Hill Township

Hill Township

Hill township embraces thirty full and six fractional sections. It derives its name from the earliest settlers, of that name, and from the rough and hilly character of the country. It is the most broken and rugged in its physical features of any other part of the county, and was in the earlier days of the settlement of the county regarded as the poorest and most unproductive of any part of Carroll. Time, however, has verified the fact that the soil is as fertile and productive as the townships contiguous, and in proportion to the acreage sown, yields as great in quantity and quality as the- best.

Richard, George W. and Nathan Hill were among the first, if not the first, settlers in the township, about 1836, having just arrived from Tennessee. Abraham and Nathan W. Frizelle, in 1844, Bedford county, Tennessee, Isaac Wooden, Thos. Suggs and Dorsey Miles soon followed, and made locations in various portions of the township. John M.

Settlements were made slowly, but by a rugged and industrious class of farmers, who soon made improvements that were convenient and comfortable. John M. Braden, Kentucky, came in the fall of 1836, and located on section 36; Allen and Robert Caskey, Kentucky, in 1836, located on section 26, northwest of Braden; John A. Daugherty, Kentucky, about the same time, located with Braden and Caskey on section 36; Jeremiah and Aaron Braden, Kentucky, followed and made homes close to their friends on 36, and formed quite a settlement.

Few were added to the population from about 1869 to about 1866, when an influx came that soon dotted the township w'ith farm houses, and to-day Hill is not by any means the rear township of the county.

Rev. S. Woods, of the Cumberland Pesbyterian pursuasion, on section thirty-'six in 1839, married Walter Coats and Miss Malinda Northcott, at the house of Aaron Braden. This is reputed to have been the first marriage in the township. In the month of January, 1837, to John and Dorinda Daugherty, w'as born a daughter, named Sarah Ann, and on the oth of March following, a son, named George, was born to Jeremiah and Louisa Braden. These are said to have been the first births in the township.

Dr. George W. Folger, the pioneer physician of the county, was the first practicioner of his profession, in this as well as several other townships.

The first religious services were held at the residence of John A. Daugherty, On section thirty-six, by Revs. Hancock and Woods, Cumberland Presbyterian.

John Cole is represented to have taught the first school in the township. He had fifteen pupils, and received but a nominal salary. This school was held at the residence of A. Braden.

The postoffice is called Lima, and is located on section eighteen. As yet no town has been laid oft' in Hill. Supplies were brought from Carrollton, Lexington, and Brunswick, over the prairies, without road or compass, taking the sun as a guide.

As early as 1839, the Cumberland Presbyterians held a camp-meeting, on section thirty-six, the ministers being Sarshel Woods, D. Patton, H. R. Smith, and Wiley Clark.

Geo. W. Hill says, when he first came to the township all work was done by exchanging with each other. There was little work to do, but when it was done, hunting was in order.

When a new settler came some one would give him room, till the neighbors would build him a house. After getting into his house, one would give him a middling of meat, another a turn of meal, and so on, supplying all his wants until he could do for himself. Love and harmony existed, in fact, all were brothers. Mr. Hill says, also, that now he is called an old fogy, and defines the word to mean, "a man who attends to his own business, and does not meddle with others."

Prairie wolves were numerous, and timber wolves as -plenty as blackberries. Mr. Hill has lost as many as nine sheep before breakfast, by these cowardly pests.

George Wilson

born August 12, 1822, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. He received a common school education at the burgh school. Bigger. His father, William Wilson was a farmer in Skirling, Peebleshire, where according to the statistical account of that parish his ancestors had lived for nearly 200 years. John Wilson and Barbara Stevenson, his grandparents lived to 91 and 100 years respectively. George, at the death of his father, in 1843, went to the city of Edinburgh, where he found employment in the publishing house of W. and R. Chambers, and held a subordinate position under them for 23 years. He was married June 3d, 1845, to Miss Barbara Yule, daughter of Thos. and Jane (Wilson) Yule. Ten children were born to them, eight of whom are still living. During his residence in Edinburgh he became familiar with the personal appearance of all the celebrities of the day, such as Francis Jeffrey ,John Wilson, alias "Christopher Worth," George Combe, Hugh Miller, Dr. Thomas Chalmers, and others. Through a mutual friend he had frequently the pleasure of dining with Mackay, the actor. As a member of the Lanark and Biggar Clubs he had the friendship and acquaintance of Wm. Hunter, Esq., the historian of "Biggar and the House of Fleming," and the honer of being mentioned in the preface of that work, with other gentlemen who aided him in his resoarches. Was also personally acquainted with Alex. Manson, Esq., and Alex. Bertram, distinguished editors, Alex. McLogan, James Smith, and Alex. Hume, poets of Scotland. It is not surprising, therefore, that, moving in such an environment, he also should have been seized with the "scribbler's itch," and about the year 1860, he was engaged to write a series of sketches and tales for the columns of the "Lanarkshire Advertiser^"' the first of these being rhe life of James Howe, a friend of Sir Walter Scott's and a celebrated painter in his time. In the spring of 1867 Mr. Wilson landed in America and came to Carroll county Mo., in 1868, where he entered forty acres of railroad land in section 19, Hill township. This he sold in 1875, and bought eighty acres in section 29 where he is at present engaged in farming and stock raising. He became a citizen of the United States July 24th, 1877, and by the unanimous vote of - the people was elected township clerk and assessor.