ROBERT HILL
Robert Hill, a farmer near Jerome, a prominent citizen of Jerome Township, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, November 25, 1823. His father was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to the United States with his father, whose name was also Robert, in 1816, and for six or eight years temporarily lived in Pittsburgh, Penn. On their removal West, they settled in Guernsey County, Ohio, where Mr. Hill (the first) died. Robert, the father of our subject, was a young man when his parents came across. He resided in Guernsey and Tuscarawas Counties till 1858, when he came to Jerome Township; residing there till October 1873, he removed to Paulding County, where he died in November 1879. Mrs. Hill (nee Nancy Morris) died about 1828-29. She was a native of England, and came to America with her parents. Robert Hill, the subject of this sketch is the second son and third child of four children, of whom three are living, viz.: Ann E., widow of Jonathan McCullough, of Harrison County; Mary, wife of Hanson Merryman, of Delaware County; Robert; and James, the eldest, who died. in McConnelsville, Morgan County, August 1878. Mr. Hill's mother died in 1828, and he became a member of the household of an uncle, John G. Norris, with whom he remained till of age. He was employed by Mr. Norris in a grist-mill till 1845, when he started out to acquire his own fortune. He spent a few months working as a laborer at the mere pittance salary of $8.33 1/3 per month. In 1845, he came to Mill Creek Township, and first purchased fifty acres of land. He resided on this farm fourteen years, in the meantime making an addition of fifty acres more. On his location in Jerome Township he bought 160 acres, and has made subse<>quent purchases till he now owns 349 acres of finely improved and highly cultivated land. January 8, 1846, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth M. Rea, a daughter of Samuel and Ruth A. (Robinson) Rea, natives of Harrison County, Ohio, and a granddaughter of Rev. John Rea, one of the early pioneer Presbyterian ministers of Ohio, of whom a sketch is appended. Samuel Hill was a member of the Coshocton County bar, and was a lawyer of considerable distinction. He was drowned in the Muskingum River February 28, 1833. His widow died February 19, 1881, aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. Hill was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, February 4, 1827. At her father's death, she was taken by her grandfather, Rev. John Rea, and reared to womanhood. Mr. Rea was Irish born, and crossed the Atlantic when eighteen years of age. He first settled in Westmoreland County. Penn., where he married Elizabeth Christy, a daughter of John Christy, who was an early settler in Pennsylvania, and participated in the Indian wars. On an Indian raid, two of his sons, John and William, were captured. They were returning home with the horses, when the redskins made the attack by firing upon them. John, in attempting to escape, was killed, William's horse was shot and fell upon him, and he became a victim of the savages. The first he knew of his brother's death occurred when he saw his scalp suspended to an Indian's belt, and recognized the black looks of hair. William was kept a captive three years, and released and returned to his mother and family. He was adopted by a chief, who treated him very kindly, and of whom be ever afterward spoke in terms of the highest veneration. Rev. John Rea was educated under Catholic discipline, and received a thorough classical training. He removed to Harrison County, Ohio, and was among its earliest settlers. He was pastor of a church at Beech Springs, in that county, for half a century. He was a member of the Philadelphia Synod, and went on horseback from Harrison County to Philadelphia, Penn., several times, to attend the General Assembly. He prepared and delivered an able farewell sermon to the congregation over which he had presided as minister and pastor for so many years, and retired to his home, where he died in February 1855, at a ripe age. Mi. and Mrs. Hill were blest with thirteen children; of these ten are living, viz.: Flora M., wife of Orange Cutler: Ruth A., widow of W. P. Wentz; G. Rea married Rachel Herriott; Mary I., wife of Lewis Brake; Elizabeth J., wife of Fleetwood Courtright; Samuel C., Frank S., Carrie A, John R. and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Hill started in life together pioneers, and with few advantages. Together they have shared the difficulties and pleasures, the labor and reward of life. By their combined energy and industry, they have accumulated a sufficient competence. As a representative citizen, we give the portrait of Mr. Hill on another page of this volume.