Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Hill, William W 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 6:36 pm

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

For almost forty years William W. Hill has resided in Grundy county and is 
therefore numbered among its early settlers. His labors have also won him a 
place among the substantial farmers of the neighborhood, and as a leading 
citizen he is entitled to representation in the history of this section of the 
state. He was born in Delaware county, Ohio, November 21, 1838, and is a son 
of John A. and Esther (Marsh) Hill. He represents the old colonial Hill family 
of Vermont, from which state representatives of the name removed in an early 
day to Pennsylvania. The family is of English lineage. Stephen Hill, the 
grandfather of our subject, was born in the Green Mountain state, and it is 
believed that he served his country as a soldier in the Revolution. On leaving 
Vermont he went to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was one of its 
pioneer settlers. His wife, Betsy Hill, was also a native of New England, and 
in that section of the country they were married. They located upon a tract of 
land in Westmoreland county, establishing a home in the midst of the forest. 
There the grandfather owned between ten and eleven hundred acres and improved 
an excellent farm, having an orchard of forty acres, from the product of which 
he annually made peach brandy. His children, all born in Pennsylvania, were 
Joseph, George, David, John A., Stephen, Benjamin, Joshua, Sarah, Richard and 
Betsy. Stephen Hill resided in Westmoreland county for about thirty years and 
then removed to Delaware county, Ohio, at the time when there were only two 
settlements within its borders. The entire country was an unbroken wilderness 
covered with heavy timber, and the forests were the haunts of deer, foxes, 
wolves, wild-cats and much wild game. The turkeys and deer destroyed the corn 
crops so that they had to be watched. The entire family went armed, for the 
rifle was a necessary implement. All of the sons were expert hunters, and 
Stephen Hill was noted for his accuracy with the gun. In this way they secured 
much of the meat for the table, and their other food was largely grown upon 
the farm. While in Pennsylvania Mr. Hill had been the owner of a number of 
slaves which he freed before going to Ohio, but two of his negroes, however, 
accompanied him and lived with him in the Buckeye state. In religious belief 
Stephen Hill was a Universalist, and a man of unquestioned honesty and 
integrity in all the affairs of life. He gave to each of his children farms, 
and thus enabled them to secure a good start in life. He died in Delaware 
county, Ohio, at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife passed away in 
Ohio at about the same age.

John A. Hill, the father of our subject, was born in Westmoreland county, 
Pennsylvania, and received good educational privileges for that day. He became 
a school-teacher and singing master, and all of the family possessed musical 
talent. He was married in Delaware county, Ohio, to Esther Marsh, who was born 
in Genesee county, New York, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Marsh. Her 
father was probably a native of Cayuga county, of the Empire state, and his 
father was one of the pioneers of that locality, whither he removed from 
Maryland. He was a native of England and was of English lineage. On leaving 
the east Benjamin Marsh took up his abode in Delaware county, Ohio, casting in 
his lot with its pioneer settlers. He became one of the extensive farmers of 
that section and gave to each of his sons one hundred and twenty acres of land 
and to his daughters eighty acres each. A well known pioneer, he took an 
active part in reclaiming Delaware county for the purpose of civilization, and 
was one of the honored pioneers who laid the foundation for its present 
prosperity. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian and a man of high moral 
character. He lived to the venerable age of eighty-five years, and his wife 
was eighty-four years at the time when she was called to the home beyond, both 
dying on the farmstead in Delaware county. Their children were Josiah, Joel, 
Benjamin, John, William, Esther, Sarah, Lucinda and Clarinda.

John A. Hill, the father of our subject, located upon a part of the old 
homestead after his marriage, his share of the estate being one hundred and 
sixty acres. Gearing away the heavy timber he improved an excellent property 
and built upon his place a sawmill, which he successfully operated for thirty 
years. He was one of the prominent residents of the neighborhood, and through 
his capable management of business affairs acquired a comfortable competence. 
His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, frequently called him 
to public office, and he was one of the honored citizens of the community. In 
religious faith he was a Presbyterian. His first wife died in 1854. Their 
children were Joseph D., Henry D., William W., Hugh M., Martha, Clarinda, Mary 
J., Sarah, Lucinda A., Almira, who died at the age of four years, and 
Catherine. All were born in Delaware county. Mr. Hill was again married, but 
there were no children by the second wife. In the pioneer days when wild game 
of many kinds abounded in the forests of Delaware county, he became an expert 
shot. It is said that he killed as many as five hundred deer. His accuracy of 
aim enabled him to bring down almost everything at which he fired, and he won 
such an enviable reputation as a huntsman that Indians in the neighborhood 
greatly desired to gain possession of his gun. One big specimen of the red 
race, whenever he saw Mr. Hill in the woods, would sound his turkey call, and 
when Mr. Hill approached would say "Swap, swap." After many years' residence 
in Delaware county Mr. Hill sold his property there and purchased land in 
Hardin county, Ohio—an improved farm upon which he spent his remaining days. 
He died when about eighty-three years of age, and his remains were interred on 
the old family homestead in Delaware county.

William W. Hill, whose name begins this record, was born in Delaware county 
and reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life. He obtained a good common-
school education, and on attaining his majority removed to Illinois, reaching 
Morris on the 13th of April, 1859. His brother, Joseph D. Hill, was then 
living in Mazon township, and having entered land there in 1844 was the owner 
of valuable farms. William worked for his brother for one year and then 
returned to Delaware county, Ohio, where he carried on agricultural pursuits 
for a year. He was married there, on the 10th of September, 1861, to Thirza A. 
Lea, who was born in Westchester county, New York, October 11, 1844, a 
daughter of Benjamin and Thirza (Holmes) Lea.

Her father was born in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England, January 9, 
1807, obtained a good common-school education, and became a carpet-weaver. He 
had a sister, Ann, who married John Harris and settled in New York. His 
brother, William, went to the East Indies during the war there and has never 
been heard from since that time. Benjamin Lea was married in England when 
about twenty-four years of age, to Thirza Holmes, and the following day they 
started for America, sailing from Liverpool for New York, where they arrived 
after a voyage of seven weeks. Mr. Lea settled at West Farms, now a part of 
New York city, and became a foreman in the carpet factory. In 1848 he took up 
his abode on a farm in Morrow county, Ohio, where he purchased one hundred 
acres of partially improved land. He finished the work of clearing the 
property and made a good home. Subsequently he traded it for a farm of one 
hundred and eighty-four acres in Delaware county, Ohio, four miles from 
Ashley, and clearing the trees from that tract he transformed the wild land 
into richly cultivated fields and erected two houses and substantial barns. He 
made a specialty of raising sheep on an extensive scale, and was a prosperous 
and successful agriculturist. He had had no experience at farm work when he 
came to this country, but his practical ideas and sound judgment enabled him 
to readily master the principles of the work and to become an excellent 
manager and successful business man. His undaunted integrity of character made 
him highly respected by all. Both he and his wife held membership in the 
Presbyterian church and were very regular in their attendance at its services. 
His political support was given to the Republican party, and during the civil 
war he was a stanch advocate of the Union cause. In his family were the 
following children: George; John, who died at the age of nineteen; Alexander, 
Thomas, Adella U. and Thirza A. The first named responded to the country's 
call for troops, becoming a member of the Ninety-sixth Ohio Infantry, from 
which he was transferred to the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio, continuing 
with that command until the close of hostilities.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hill rented land three miles from Ashley, 
Delaware county, Ohio, making their home at that place for one year, whence 
they came to Illinois, in November, 1863. Our subject then rented a farm in 
Mazon township, and after eight years purchased land in Braceville township, 
becoming the owner of a tract of eighty acres of raw prairie, upon which not a 
furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. He bought eighty acres more, 
and sold the place and moved to the present farm. He has now one hundred and 
sixty acres of valuable land, well timbered and well watered by Mazon creek. 
He placed his fields under a high state of cultivation and garners rich 
harvests as the reward of his labors. By the assistance of his estimable wife, 
who has been indeed a faithful helpmate to him, he has become the possessor of 
a comfortable competence, and they have a very pleasant home situated on the 
banks of the Mazon, at Willmington Ford. Their union has been blessed with the 
following children: George; William, who died at the age of nineteen years; 
Mary; Belle; Allen G.; Lucinda; Mary; Charles A.; Frank; Richard; Rowland; and 
Winnie. In his political views Mr. Hill is a supporter of Republican 
principles. His life has been one of industry, crowned with the reward which 
ever follows judicious industry. He and his wife enjoy the warm friendship of 
a large circle of acquaintances.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p674-678

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