Bert C. Hill

As printed in 1906

BERT C. HILL, a prominent resident and a trustee of Muhlenberg township, where he owns a farm of 50 acres, was born on this farm on September 8, 1851, and is a son of Thomas and Julia A. (Sharp) Hill.

Capt. William Hill, the paternal grandfather, was born in Virginia and came in 1815 to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he died in advanced age. He was the first magistrate in Muhlenberg township and was a man of prominence and substance, owning some 700 acres of land which in 1847 he divided among the six of his eight children that grew to maturity.

Thomas Hill, father of our subject, was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, February 21, 1807, and came here with his parents in 1815, where he spent the rest of his life, dying here September 10, 1885. He owned an estate consisting of about 215 acres of land and for about a quarter of a century was trustee of Muhlenberg township. Politically he was a Whig and later a Republican. Both he and his wife were Baptists. He married Julia A. Sharp, who was born in the State of New York, July 1, 1813, and came with her parents and a sister, to Westerville, Ohio. She died in Muhlenberg township May 16, 1895. Nine of their 10 children grew to maturity and are still living. The record is as follows: Mrs. Margaret Darst, of Muhlenberg township; Mrs. Elizabeth Whiteside, of Darby township; Mrs. Mary Bolin, of Darbyville; Mrs. Ellen McKinley, of Franklin County; William C., of Jackson township; Mrs. Matilda Wilson, of White County, Indiana; Robert C., of this sketch; Ezra Florence, of Darbyville: Mrs. Sarah Stiverson, of Columbus; and Marcus, who died aged three years.

Robert C. Hill is one of the best known residents of Muhlenberg township, having spent his whole life here, one of activity and usefulness. In addition to farming his own land, he operates a farm of 97 acres adjoining his own, which belongs to an aunt. For the past 28 years he has practiced veterinary surgery, although he never attended any school, doing all his reading by himself. He has filled a number of the important township offices and served one term as a justice of the peace. As a Republican he was elected assessor of the township for three terms and after 1886, when he became identified with the Democratic party, he continued to be elected to office. He was reared a Republican, his father having voted for Lincoln in 1860 and supported the principles of the Republican party until his death.

On May 10, 1893, Mr. Hill was elected trustee of the township and served as such for nine consecutive years. In the fall of 1905 he was again elected to this office. He has been a member of the School Board for six years, and for three years has been road supervisor. For 27 years he has been officially connected with Muhlenberg township.

In 1874 Robert C. Hill was married to Mary E. Wilson, who was born in Scioto township, Pickaway County, Ohio, April 11, 1854, and is a daughter of James and Anna (Hite) Wilson. Her paternal grandfather served in the War of 1812 and she has one of the old camp kettles he used when campaigning. One of her Uncles, Hon. John Sites, was a member of the Ohio State Senate and she had the pleasure of hearing him make a memorable speech in 1896, at Columbus, being then in his both year. Her mother died when she was four years old and she was reared in the family of an uncle. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have four children, viz.: Thomas, born November 20, 1874; Harry M., born December 29, 1876; Clarence V., born September 2, 1881, who died June 10, 1905; and Addie R., bom August 14, 1891.

Mr. Hill gave liberal assistance in the building of Florence Chapel Presbyterian Church and was one of the trustees. Recently he has united with the Darbyville Methodist Episcopal Church.

As printed in History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.