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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JOHN R. HILL. One of the
successful fruit growers of Lincoln county residing at Peach, who came
west with limited means, and who now enjoys easy circumstances, is John
R. Hill, born May 17, 1855, in Benton county, Missouri. When a young
man, his father, William B., a native of Tennessee, went to Missouri, where
he served three years in the Civil War. He afterward removed to Briscoe
county, Texas, where he engaged in the stock business. He died in
his Texas home, April, 1901, aged sixty-seven years. The mother,
Brunette (Dickerson) Hill, was born in Tennessee and died in Missouri.
Mr. Hill is the second in a family of eight children, namely, Mrs. Mary
E. Wainwright, who died in Wilbur, Washington, Mrs. Minerva Doak, James
R., Mrs. Laura Brooks, deceased, Mrs. Loretta Cheser, Robert M. and Mrs.
Nora Knox.
John R. Hill grew to manhood on a farm, learned
the carpenter's trade, and received his education in an old time log school
house. During the war the family was subject to raids by soldiers
and danger from bushwhackers.
On March 9, 1876, John R. Hill was married
to Alice E. Thompson, who was born in Clermont county, Ohio, February 21,
1858. Her father, John W. Thompson, a native of New York state, removed
to Ohio in pioneer days, and thence, in 1868, to Benton county, Missouri,
where he lived until his death in July, 1872. Her mother Anna S.
(Dark) Thompson, a native of Wilkshire, England, came to the United States
when eleven years of age. After the death of her husband she came
to Lincoln county, and died at Wilbur in 1892. Mrs. Hill's brothers
and sisters are: William, who served in the federal army, first as a drummer
boy and later as a regular soldier; Mrs. Amy J. Smith, Alfred J., Mrs.
Nellie Fancher, Henry M., and Harl D. One brother, Samuel, died in
the army during the Rebellion.
In the spring of 1884 Mr. and Mrs. Hill came
to Deep creek, Spokane county, and two years later they took up a homestead
near Wilbur. At that time settlers were few, and for two years only
two women were in that vicinity. While at Wilbur Mr. Hill improved
his ranch, worked at his trade of carpentering and handled lumber.
In 1896 Hr. Hill bought his present home of seventeen acres, moving onto
it in the spring of 1898. This land, upon which he has a pleasant
home, is one of the best locations in the valley of the Columbia, and has
the advantage of irrigation. Ten acres of it is in fruits, to the
raising of which Mr. Hill devotes his time exclusively.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill have five children living:
William T., a prosperous farmer; James A., a fruit grower; Nellie M., wife
of Roque Uribe; Henry C., and Homer, both fruit growers. All are
living at Peach. One son, Charles E., died January 15, 1904, aged
fourteen years.
Mr. Hill is a member of the Loyal Americans;
and both he and wife are members of the Methodist church, South.
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