Wayne County Biographies



Part of the Indiana Biographies Project



Kittridge Hill

Though now in his eighty-sixth year, Kittridge Hill, an honored citizen of Centerville, Wayne county, is strong and sound in mind and body, possessing the energy and vigor of many a man in the prime of life. He has been practically retired from business cares since 1863, though he has extensive property interests in the east, the supervision of which he has never relegated to others. In former years he occupied a distinctive position in the commercial and political circles of his community, and was recognized as an authority in public affairs. He has been faithful to his conceptions of the duties of citizenship, ever striving to advance the interests of his fellow men.

John Hill, the founder of the Hill family in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, and ancestor of our subject, came to America from London, England, in 1725 or 1727. He became a permanent resident of North Brookfield in 1740, and died at his home in that place in 1775, at the advanced age of one hundred and two years and two months. The next in line of descent were his son Peter and grandson Peter, Jr. The latter was a farmer, and possessed considerable talent as a musician. His son Kittridge was born in North Brookfield in 1777, and the latter was the father of our subject.

Kittridge Hill, of whom this sketch is penned, was born in the northern part of North Brookfield September 29, 1813. In his early manhood he devoted himself to agriculture and found plenty of employment at his trade of stone-mason. He prospered in his various enterprises and still owns valuable property in his native state, including the old homestead, which he formerly cultivated. He was actively interested in the promotion of the interests of the Democratic party, and was frequently honored with local offices of responsibility and trust. For four years he served as constable of North Brookfield township, and for similar periods he was collector and treasurer there, being also United States assignee in bankruptcy so long as the law creating that office was in force. During President Pierce's administration he served as postmaster, was continued by Buchanan, and retained the office for some time after President Lincoln entered upon his term. Mr. Hill was so popular and so thoroughly efficient in the discharge of his duties as postmaster that, though the Republicans had come into power in the opening days of the war, and in spite of the fact that the Democratic sentiment was in a minority in New England at that time, when a ballot was taken among the citizens of North Brookfield he received a three-fourths vote. He resigned the same year, however, and was succeeded by a brother of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. He then removed to New York state, where he resided for a year or two, and in March, 1863, he came to Centerville, where he has since made his home.

In his early manhood Mr. Hill wedded Miss Susan H. Brimhall, the ceremony which united their fortunes being performed April 11, 1837. The following year Mrs. Hill died, and subsequently he married Miss Elizabeth R. Tyler, from whom he was divorced in i860. The third wife of Mr. Hill was Miss Fanny B. Sheldon, of Deerfield, Massachusetts, and together they pursued the journey of life until the death of Mrs. Hill, at her home in this place, in 1891. Four sons were born to our subject, but only one, Lloyd Kittridge, of Centerville, survives. Albert Tyler died when three years old, and Warren Tyler and Walter Copeland when young lads. The friends of Kittridge Hill are legion, both in Centerville and in North Brookfield, his former home, his many noble qualities having won the praise and admiration of his associates and acquaintances wherever he has gone. His life, which has nearly spanned the century, has been filled with useful, loving deeds, which will be remembered when he has been called to his reward. To his descendants he will leave the record of a blameless life,—a more priceless heritage than wealth.

Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899