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John W. Hill, farmer and trustee of Ewing College, was born in 1850 in Franklin County, the sixth of twelve children (two deceased) of John W., Sr., and Margaret (Beaty) Hill, the former of German-English stock, born in 1823 in Hamilton County, and the latter partly of Irish origin, born in 1822 in Alabama. The mother lived when a child in Missouri and then in Franklin County, where she was married about 1840 to our subject's father. The father was a farmer near Ewing College, and held many public offices before his death July 30, 1876. Among others he was county judge, treasurer, and associate justice for many years. The mother is still living on the old homestead. Our subject was educated at Ewing High School and college. When twenty-one he married and settled on his farm in Ewing Township. After trading farms several times he has
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finally settled in Section 15, on a farm bought in 1884. His wife, Margaret J., daughter of James and Sarah McCoy, was born in 1850 in Ohio, and came here when a mere child. From 1870 to about 1880, our subject has also been a teacher. From a beginning of nothing he has now succeeded in becoming the owner of the farm on which Judge Duff was partly reared, one of the best eighty-acre farms in the county. In February, 1887, he was elected trustee of Ewing College, and has been secretary of the county agricultural society for the past twelve years. All the brothers are Democrats. Our subject first voted for Greeley. Be is secretary of the F. & A. M., Ewing Lodge, and has been for ten years. He has been representative of the I. 0. 0. F. lodge, also for the same length of time, and is also a member of the encampment. His wife is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.