"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 798.
 
JOHN J. HILL

     It is doubtful if any enterprise in McCoy has contributed more materially
to the upbuilding of the town than has the  warehouse business of John J. Hill.
Since 1892 he has been handling large quantities of grain, wool, hops, and other
commodities which flourish in this locality, and by his stanch support of the
agriculturists has fostered and encouraged their efforts along these lines.
During the year he has handled no less than sixty-thousand bushels of wheat and
thirty thousand bushels of oats.
     Mr. Hill came to McCoy with a great deal of practical experience behind
him, gained in several busy marts of trade. He was born in Platte county, Mo.,
November 17, 1839,. his grandfather, Spencer, and his father, Archibald, having
been born in Virginia, the latter in January, 1804. Archibald Hill was a man of
prominence, especially after removing to Missouri in 1836. Although his entire
life was spent on a farm, he filled positions quite remote from that kind of
life, and was postmaster, of Ridgely, Platte county, under the administration of
thirteen postmaster generals. He was successful in farming, and lived until
1876. His wife, Eleanor McManamy, was also a native of Virginia, and was born
February 13, 1807, her marriage occurring in her native state, where her husband
was at that time engaged in a general merchandise business.
     Having completed the training of the public schools John J. Hill attended
Columbia University for a year, and thereafter lived for some time on his
father's farm. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company E, Thirty-ninth
Regular Militia, and was employed in guerilla warfare in the state of Missouri,
eventually attaining to the rank of sergeant. October 16, 1863, he enlisted in
Company E, Sixteenth Kansas Cavalry, and served under Generals Curtis, Pope and
Scofield. In 1865 he was sent to fight Indians in the Yellowstone Park, Montana,
Wyoming and the Dakotas, and in December of the same year brought up at Fort
Leavenworth, where he received his discharge. Returning to his home he engaged
in farming on his own responsibility, and between 1866 and 1870 engaged in mail
contracting. After completing his mail services he continued to farm in Missouri
until 1876, when he came to Oregon, locating near Bethel in Polk county. His
farm consisted of two hundred and eight acres, and this he brought to a high
state of cultivation, living thereon until taking up his residence in McCoy in
1892.  
     In Missouri, in 1863, Mr. Hill was united in marriage with Mrs. Jemima
Packwood, who was born in Indiana, February 13, 1836. Of this union there have
been born two children, Effie and Mattie, the latter being the wife of George
Richards, of Portland.
     Mr. Hill is a Republican in politics, has been school director and held
other offices. Because of services during the Civil war he is identified with
Custer Post No. 9, G. A. R., of McMinnville. Possessed of sound business
judgment and unquestioned integrity, Mr. Hill commands the respect of all with
whom he is associated, and it is to be hoped will long continue to be an
important factor in the community of McCoy.


     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has
no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.