Walter H. Hill

Hill, Walter H., priest and educator,.was born near Lebanon, Kentucky, January 21, 1822. His earliest. American ancestors were among the Cjitholics who settled in Maryland in the colony founded by Lord Baltimore. He was graduated from St. Mary's College, located in Marion County, Kentucky. He then located in St. Louis, and for a time studied medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Linton, in the medical department of St. Louis University. In February of 1847 he joined the Society of Jesus, and was fitted for the priesthood. Engaging in the educational work of the church, he was made president of St. Xavier College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1865, and held that position until 1869. Later he accepted the professorship of philosophy at St. Louis University, and filled that chair for many years. Heis now emeritus professor of philosophy in the same institution. He is the author of two philosophical works used as text-books in the schools of this country, England and Ireland, one treating of logic and general metaphysics and the other entitled, "Ethics, or Moral Philosophy." He has also written a history of St. Louis University, and has long been a contributor to various magazines, and especially to the "American Catholic Quarterly." In 1897 he celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his admission to the Jesuit order, the day being observed by a celebration of solemn high mass in the morning, followed by a banquet in the evening. During the time he has occupied the chair of philosophy at St. Louis University more than 100 young men have been graduated from that institution, many of whom have achieved marked distinction. Father Hill is widely known, not only to members of the Catholic Church, but to all classes of people; and by all who have come within the sphere of his usefulness and influence, regardless of church affiliations, he is much beloved.

HIU William Moberly, wm born July 6, 1836, in Independence, Misaonri. His father, Adam Hill, was born in Virginia, on the southern branch of the Potomac River, August 29, 1799, d y ci* years of age when his parents removed to Muddngum County, Ohio. It was in that county he was reared and given an education such as the common schools of the time afforded. He learned the trade of blacksmith, and at the age of twenty years removed to the neighborhood of the Red River Iron Works in Kentucky. While a resident of that State he married in 1828 Miss Ann Woods Moberly. In 1834 they came to Missouri in search of land and a brighter future for the family. The head of the family was accompanied by his wife, three children and two negroes, and they located on a farm of 300 acres two miles west of Independence. Since that time this splendid place has been the family home. Adam HiD was a man of strong connections and convictions in religious and political life. Primarily a Whig, at the breaking out of the war his sentiments changed and he became a Democrat. Although more than sixty years of age he fought for what he believed was right, and gave six months of his life to active service in the Confederate Army. He was an ardent supporter of the Christian Church, but neither sought nor held office in public or church affairs. He died February 24, 1886. His wife had gone into the unseen several years before, her death occurring July 12, 1 85 1. They were the parents of five children: Mary Catherine Ralston and Benjamin Franklin, who were both buried at the same time; Jane, who died in* childhood: William M., and Curtis, who was killed by Indians in Kansas in June, 1867, when twenty-one years of age. William M. Hill was educated in the common schools of Jackson County, Missouri, and was for one year under the preceptorship of John O. Buchanan, a teacher whose memory is familiar to early residents of western Missouri. The terms of 1853-4 he spent at the Missouri State University, but was obliged to cut short his time at school on account of sickness. Until the Civil War burst over the country he remained upon the old home place, when he removed to Texas and, with fourteen negroes to work for him, leased and operated z farm in that State. There he remained until the fall of 1865, when he returned to Independence and has since made his home on the old estate cleared by his father in pioneer times. Mr. Hill has served as school director for aiiout thirty years, but beyond this service ambkioa to hold public office haa not led him. He has been a staunch Democrat all his life. He was married November lo 1869, to Miss Ann Elizabeth Gossett (who died Novembw 4, 1880), daughter of Rev. J. D. Gossett, a pk)- neer minister. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have been the parents of six children: Curtis, a civil engineer, residing in St. Louis; Jo Lisle, residing on the old homestead; Jacob Gossett, a miner at Sonora, California; Fannie Brooks, living at home; Adam, a student of law in the Missouri State University, and William Hickman, a graduate of the Kansas City University Medical College. With such a worthy family to cherish his memory and reap the rewards of his useful years, Mr. Hill is able to enjoy a life of retirement in the satisfaction that true happiness does not follow worldly honor, but, rather, is the fruit of years spent in living up to a high standard of duty, and accomplishing the most good possible with the means and talents at command.

Hilliker, Ryerson W. among the first founders of industrial interests in Kansas City, and for many years a leader in various important enterprises, was born April 7, 183P, near Poughkeepsie, New York. While he was but a lad his parents removed to Oxford, Canada, where he was reared upon a farm, and attended a private country school. He early developed an aptitude for mechanics, and worked in a carriage shop, where he produced various articles of original design. Upon attaining his majority he made a visit to the United States, to which he permanently removed in 1862. He became a member of the contracting firm of Walton, Wright, Talbort & Hilliker, and personally superintended the raising of the bridges and laying the track of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway, in the lumber and salt region of Michigan. He was afterward a building contractor in Ohio, on the railway now known as the Ashtabula division of the Lake Shore Railway, building tracks into the coal and coal oil districts of Pennsylvania. Upon the completion of this work, attracted by fw-objected railway enterprises at Kansas City, Missouri, he set out for that place, which he reached September 1, 1865, on the first through train arriving from

St. Louis. At that day there was keen interest in the proposed Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf Railway, and he went to Topeka, Kansas, with a view to securii a building contract. Becoming known as an experienced railway man, at the solicitation of people interested in the enterprise, he addressed meetings at variotis points in advocacy of this purpose. When work was begn it was performed in the most rapid and unsubstantial manner, the ties being laid upon the surface of the ground, without roadbed preparation. He was disinclined to take part in such methods, and he took up his residence in Kansas City, where he formed the firm of Hilliker & Kinney, and set up a stonemill, putting in operation the first stationary engine in the West Bottoms of Kansas City. These works were situated at the corner of Hickory Street and Union Avenue. This business was continued for several years, and during this period the works provided material for about 4,000 buildings, including the most elaborate of the store, office and residence edifices; the firm also graded and paved Fifth Street. They also opened the limestone quarries at Junction City, and erected a mill for the production of stone for railway bridges. The stone in the front wing of the Kansas capitol building at Topeka and the Corinthian columns were furnished from these works. In 1870-1, the firm made bids to supply stone for four public buildings in Missouri, the State Normal School at Kirksville, the State Normal School at Warrensburg, the Scientific and Agricultural building at Columbia, and the Executive Mansion at Jefferson City, and secured all contracts except for the latter edifice, over numerous St. Louis and St. Joseph competitors. They opened quarries near Warrensburg to procure foundation stone for the building in that city, and when it was put upon the ground the architect was so impressed with its superior beauty and durability that he suggested the use of the same material for the superstructure, although Junction City stone was specified in the contract. Hilliker & Kinney readily consented to the change, and from their effort dates the celebrity attaching to the Warrensburg stone and the beginning of its wide use in Missouri and other States. The first large shipment made by the firm was a 300 car lot to Chicago hnmediately after the great fire. The opening up of this large enterprise led to the sale of the Junction City quarries. In ail these operations Mr. HiUiker was the practical outdoor man, and his partner conducted the office business. In 1874 the firm became bankrupted on account of the outside operations of the junior partner, and the property was alienated for a pitiful sum. Not a shadow of culpability or want of business ability was imputed to Mr, Hilliker, but his financial misfortunes were regarded with commiseration and as a public calamity. In addition to the large enterprises hereinbefore named, Mr. Hilliker was constantly busied with various other important concerns. He incorporated a company and personally directed the building of a toll bridge over the Kaw River at its mouth, the first bridge there built, at an outlay of $70,000. This project was stoutly resisted by a ferryboat company which had hitherto monopolized the traffic, exacting onerous charges. The company became involved in numerous law suits, and Mr. Hilliker prosecuted the work in face of repeated attempts to destroy the property and inflict upon hin*- self personal injury. He finally succeeded, and the bridge was operated for about seven years, when it was abandoned in conse(ence of the building of a free bridge by Wyandotte County, Kansas. Mr. Hilliker also made the plans and specifications for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railway bridge, and was contractor for furnishing timber for the caissons and stone for the piers. He also built several bridges in Kansas, two at Junction City, one across Smoky Hill River, and one across the Republican River. After the disruption of the firm of Hilliker & Kinney, Mr. Hilliker mined in Colorado for two years. In 1876 he returned to Kansas City and founded the "Evening Express," which he conducted successfully for about one year. He then sold it out at a sufficient advance to recompense him for previous disastrous efforts in the news-' paper field. In 1878 he assisted in the organization of the Central Bank of Kansas, at Kansas City, Kansas, and served as cashier until it went into liquidation in 1894. He was president of the Bankers' Association of Kansas. In 1895 he established the business of the Novelty Manufacturing Company, of which he is sole owner and manager. His manufactures embrace numerous useful articles and toys upon which he holds patents.

As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.