Hill Brothers
Vigorous enterprise ahs been the keynote in the successful establishment of Hill Brothers at Fairmount, where they carry on a butchering and meat refrigeration and market business which is one of the best managed plants of its kind to be found anywhere outside of the largest cities. To furnish people with good food products ahs always been an honorable vocation, but in recent years it has come to be seen that such a service is one of the most important that man can render to his fellow men. That is the sole business of Hill Brothers, and they deserve the greatest credit for the manner in which they are performing it. The firm comprises James T. Hill and S. Brooks Hill. Some mention of their individual careers and their families will be of interest in this history of Grant County and are briefly sketched in the following paragraphs.
The parents were Israel and Sarah J. (Sharpe) Hill, both natives of Pennsylvania. The Hill family is of English and German origin, while the Sharpes are of German and French extraction. Israel Hill and wife were married in Fulton County, and spent their lives there while his wife was of the Christian denomination. Israel Hill died at the age of seventy-three and his wife followed him at the age of seventy-six. Their children are mentioned as follows: Louisiana is the wife of Jack Hixson, a farmer in Miami County, Ohio. Their three sons are Ira, Charles and Walter. Howard is a merchant at Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania, and married Norah Runyon, and their children are Cora and Verna.
James T. Hill, the senior member of the firm of Hill Brothers and third in order of birth in the family, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1868, received an education in the public schools about in the same manner as his brother, and starting out to make his own way, learned the butcher's trade at the National Soldiers Home in Dayton, Ohio. While at Dayton, he was married, and then established an enterprise as a breeder and raiser of fine hogs, of the improved Duroc Jersey strain. He did a good business in that line, raising from three hundred to four hundred every year. After eight years in that work he moved to Fairmount City, in 1904, and became associated with his brother in the meat market business. These two have since combined their energy and experience in building up a flourishing enterprise. James T. Hill was first married at Dayton, Ohio, to Miss Fannie Heckman, of Montgomery County, that State. She was born, reared and educated in the vicinity of Dayton, and died five years after her marriage. The three children left at her death were Anna, Harry and Hallie, all of whom are now in the Fairmount Public School. Mr. James T. Hill for his second wife married Miss Eva Bell Butts. She was a native of Montgomery County, where they were married. They are the parents of William B. and Mary G.
S. Brooks Hill was born in the foothills of the Alleghany Mountains in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1873. His early training and home influence were on a farm and he belonged to a thrifty Pennsylvania family. He grew up and was educated in the common schools and firs qualified himself for a career as a teacher. When a boy he got his education by walking night and morning tow and a half miles to a district school. Late he went to the county normal, and then spent three years as a teacher.
S. Brooks Hill, after he gave up his occupation as a school teacher, having about that time reached his majority, moved out to Dayton, Ohio, and spent four years in the meat and grocery business. That was the foundation of his experience which enabled him to start out on his own account when he came to Fairmount in January, 1898. Here he first took the management of a local telephone company, and spent seven years in that work. In 1904, he established a meat market, and after a few months bought out his partner, and was then joined by his brother. The Hill Brothers enterprise is much above the average scope of a local meat market. They not only have a well equipped shop for disposing of their meat on the block, but maintain a slaughter house, and have a complete refrigerating plant for the preserving and curing of all their products. Electricity is the power which operates the entire plant. A. large part of the business is the preparation of the meat consumed by nearly all the farmers in this section of Grant County, and their equipment has been especially designed to meet the demands of this class of trade. By careful management and efficient service they have built up a very profitable business.
Mr. S. Brook Hill was married in Mercer County, Ohio to Miss Caroline Johnsman, who was born in Mercer County on a farm, received a public school education, and has been a most helpful companion to her husband. Their children are: Thelma, now eleven years of age and attending the city schools; and Clemons Lamont, who is five years of age.
Milton B. Hill, the youngest of the Hill Brothers, was born in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1876. He married Bertha Lake, and they have two children, Vivian and Kittie. Mr. Hill resides on the old home farm in Fulton County, Pennsylvania.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.