Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Hill, Lewis Fransen 1850 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 8:11 am

Author: History of Grundy County 1914

Hill, Lewis Fransen, who is carrying on agricultural operations on his well-
cultivated farm of 120 acres located in Garfield Township, is one of the 
substantial farmers of this section of Grundy County, and in addition to his 
farming work has been engaged for some years as a contractor and builder, in 
which capacity he has erected a number of substantial residences, churches, 
and schools in the vicinity of Gardner.  Mr. Hill is a native of Norway, 
having been born at Bergen Stift, in 1850, and is a son of Fransen and Gussie 
(Johansen) Hill, who were also born in that country.  Fransen Hill was a wood 
turner by occupation, and followed that trade until his death in 1868.  In 
1872 Mrs. Hill came to America, whence three of her children, Alice, Illena 
and Volger, had preceded her.  With her she brought four children:  Lewis 
Fransen; John, who is now living in Garfield Township; Margaret and Gussie, 
who are both now deceased.  Mrs. Hill died in Garfield Township at the home of 
her son, Lewis F., in 1908.

As a boy, Lewis F. Hill attended the public school of his native Norway, and, 
being possessed of energy and ambition, then hired out to a farmer, for whom 
he worked three years and during this time lost only three days.  The next 
four years were spent in work on the ship wharf, where he learned the trade of 
a carpenter and builder, and at the age of twenty-two years accompanied his 
mother, sisters and brother to the United States, the trip being made on a 
sailing vessel.  Locating first at Chicago, he soon thereafter came to 
Braceville, Ill., where he commenced work as a contractor and builder, and 
subsequently started farming on the Scully land in Garfield Township.  There 
he continued until 1883, in which year he purchased the property on which he 
now resides, and where he has made numerous improvements.  Mr. Hill has been 
successful as both a farmer and as a contractor, and in business circles bears 
of a reputation of the highest character.  He has the utmost confidence of his 
associates, whom years of experience have taught to thoroughly rely on his 
integrity.

In 1875 Mr. Hill was married to Miss Carrie Larsen Tjilli, who was born in 
Norway, and they became the parents of eight children:  Lewis; Anna, who died 
at the age of twenty-two years; Mrs. Serena Torsen; Mrs. Lena Ryan, and 
Carrie, Frank, Bertha and John, all residing at home.  The family is connected 
with the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Garfield Township, of which Mr. Hill has 
been treasurer for the past twenty years.  In political matters a Republican, 
he has been somewhat prominent in public affairs, serving for twelve years as 
a member of the school board and as road commissioner for nine years.  Whether 
in public, business or private life, he has shown himself possessed of high 
ideals of citizenship, and through a career of integrity, industry and public-
spirit has won and retained many friends.

Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914, p825

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