M. Potts, W. L. Calhoun, E. A. Robertson, Joseph Thompson, William T. Newman, Joel Chandler Harris, General W. S. Walker, Robert J. Lowry, Thomas H. Williams, C. W. Hunnicutt, John T. Glenn, John Silvey, Robert F. Madox, J. W. Rucker, T. J. Hightower, Thomas M. Clarke, Benjamin F. Abbott, H. T. Phillips, E. R. Lawshe, W. G. Herndon, Dr. R. B. Ridley, John H. Mecaslin and W. D. Grant. Additional Comments: Rhode Hill was the son of Middleton and Sarah Hinton Hill of Chattooga Co., GA and the grandson of Isaac and Nancy Crane Hill of Clarke Co., GA. His wive was Laura Nance from Muscogee Co., GA. Rhode and Laura were originally buried at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, GA in the Hill mauseoleum, but later both his and his wife's remains were moved to Westview Cemetery to the Paine vault. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/fulton/obits/h/ob6477hill.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 7.2 Kb