Hills, John T. MAGA © 2000-2014
In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data and images may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for other presentation without express permission by the contributor(s).



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS, SCHUYLER and BROWN COUNTIES, Illinois - 1892

Chicago: Biographical Review Publishing Co.

Page 517

JOHN T. HILLS was born in Oakland township, Schuyler county, Illinois, in 1841, a son of Jackson Hills, who was born in 1812; his father died in June, 1842, so that in infancy he was deprived of his guidance and care. The paternal grandfather, Ephraim Hills, was a native of Pennsylvania; he was a farmer by occupation, and came to Oakland township from Indiana when Jackson Hills was a lad of twelve years; he settled on a farm of 160 acres, on which he lived until death during the war; he had attained near four-score years of age. His first wife died, leaving a family of five children, but his second wife survived him; one son, James, died at the age of twenty-four years, leaving a wife and one son; Ephraim is a farmer, residing in Missouri; Jackson, the father of our subject, died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving a widow and two sons, William Henry and John T.; his wife's maiden name was Delilah Fowler, a daughter of Thomas Fowler, of New York, who came to Illinois as early as 1825. John T. Hills was reared from his twelfth year by his uncle, Henry Hills; his mother was married a second time to William Schroder.

He had just attained his majority when the great war of the rebellion arose, and he offered his service in defense of the old flag. He went to the front a member of Company C, Seventh Missouri Cavalry, and served three years and three months as a private. He was mustered out at St. Louis, after which he returned to Oakland township; he was held a prisoner at Fort Smith, Arkansas, for three months, at the end of which time he was exchanged; he experienced many of the horrors of prison life, but was fortunate in being released before the confinement had sapped his life away.

Mr. Hills was united in marriage the first day of the year 1866, to Miss Mary E. Chockley, of McDonough county, Illinois, a daughter of Benjamin and Sally (Du Wese) Chockley, natives of Kentucky, who settled in Illinois at an early day. He then settled in Littleton township, on 160 acres of land, which he sold at the end of the first year; he rented one year of his wife's father, and then purchased a tract of forty acres; here he resided three years, returning to his wife's home where they passed six years. In 1880 he bought eighty acres of his present farm, paying therefor $700; he has sixty acres under excellent cultivation, and he has made many valuable improvements. He carries on a general farming business, raising corn, wheat and clover, and some live-stock; twenty acres have been set to timber, which is in a flourishing condition.

Mr. and Mrs. Hills have buried three infant children, two sons and a daughter, and four children survive; the mother died in 1882. Mr. Hills was married a second time to Mrs. Martha Fowler, nee Chockley, sister to his first wife. The children of the first marriage are: Delilah I., wife of Hiram Fowler; Genevra; Lilladocia, wife of William O'Donnell; and Tennessee; the children of the present wife are: Eldow C., aged eight years; Inez L., five years old; and Perry E., an infant of two years. Mr. Hill has a foster son, a nephew, named Alvin E. Toland, aged twenty-three years, now a resident of McDonough county, He is a member of Fremont Post, No. 33, G.A.R. He is a man of good business ability, has been fortunate in all his undertakings, and enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow men.


Bio Index