Ira C. Hill Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1172-1173 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	IRA C. HILL, county treasurer of Roberts county and a gentleman of 
high standing in the business and social circles of Sisseton, is a 
native of New York, born in the city of Elmira on March 9, T848. His 
father, Felix Hill, was also a New Yorker by birth, being descended from 
one of the old families of that commonwealth, and his mother, who bore 
the maiden name of Julia Hoover, came of old New England stock, her 
father having served with distinction in the war of 1812. Felix and 
Julia Hill were the parents of eight children, five sons and three 
daughters, all living, the majority well settled in life and greatly 
esteemed in their respective places of residence. 

	Ira C. Hill spent the first eight years of his life in the state 
of his birth and in 1856 accompanied his parents on their removal to 
Wisconsin, where he lived until 1863. He was reared on a farm, with the 
rugged duties and wholesome discipline of which he early became 
familiar, and when old enough he entered the district schools which he 
attended of winter seasons until a youth in his teens. In 1863 he went 
with the family to Minnesota, where a little later he tendered his 
services to the government to help put down the rebellion, enlisting in 
Company D, Ninth Minnesota Infantry, with which he shared the fortunes 
and vicissitudes of war for a period of eighteen months, the meanwhile 
taking part in several campaigns and in a number of hard-fought battles. 
At the expiration of his period of service he returned to Minnesota, 
where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1892, when he disposed of 
his interests in that state and came to Roberts county, South Dakota, 
where he purchased land and engaged in farming. Later, 1897, he moved to 
Sisseton, and started a hardware store, to which line of business he 
devoted his attention until 1900 when he was elected treasurer of 
Roberts county, which position he still holds, having been re-elected in 
1902. Mr. Hill's career has been eminently satisfactory and it is 
universally conceded that the county has never been served by a more 
capable or obliging official. He has handled the public funds 
judiciously, and as a custodian of one of the people's most important 
trusts has so deported himself as to gain the confidence of his fellow 
citizens of all parties and shades of political opinion. He has also 
served two terms as county commissioner and during his incumbency in 
that office was untiring in his efforts to promote public improvements, 
but at all times careful and even conservative in the matter of 
expenditures. 

	Mr. Hill is still engaged in agriculture on an extensive scale, 
owning a finely improved farm of four hundred acres in the northern part 
of Roberts county, all under cultivation, in addition to which he has 
various other interests, being a heavy stockholder in the First National 
Bank of Sisseton and in the Citizens' State Bank at White Rock. He has 
been quite successful in all of his enterprises and is now regarded as 
one of the financially strong and reliable men of his city and county. 
He is a member of Sisseton Lodge, No. 3l, Free and Accepted Masons, and 
his name is also found on the records of Reservation Lodge, No. 66 
Knights of Pythias, being a zealous worker in both orders, besides at 
all times exemplifying their principles and precepts in his relations 
with his fellow men. 

	Mr. Hill was married in Minnesota, May 27, 1878, to Miss Jennie 
Rhodes, daughter of Elica Rhodes, of New York, the union resulting in 
the birth of a daughter, Susie J., at home, and Felix, who is married 
and lives on the home farm.