hillw
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.
WILLIAM P. HILL, who is now retired
from the more active duties of life, dwells in Harrington, Washington,
and is one of the leading citizens of that prosperous little city.
He was born in Athens county, Ohio, on February 18, 1855, the son of Lucius
and Deborah T. (Car) Hill. The father is deceased, but the mother
still lives in Spokane, being in her eighty-seventh year. When a
child, our subject was taken to Davis county, Iowa, where he was educated
and grew to manhood. He was reared on a farm and when time for independent
action in life came, he chose that as his occupation. He remained
in Davis county until 1884, when he determined to personally investigate
the west and see if the opportunities were as great as had been shown.
Accordingly, in March of that year, he landed in Dayton, Washington, and
soon was engaged in general work for wages. He had arrived without
means and for two years he wrought, gaining sufficient capital to justify
a start for himself in farming. In the spring of 1886, Mr. Hill came
to the Big Bend country and after due search chose the place where his
main farm is now located, six miles west from Harrington, and settled to
open a farm in the midst of the wilds. He took a homestead and for
the first years he can tell from good hard experience what it means to
open a farm in a new country and without means. He was forced, like
many more of the brave and hardy pioneers, to go to the Palouse country
and the Walla Walla wheat fields to earn money for the necessities of life.
But he knew no such word as fail, and so he labored patiently and perseveringly
along until the land was opened to produce crops and then he had the satisfaction
of being able to dispose his whole time and labor on the farm. As
the years went by, Mr. Hill was prosperous, owing to his careful and wise
industry and he purchased land from time to time until he has now about
one and one-half sections in the home farm place. It is all in a
high state of cultivation and produces abundant crops of the cereals.
The outbuildings are commodious and substantial while the residence is
one of the handsome and valuable ones of the country. It is a ten
room structure of modern architectural design, with all improvements and
conveniences of the day, as bath, water, and so forth. A fine well
with windmill, pump and tank is at hand and supplies abundance of pure
water for all purposes. In the fall of 1903, Mr. Hill's continued
success warranted his retirement from active labors and so he removed with
his family to Harrington, where he had provided a comfortable residence.
He also has other property in this town and nine hundred and sixty acres
of choice timber in Oregon. He also is interested in mines and has
some promising properties in the Slocan country, British Columbia.
On June 25, 1876, in Davis county, Iowa, Mr.
Hill married Miss Elsie A. Lynch, a native of Van Buren county, Iowa.
Her parents were John and Caroline (Rolin) Lynch, and they now dwell in
Keokuk county, Iowa. The father is a veteran of the Rebellion, having
served three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Hill, three children have been
born; Wallace E., married to Parmelia Shipley and now farming near Harrington;
John R., farming near Harrington; and Myrtle E., wife of George Danford,
a farmer in the vicinity of Harrington. Mr. Hill is a member of the
A. F. & A. M., and is the present master of the Harrington lodge.
He is a man of good ability, as his success testifies and has won hosts
of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Hill, who have labored faithfully together
for so long, enduring all the hardships and trying times of frontier life,
are now justly entitled to enjoy the competence which they have so wisely
provided and it is pleasant to see the once raw prairie now supporting
the retirement of these who brought it into subjection.
Since the above was written, Mr. Hill has
been interested in banking, and is now the vice president of the Harrington
State Bank. The community is to be congratulated that a man of hisconservativeness,
yet sound financial ability, is in this financial institution, as he is
a man who has the confidence of his fellows and has shown his ability.
BACK