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Franklin County, IL Genealogy

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William S. Hill

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WILLIAM S. HILL, The Carbondale Heratd, a weekly publication, is a bright, clean, newsy journal, decidedly Republican in its views, and is ably conducted by two gentlemen of talent and ability, William S. Hill, the subject of this sketch, having charge of its editorial department, while his son, Burt E. Hill, is business manager. A son of John McDowell Hill, William S. Hill was born in Monroe county, Illinois, July 10, 1843, coming from Virginian ancestry.

John McDowell Hill was born in Virginia in 1816. Six years later he was brought by his parents to Monroe county, Illinois, where he was brought up and educated. Succeeding to the occupation of his ancestors, he became a tiller of the soil, and continued in that independent occupation until his death, in March, 1845, ere reaching manhood's prime. He was a man of sterling worth, and a member of the Baptist church. He married Nancy Gooding, of Belleville, Illinois, and she survived him upwards of half a century, dying in Jackson county, Illinois, in 1902.

The only son of his parents, William S. Hill was a small child when left fatherless. He lived with his mother in Belleville, Illinois, until seven years of age, when he went to Randolph county, where he was employed on a farm near Percy until 1861. Going to Chester, Illinois, in 1864, he established a small printing business, which he conducted for seven years. From 1868 until 1880 Mr. Hill was engaged as a painting contractor at Steeleville, Illinois, and the following ten years

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was actively engaged in mercantile pursuits in Cutler, Perry county. Going to DuQuoin, Illinois, in 1890, he founded the DuQuoin Herald, of which he was the manager for two years. Coming to Carbondale in 1892, Mr. Hill started the Carbondale Herald, but soon afterward sold the paper to John H. Barton, and worked in its office as city editor. In 1910, in company with his son, Burt E. Hill, Mr. Hill purchased the paper, and has since continued its editorship.

Mr. Hill married, in Chester, Illinois, in 1865, Eliza Servant. Her father, the late Colonel R. B. Servant, was born at Old Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1801, and died in Chester, Illinois, in 1870. He was a man of much prominence and influence, and in addition to representing his district in the Illinois State Legislature for six years was for several terms judge of Randolph county. Of the eight children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hill, seven are living, namely: W. C., of Chicago; Nancy 0., wife of N. S. Weiler; Burt E., business manager of the Herald; Parker L.; Jennie, wife of W. 0. Hern, of Carbondale; Samuel G.; and Eva R.

Burt E. Hill was born July 5, 1875, in Randolph county, Illinois, and received his early education in the public schools of that and Jackson counties. Active, industrious, and possessing undoubted executive ability, he is now meeting with well-merited success as business manager of the Carbondale Herald, which he, jointly with his father, owns. A Democrat in politics, he has rendered the city excellent service as an alderman, having represented the Fourth ward for two terms in the City Council. He is a member of the Christian church, and contributes generously towards its support. He married, in 1903, Etta Brantley, who died November 11, 1907, leaving one child, Margaret Hill. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, to which his father also belongs; of the Knights of Pythias; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and to the Modern Woodmen of Amemca.

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