Twelve Mile House

In the spring of 1868, after suffering from a disease he had contracted in addition to his wound in the service, he removed to a farm in Butler county, where he remained until 1870, when he moved to his valuable farm in Sycamore township, his present and no doubt future residence. During the last eleven years he has been largely engaged in farming. Beyond question Colonel Hill has grown more wheat per acre on his farm for the last three years than any other farmer in his township. In August, 1873, he assisted in organizing Eden Grange, No. 97 ^Patrons of Husbandry, being one of the charter members. When the Hamilton County council was instituted Colonel Hill was chosen as its first business agent, without compensation for the first year; and so well were its operations organized by him that on the twenty-ninth of July, 1874, after the council had become thoroughly organized, he was appointed financial business manager of the Ohio State grange by the State grange executive committee. He accepted the trust under protest, after having repeatedly declined and requesting others to be appointed. Locating his office at Sharonville, m a room but eight by ten feet in dimensions, business increased so rapidly that it became necessary to open another house in Cincinnati, which was done April I, 187s, with local agents in various parts of the State. On the first day of October, 1875, the business had become so extensive, running over millions of dollars, a large warehouse was opened at No. 63 Walnut street, after which a still larger house had to be secured at 22 and 24 East Third street, with business so largely on the increase that he had to enlarge his clerical force until he retired with an increased salary offered him, February 11, 188 1.

Passage source: History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, published 1881.

Colonel William H. Hill, of Sharonville, was born January. 21, 1826, in Humilstown, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and is of German descent. His father, Michael. was a merchant; having a store of general merchandise. He died in the east, when William was quite young. about nine vears old. The widowed mother, a noble woman, moved with her family of five children from Fort Hunter, Dauphin county, to Winchester, Randolph county, Indiana; in 1839, by team. Here she gave her children the best education in her power, that afforded by the common school. His first effort in business was when ne was quite young, under nine years of age, in the selling of candies. His capital was twenty-five cents, which, by selling and reinvesting, in a little over one year he increased to more than one hundred dollars. This sum, after removing to the west, his mother invest- where the colonel to this day is knowneby the old citizens as "the garden spader," because he was regularly employed by them nearly every spring to spade their gardens. 1845, his first step upon leaving school was to learn the carding and spinning trade, in which he was engaged until the fall of 1850, when he commenced for himself the mercantile and milling business, which was prosecuted with the great energy characteristic of Colonel Hill. During his mercantile life he was connected with and had the management of three different mercantile houses, and purchased for two others in the eastern cities. During the same period he was the owner and manager of two mercantile houses in the same place, running one house against the other, and so well was this managed that his own family was not aware that he owned both. This singular business freak was in order to have competition and draw trade to his own town, which old citizens, after learning of it, admitted was a complete success.

Passage source: 1789 History of Hamilton County Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, published 1881.

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