Biography of Luther S Hills, Irving Township, Barry County, Michigan Copyright © 1998 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. ___________________________________________________________________ BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM Page 810-811 LUTHER S. HILLS LUTHER S. HILLS a substantial and progressive farmer of Irving Township, Barry County, was born August 14, 1848, in Hartland, Livingston County, Michigan. He is a son of Timothy S. and Cornelia Hills. The grandfather also bore the name of Timothy S. and was born May 5, 1784 in Antrim, N. H. He was a carpenter by trade and died in Rochester, N. Y. September 13, 1837. His wife, Martha Gates, who was born July 28, 1791, died December 14, 1829. Having been the mother of four sons and five daughters, namely: Timothy S., Luther B., Charles G., who died at the age of seventeen; George W., Sarah J., Mary A., Martha A., Alta M., and Harriet C. These children with the exception of the one who died all established homes of their own. The great-grandfather of our subject was William Hills who came from England and settled in New Hampshire. The father, Timothy, was a miller in Antrim, N. H., whence he came to Wayne County, Michigan, and settled in Northville. T. S. Hills worked in a mill until his health failed; he then came to Barry County with his brother Luther and in 1848 the two bought the tract of land where our subject now resides, hoping to regain his health by a change in business. Growing more and more feeble however he thought best to go back to Wayne County that he might be near more skilled physicians but disease of the lungs had taken too strong a hold. He died in 1852 aged forty-two years and was buried at Northville, Wayne County. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was born in West Bloomfield, N. Y. and was a daughter of Elijah Coldren, and Sarah (Hendershott) Coldren, to whom were born twelve children, namely: George, Jacob, Peter, Elijah, Sallie, Hannah, Polly, Cornelia, Lodema, Rhoda, Rebecca and Betsy. After the death of the father of our subject his mother married Luther B. Hills an uncle of our subject. Two children were the result of this marriage: Charles who died at the age of twelve and Ida, now Mrs Jordan. Luther B. Hills located in 1848 on the land where our subject now resides. In 1849 he erected a mill, the first in the township. The land purchased was four hundred and eighty acres and had a fine waterpower at Irving Station. Later he sold the waterpower and turned his attention to farming. At death he owned four hundred acres of land which he had cleared and improved. He died July 14, 1886, at the age of seventy-one. His wife followed him July 29, 1888 at the age of sixty-four. Our worthy subject was but one year old when his parents located in Irving, where he has continued to reside and where he received his education. The homestead comprises over one hundred and eighty acres, which he has assisted in clearing. In 1887 he constructed a fruit evaporator at Irving. It was in November 1875 that Luther S. Hills was united in marriage with Mary A. Sylvester, who was born March 21, 1854. She is a daughter of Enoch and Sarah (Cook) Sylvester. Five children bless this union—Leah G., Charles D., Luther K., Sarah C. and Ella M. Mr. and Mrs Hills are highly respected and the lady is an earnest and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hills cast his first Presidential vote for Ulysses S. Grant and is not a staunch Prohibitionist. dz