Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Waterman, Alice Hill 1852 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 28, 2013, 11:58 pm Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher MRS. ALICE HILL WATERMAN. Prompted by motives which have found expression in practical and tangible service for the benefit of mankind, Mrs. Alice (Hill) Waterman has left the impress of her individuality upon the community in which she has long made her home. Her broad mind, her culture and her keen intellect have constituted her a force for good and if she had accomplished nothing else save being largely instrumental in the establishment of a hospital and giving over twenty years of service to its growth and development, that would be sufficient to entitle her to especial mention. She was born in Ottumwa January 6, 1855, a daughter of Newton C. and Mary C. (Blake) Hill, who were pioneer residents of Wapello county, the latter coming to Ottumwa with her father's family in early childhood. The father was a son of William and Achsa (Vestal) Hill and was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, May 15, 1821. In 1843 he came to Ottumwa and his last days were spent in Pasadena, California, where his death occurred January 17, 1906. His wife was born in Minden, Prussia, January 15, 1826, and when eleven years of age came to America with her father's family. They first located in Indiana, but in 1844 arrived in Ottumwa, Iowa, and it was in that city that Mary C. Blake gave her hand in marriage to Newton C. Hill on the 17th of October, 1847. He was a carpenter and contractor and took contracts for the erection of many of the early buildings of Ottumwa. He was active in all public affairs of the young town, holding different offices at various times until 1857, when he removed from the county seat to a farm which he had purchased, then situated a mile and a half from the town. Today, however, the street cars pass the old home and the Sisters Academy is located on the northeast corner of his tract of land. Mr. Hill ever kept abreast of the times in his up-to-date methods of farming and stock-raising and did much to improve the grade of cattle and sheep raised in this part of the county, his shorthorn cattle and merino sheep being prize stock. Mr. Hill was the first man to be made a Mason in Wapello county and in his life he exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft, recognizing the brotherhood of mankind and seeking at all times to promote a spirit of helpfulness among his fellows. Unto him and his wife were born nine children. Frances, the eldest, died at the age of four years. Albert, born February 22, 1851, married Jennie McCormack on the 11th of March, 1891, and they had two children, Newton Robert and Charlotte. Albert Hill’s death occurred May 1, 1908. Anna, born April 30, 1853, was married October 21, 1896, to Wade Kirkpatrick and they now live in Hedrick, Iowa. Alice, born January 6, 1855, became wife of H. L. Waterman on the 9th of October, 1879, and has since been a resident of Ottumwa. Charles William, born January 8, 1857, married Frances McCarroll on the 27th of February, 1892, in Kirkville, Iowa. They reside in Boise, Idaho, with a daughter, Helen, who was born May 30, 1897. Emma, born July 14, 1859, became the wife of C. E. Bedwell on the 18th of May, 1882, and they have six children; Mary, became the wife of R. A. McNown and has three children, Eleanor, Robert and Richard; Edgar Hill, married Elizabeth Smith; Harry Waterman, died at the age of three years, and Ralph, Louise and Charlotte, who complete the family, reside with their parents in Omaha, Nebraska. Horace Hill, born February 23, 1861, lives in Lewistown, Montana, and Laura and Nellie died in infancy. The father of this family, Newton C. Hill, was always deeply interested in educational matters and strove to give his children good opportunities in that direction. He also did much to improve Center District No. 1, the banner school district in the '60s and '70s. For years he served as school director and took great pride in selecting competent teachers. Alice (Hill) Waterman on account of financial conditions found it impossible to carry out her cherished desire of attending college, so after completing the school course, which she did at the age of eighteen years, she began teaching in the Center school in the fall of 1874. After being thus engaged for two years she was chosen one of the teachers of the Ottumwa public schools in the fall of 1877 and taught the sixth grade in the old Adams school for two years. On the 9th of October, 1879, at Oakland Farm, Ottumwa, Alice Hill gave her hand in marriage to H. L. Waterman, who by a former marriage had a son, Philip H., who has ever felt for Mrs. Waterman the deep attachment and love given to an own mother. His children, too, have been very dear to her, bringing to her the delight of being a grandmother. Her parents uniting with the Methodist Episcopal church, she, too, became a member of that denomination and has worked most earnestly in all of the different societies of the church, the Sunday school, however, claiming her greatest effort. For years she was superintendent of the intermediate department of the Sunday school in the First Methodist Episcopal church of Ottumwa, and it was largely through her efforts that it was converted into a graded school. At different times Mrs. Waterman has been connected with clubs, but has never been active in that line of effort. She has been an earnest worker in the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, however, and for one year was state treasurer. Her efforts in the founding and promotion of the Ottumwa Hospital have been, outside of her home, the thing to which she has devoted the greater part of her time and attention. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/wapello/photos/bios/waterman640gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/wapello/bios/waterman640gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 6.4 Kb