BIO: William J. Hill, Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, PA & NY

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Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, page 340.
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  Hill, William James, D.D., was born on May 12, 1843, in Rio de 
Janeiro, Brazil. His parents were English, living in Brazil at the 
time, but returned to England about two years after his birth. He was 
educated in the public schools and attended Bourne's College, at York, 
Yorkshire, England, about two years. He was brought up in the Wesleyan 
Methodist Church, and was converted when fourteen years old, becoming a 
member of the Church soon after. 
  When seventeen he received a local preacher's license from the 
Wesleyan Church. From 1865 until joining the Methodist Episcopal Church 
he was identified with the Primitive Methodist Church. He served the 
following charges before coming to this country in 1869: 1862-63, 
Loughborough, Leicestershire, England; 1864-65, Liskard, England; 1886-
67, Pembroke, South Wales.
  On December 23, 1866, he married Miss Elizabeth Sowden. Six children 
have been born to them - Bessie, Joseph E., Samuel, George Wesley, 
William H., and James Bowman.
  On arriving in this country he settled in Jermyn, where some of his 
family had already located, and remained in this town two years, during 
which time he was active in organizing the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
He was one of the twelve constituent members, and also a member of the 
building committee.
  During 1871-72 he supplied Forty Fort, and in 1873 joined the 
Conference. He received deacon's orders in 1872 and elder's orders in 
1877.
  In 1891 he received the degree of M.A. from Northwestern University, 
and in 1900 Livingstone College, of Salisbury, S.C., conferred the 
degree of D.D. upon him.
  He has served the following charges: 1873-75, Plains; 1876-78, 
Peckville; 1879-80, North Abington; 1881-83, Nanticoke; 1884-86, 
Tunkhannock; 1887-90, Pittston; 1891-93, Chenango Street, Binghamton; 
1894-96, Lestershire; 1897-98, Sidney; 1899-1903, Derr Memorial, 
Wilkes-Barre.