OBITUARY: Captain W. W. Hill, 1917 - Cherokee County, TX Submitted by East Texas Genealogical Society P. O. Box 6967, Tyler, TX 75711 Contributed to the East Texas Genealogical Society by Dr. Alma Moore Freeland Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ***************************************************************** Source unknown - Sent to Dr. Freeland by Joy McGarrahan, Grand Prairie 4/4/73 CAPTAIN W. W. HILL DEAD A Pioneer Citizen of East and North Texas, Passes Away After A Long and Useful Life After an illness of many long and weary months which usually come to one after so many toilsome years, Capt. W. W. Hill departed this life in the Masonic home at Arlington, Texas, January 1st, 1917, at the age of nearly eighty-one years. The remains being interred in the Masonic Cemetery at that place. T'was said by his comrades that he bore his sufferings most patiently unto the end, and died happy, feeling that when his spirit left its abode it would return to God, who gave it. We can truthfully say of the noble men that he was an exemplary citizen, a kind and loving husband and father, and left a host of friends and relations who (unreadable) mourn his demise; for he was loved by all who knew him. He leaves a daughter, Mrs. Mary Peterman and one son, Sam O. Hill, both of Oklahoma, and one sister, Mrs. G. W. Fitch, Gallatin, Texas. Capt. Hill was born in Willson county, Tenn., March 22nd, 1836. He moved to Texas with his parents in the year 1852 settled at Old Knoxville, Texas, Cherokee county, which at that time was a mere wilderness. They, with many others from near Knoxville, Tenn., who settled here at the same time, named their villege in Honor of their old home town. Here Capt. Hill grew to manhood on the farm, receiving only such limited educational advantages as the early settlers enjoyed. But being a life-long student and close observer, and possessing more than usual ability to grasp knowledge, he grew to be one of the best informed men of his day. He was mustered into the service of the Civil Was as 3rd Lieutenant under Captain W. G. Engledow at Knoxville, Texas, October 186?. Later they were reorganized at Tyler, Texas, under O. M. Robert's regiment in 1863. On the promotion of Engledow to Colonel, Hill became Captain, having previously promoted to 1st Lietenant. His services were west of the Mississippi river, and he was active in most all the battles in that region, being mustered out at the close of the war, at Hempstead, Texas. The writer has met many of his war comrades, and all claim him to have been one among the bravest, and yet the most prudent leaders of men in time of peace. Not being disposed to hazard the lives of his men for honors of war. His cautions manaeuvering for the protection of his men and his universal kindness to them in acknowledged by them all. After the war he was married to Miss Amanda Mills, the daughter of Elisha Mills, who resided about 8 miles East from Jacksonville, Texas, and was one of the pioneer citizens of Cherokee county. In 1869 Capt. Hill with his wife, sought to try life in the Northern part of this State which part was then almost a frontier. He settled on a tract of land on the South bank of Red river, six miles North from Dexter, Cook county, Texas. There by his own labors, opened up a good farm, from which, with a lucrative stock business, he enjoyed a most sumptuous living. He served his adopted county six or eight years as Tax Collector performing the duties of that office with an enviable credit. After this service he retired to his farm, and in connection with its management had charge of a ferry on Red rifver near his home, until the advent of the steel bridge at his crossing, a few years ago. Later being too much enfeebled to longer pursue these labors he sold out and came back to the home of his brother Masons, to join them at their faternal home at Arlington, Texas, where he died. We wish to offer here our sincerest thanks to that grand institution for the noble work it is doing and especially do we thank them for care and kindness shown to our hero and loved one. As he lived he died. He met death with that courage that characterized his life. Unshrinking he passed beyong our horizon; beyond the reach of human harm or help; beyond, to that distant country from whose bounds no traveler returns. But he has left us a legacy in his wealth of through and kind deeds, and the memory of a true, brave, faithful and honest man. Now he rests. And were each to whom he has lent a helping hand, to cast a bouquet upon his grave, he would sleep beneath a mountain of flowers.