JAMES H. HILL, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Submitted by: Gaytha Carver Thompson Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** JAMES H. HILL James H. Hill, of the firm of Hill & Jones, dealers in machinery, and agents for life, fire and accident insurance, also dealers in real estate, is a native of Spaulding county, Ga., his birth occurring May 15, 1843. His parents, John g. and Emily (Lake) Hill, are natives of Georgia also, the father born in 1812, and the mother in 1818. By occupation the father was a life long merchant, and was commonly known as "Black Jack Hill." He was a Mason of high rank, and one of the leading men of Georgia. He was one of the first settlers of Griffin, Ga., and the principal street in that city bears his name. He died beloved and honored, in his native State in 1852. The inscription upon his tombstone expresses the whole story "A good man". The mother died in 1849. James H. Hill, the fifth of seven children, three of whom re now living, received his primary education in the common schools, and later attended Marshall College, Georgia. He came to Louisiana in 1858, located in De Soto Parish, and there continued until the breaking out of the war, when he joined the Army of Northern Virginia, under Gens. Lee and Jackson, and continued with this until the close of hostilities. He was captured only three days before the final surrender, and released in June, 1865. Returning to Natchitoches Parish after the war he embarked in the receiving, forwarding and wholesale grocery business, at Grand Coteau, La., which business was successfully conducted for six years, when he purchased a plantation on Red River, with a view of making a fortune out of cotton, at 25 cents a pound. This he continued for ten years, but the fortune came not. Then he embarked in the merchandising business, and recognizing the great need of improved machinery in farming, undertook to introduce them in his locality. In this he was successful. He abandoned farming in 1879, and engaged in his present occupation, in the meantime establishing the largest commercial house ever opened in Robeline. This, however, proved unsuccessful, being established in 1883, and closed in 1887. Since the last named year Mr. Hill has been representing the great Gullet Gin Company, of Amite City, La., as traveling salesman, and through his influence said company has been handling all lines of machinery. In four years sales this company has not lost over one per cent in bad debts, through the sales made by Mr. Hill. The firm of Hill & Jones now represents the great Gullett Gin company, of Louisiana; the Mutual Life, of New York, and the following five insurance companies of New Orleans: Mechanic's & Trader's, Mutual, Sun, Crescent and the Home. The Red River Hedge Company, organized September 1, 1890, at Natchitoches, unanimously elected Mr. Hill as general manager of that company, contrary to his wishes, on account of so much other business. In politics Mr. Hill has been a life long Democrat and in 1885 declined the office of clerk of the Eleventh District court, at the hands of Gov. S. D. McEnery, on account of the death of Clerk G. W. Kearney. Mr. Hill is at present a member of the parish school board, and for about five years was a member of the jury commission of the parish of Natchitoches, appointed by Judge D. Pierson. Mr. Hill is one of the best business men in this section. He was married in 1868, to Miss Mary R. Hyams, daughter of Col. Samuel M. and Emily (Prudhomme) Hyams, and niece of Ex Gov. Hyams. To Mr. and Mrs. Hill were born nine children: Rosa, Samuel H., Adeline S., Berth L., Cora L., James H., Eswell, Flowers and Matilda. Samuel H. is not twenty years of age, and id bookkeeper in one of the largest wholesale houses in Shreveport, viz: N. Gregg & Son. Miss Ross is a graduate of the State Normal School, and is now one of the most successful teachers in the parish. Mr. Hill has been a Mason for twenty five years, and is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 38. He is also a member of the A. L. of H. and Natchitoches Lodge No. 89, of K. of P. He is one of the leading men of this part of Louisiana.