****************************************************************************
File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
Copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format 
without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net.

****************************************************************************

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

****************************************************************************

The Biography of William A. HILL 

Pages 811-812, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin 

Note: A portrait of William A. Hill appears on the page preceding this biography. 

[Surnames: DAVIS, HILL, SWAPSHIRE] 

    
WILLIAM A. HILL. Genial manners and strict integrity of purpose are traits of character that invariably make a man popular throughout the community in which he resides, and certainly such has proved to be the case in the history of Mr. Hill, who is numbered among the most popular citizens of Fulton County. His judgment is excellent and besides his official skill he possesses a large amount of mechanical genius, building bridges, barns, etc., after the most approved style. His popularity is indicated by the fact that he has held the office of Commissioner of Highways for the past twelve years, and has given universal satisfaction. He is a successful agriculturist and like many men who have risen to prominence he commenced at the very bottom round of the ladder of fortune, and has climbed to the top solely by means of his own perseverance and industry. 
    
In a canvas tent in Red River County, Tex., the eyes of our subject first opened to the light, the date of his birth being March 26, 1836. His father, Thomas Hill, was a native of Tennessee, where he was reared and where he married Matilda Swapshire, also a native of Tennessee. They sojourned for a number of years in their native State, whence, in 1836, they removed to Texas and, settling in Red River County, engaged in agricultural pursuits. They became the parents of eleven children, as follows: Ariminta, Catherine, Marinda, Thomas, Cynthia, Julia, Abner K., William A., Martha J., George R. and Mary. All grew to maturity and at present nine are living. 
    
Thomas Hill in his political sympathies, was a strong Union man, and when he married, his wife inherited, with the rest of her estate, a number of slaves, whom he immediately set free. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and as a partial compensation for his services was given a land warrant for some unbroken prairie in Illinois. Accordingly he removed to this State in 1847, and after sojourning in Mercer County for a number of years, located in Iowa. Being in poor circumstances and ill-health, he did not meet with success, and was finally given a home by our subject, who built a house for him on his own farm. There the father died in 1880 at the advanced age of eighty-six years, and the mother passed away in Cherryvale, Kan., having attained her eighty-third year. 
    
The earliest recollections of our subject are of the Lone Star State, where he attended school and passed the first ten years of his life. He accompanied his parents to Illinois, and while yet a boy helped to break the sod of the prairie land of Illinois and drove a five-yoke team of oxen at a breaking plow. In 1855 he moved to Fulton County, and commenced life for himself, for his father, being poor, was unable to give him aid financially. He was united in marriage in 1857, with Miss Martha, daughter of E. M. and Elizabeth Hill, of Farmington Township, this county. Mr. And Mrs. Hill were natives of Tennessee and removed to Illinois in 1834. He is still living on the farm where he first settled in Fulton County and has reached the advanced age of seventy-six years. Mrs. Hill died May 21, 1890. 
    
After their marriage our subject and his wife located in Mercer County, this State, whence, in 1859, they removed to this county. Their union has been blessed with two children--Emma, the wife of E. E. Davis, of Farmington, and Judson, at home with his parents. Mrs. Hill is a member of the Christian Church and is a most estimable woman, possessing those qualities of heart and mind which have won for her countless friends. Mr. Hill has been so successful in his efforts that he is now the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, besides six houses and lots in the village of Norris and two houses and lots in Farmington. 
    
Prominent in the political history of his county, Mr. Hill has not only served as Commissioner of Highways, as above stated, but has in other ways represented the people, whose interests are uppermost in his mind. He is a strong Republican, and believes in protection of our industries. At different times of his life he has served as Justice of the Peace, and, socially, is a member of Farmington Masonic Lodge, No. 192. For the past five years he has been devoting his attention principally to the business of a contractor. His portrait which is presented in connection with this biographical review, represents one of Fulton County's prominent citizens, whose life proves the truth of the adage, "where there is a will there's a way."