Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-11-04
The Late William Hill.

The Late William Hill.
In our last We briefly announced the death of
WILLIAM HILL, Secretary of State. His funeral took
place at the NJ. E Church, in this City, on Friday
last, and attended by large concourse of peo-
pie The public offices at the Capitol, and the prin
cipal places of business throughout the City, were
closed, as mark of respect for the deceased. The
funeral services were conducted by Rev. Mr. hee'er,
the minister in charge, who preached an impressive
sermon from the following text: Fer know that
nv Redeemer lveth, and that He shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth: and though, after my
skin, destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall
see G'd." Job CHI. 10: VS. %. &c.
Partly from facts furnished US, and partly from
our n knowledge, enabled to give the fol-
lowing brief biography of the deceased:
WILLIAM HILL was born in Surry (now Sokes)
county. n. c., on the pa Of September, 1913, and
died in Raleigh the goth of October, 1857, being
81 years, month and days old.
OF his early life little is known beyond the few
brief "reminiscences occasionally narrated by himself
His father, who removed from Caroline county, Va,
was a Baptist minister, sterling patriot and an
honest During the var of the Revolution his
stirring appeals stimulated the Wings of his section.
He was a chaplain in the American army at the bat
tie of Guford Court House. His son William was
then about eight years old, and he well recollected
hearing the of the artillery. being only four
miles distant from the field Of battle. He has been
heard to relate that short time prior to this battle
a band of Tories called his fathers house, where
he and his mother were and enquired for his father
On being told that he was not at home they depart
ed avowing their intention hang him if they found
him. He had incurred their hate by his devotion to
the patriot cause. He member Of the Conven-
ton that met at Hillsborough in August, 1775, to
improvse system Of government for the State
The maiden ma of his wife, the mother of the sub
ject of this memoir, was Eliza tialbert. She was q
native Of Caroline county, Va.
The late Secretary had in youth but limited edu-
cation.I facilities He follow ed the pillow for several
months during the year to obtain money sufficient
to pay his tuition at school the remainder of the year.
At the early age of sixteen he taught school, thus
improving his mind while he earned livelihood
In the month of July, 1885, having ob'ained a
letter of introduction from Mark Hardin, Esq, Of
Chapel Hill, afterwards Major Hardin, to Jamt S
Glasgow, then Secretary of State, he came to Ra-
leigh and entered his (Gasgows) office a clerk.
Associated with him in the like capacity was Viii.
liam White, Esq, who succeeded Glasgow in Office
in 1888 He continued in the position under
Secretary White until about January, 1903, when
he was married to Miss Sarah daughter Of Col John
Geddy. Col 6. was staunch Wing. He was cap
tured by the British and imprisoned for long time
in Charleston, S. c. He was member of the first
Convention of the people held in the State on the
18th of August 1774 at New Berne; also of the
Convention held at IIilIsborough on the 2lst Of Au-
gust, 1875; and he represented Halifax county in
the State Legislature from IVA to 1885.
son and four daughters, all now living, were
the fruits of this marriage. His wife died on the
l4th Of February, 1888. short time after lis mar
rage, he engaged in the mercantile business at Hay
wood Chatham county, where he remained but q
short time, returning to Raleigh during the year
1904 Here, for while, he followed the same pur
suit, at Richard Smiths old stand, Mr.. Smith being
then his clerk. At the session of the Legislature OF
1904 5 he was appointed magistrate for Wake
county At the February term of the court Of pleas
and quarter sessions in the year 1906 he was elected
Register of the county; and at February term 1907,
he was elected County Court Clerk. which Office he
held until he was elected Secretary of State in No
vembcr, 1911, succeeding William White, who died
in October, 1871
In the year 1884 or 1885 he again married. His
second wife was Mrs. Frances c. Bount, relict OF
Joseph Blount, Esq of Ch.wan county. Her maid
en- name was Conner. She is lineal descendant
from John Archdale. Quaker, who succeeded Philip
Ludwell rs Governor Of Carolina in the year 1894
By this marriage there was no issue. She is still
living.
At the burning of the old Capitol in 1881, Mr.;
Hill succeeded, by strenuous exertions in preserv.
ing the records Of mis- Office and had them removed
to what is now the site Of the Deaf and Dumb Asy.
lum BY laboring necessarily he succeeded in ar
ranging all his papers before the meeting of the Leg
isature.
He held the office of Secretary of State, through
all the mutations of party, to the day of his death.
Mr. Hill joined the ". F.. Church in 1911, when
Bishops Ashbury and McKendree preached in the
old Statehouse. He was baptised privately, by i'm
merson. There then church building in
Raleigh The first church built here was that OF
heV. MIR. Gendening Unitarian and the building
Is now used as shop. 1t is situated on Hargett
street. near the shop Of David Register, Sr. The
next church was the Presbyterian and the next the
Method st. The only person now living in Raleigh
who joined the Church with Mr.. Hill. is Wesley
Whitaker, Sr.