Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 14. MARTIN M. HILL One of the most progressive farmers of the Hood River valley is Martin M. Hill, whose operations have been on an extensive scale and successful to a degree that has stamped him as a man of sound judgment and practical business ability. Mr. Hill was born about eighteen miles south of Waterloo, Iowa, on the 14th day of September, 1869, and is a son of Martin S. and Mary E. Hill. His mother was born in Ireland, from which country she was brought to the United States in early childhood. Martin S. Hill was born in Ohio and was reared to the life of a farmer. In the late '40s he went to Iowa with his parents, his father, Joseph Hill, locating on a homestead in Tama county, of which locality he was a pioneer, being one of the very first farmers in that county, and there he lived until his death. Martin S. Hill also engaged in farming, meeting with success, and died there. To him and his wife were born eight children: Mrs. Ella Fike, of Waterloo, Iowa; Mrs. Sarah Simmons and Mary, twins, the former of whom lives in Iowa, while the latter is deceased; Mrs. Lillie Cline, deceased; Martin M.; T. F., who lives in Hood River; G. W., of Waterloo, Iowa, and O. H., of Hood River. Martin M. Hill was educated in the public schools of his native state and worked on the farm until his marriage, in 1892, when he farmed for himself for five years, after which he moved into the town of Waterloo and went to work for a vehicle and implement company, with which he remained until 1901. In that year he resigned his position and he and his wife bought nine-months return tickets and started west to see the country. * They stopped in various states, looking the country over carefully, and on reaching Oregon were favorably impressed with the level country around Howell prairie, near Salem. However, he did not purchase there, but continued on to eastern Oregon, and at The Dalles met a man who advised him to look over the Hood River valley before deciding on a location. He followed the suggestion, driving all over the lower valley, and, liking the looks of his present place, he went to Portland and bought it from a Mr. Johnson, a street car conductor. The place contained fifty acres, the only improvements consisting of a small shack, a few outbuildings and about ten acres in apple orchard, the trees being planted among old pine stumps, the remainder of the land being in timber and brush. He set to work clearing the land, blasting and burning out the stumps, and planted it all to apples. In 1908 he sold ten acres, containing a six-year-old apple orchard, for sixteen hundred dollars an acre, which at that time was the highest price ever received for farm land in the northwest, and there were no buildings on the land. Mr. Hill has taken out all of his apple trees and now has his land all planted to pears, of the Anjou, Basc and Bartlett varieties and has a valuable and productive ranch, in the development of which he has done a vast amount of hard work, but he feels amply repaid. Mr. Hill has taken an active part in affairs contributing to the welfare of his section of the state. In 1912 he and a few of his neighbors organized and erected the Hood River Apple and Storage Plant, at Van Horn, near his home place, and operated it successfully for several years, when it was sold to the Hood River Apple Growers Association. He owned a large apple and pear orchard at Dee, in the Hood River Valley, but sold it in 1923. He was president of the Hood River State Bank for eight years, or until it was sold to the Butler Bank. In 1910 Mr. Hill built one of the finest farm homes in the state of Oregon, finished in white oak, with beamed ceilings, while the house is surrounded with beautiful grounds, the spacious lawn being ornamented with shrubbery and flowers, making it one of the most attractive homes in this part of the country. In 1892 Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Carrie B. Smith, who was born and reared in Iowa, a daughter of William W. and Estella Smith, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were schoolmates in Iowa and shared in their interests and activities. There is one child, Ruth, who was born in Oregon, and graduated from the Jefferson high school in Portland and from Mills College, at Oakland, California. In 1914 Mr. and Mrs. Hill and their daughter took a trip to the Orient, visiting China, Japan and other countries of the far east, and spent a winter in Honolulu, greatly enjoying the vacation. Politically Mr. Hill is a democrat and was nominated by his party for the state legislature but did not make the race, due to the precarious condition of his wife's health. Her death, in February, 1916, occurred at a time when, had he been elected, he would have been in the legislature at Salem. He was a member of the first board of county commissioners on the organization of Hood River county in 1908, and also served several years as a member of the irrigation board. Mr. Hill in 1928 was elected district delegate to the democratic national convention at Houston, Texas, which nominated Alfred Smith of New York. He has shown a keen interest in educational and highway affairs and has been an influential factor in many ways in advancing the general interests of his community and county. He is a member of Hood River Lodge, No. 105, A. F. & A. M.; Hood River Chapter, R. A. M.; Hood River Commandery, K. T., and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Portland. He is justifiably proud of his home and orchards, all of which represents the results of his determined and well directed efforts, and throughout the community in which he lives he commands the unqualified confidence and respect of his fellowmen, who appreciate his sterling personal qualities and his worth as. a citizen. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.