Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-01
SENATOR HILLS AUTOBIOGRA-
PLY,


The following brief but interesting autob-
ography OF the late Senator Hill was written
and given by him to his friend, the late DR..
w. II. White, in 1879, and it was found
amnng his papers
81 was born in Jasper county, Georgia,
September ID, 1923. l was the seventh OF
nine children, and the fifth of six brothers.
My father was small farmer, owning a few
slaves only. All his sons, therefore, did all
farm work, and all his daughters did all
household work. My mother cut and made
| the clothes we wore, and most of them
were spun and wovc on the plantation.
worked ON the farm from the time was
eight years old, and black and white came
and went alike in all work. My father wa
a man of common education, but was ex
tcnsively read, and Of great influence in his
neighborhood When | was ten years old
| lin 1889 my father moved to the county of
| Troup, new county, and his lands were
well in the woods, and helped clear them.
| | walked the entire distance from the old to
the new home, over 100 miles, helping to
drive the cattle
house, church, and a temperance society
uear his house. He was always trustee of
| the school, class leader and steward in the
church, and president of the temperance
| society. Some of my earliest and sweetest
| recolections are connected with these in
slitutions and my fathers zeal in them.
The black people always attended church
with the whites and all Of us, black and
white, were encouraged to become members
at very early ages The rule for the children
was to work on the farm until the crop was
made and then 90 to school until il was
gathered. After the crop was gathered, go
/ f,c
er crop.
| This was my life until was sixteen years
old. was then continued at school at the
time with view to collegiate education.
My father was not able to send all his chill
dren to college; only one besides myself
desired college course, and alone gradu-
ated. After | was pronounced prepared to
enter college my father decided he was not
able to send me. A family consultation was
held. My mother insisted on my going.
She had always had what she called her
patch, which was near the house, and was
cultivated by her house hands when not
needed at Homework. This patch had al
ways been my mothers pin money, amount
lug from $50 to 500. My mother said she
would contribute this to my college expenses,
and would make my clothes at home be-
sides.
An old aunt of my mothers who lived in
II small house in my fathers yard and had
some means (smalD and no children, agreed
to contribute as much more; my father
agreed to add the balance, and | promised
that all my college expenses of any kind
should not exceed $500 per annum. !
promised my mother that | would take the
first honor in my class. redeemed this
promise. The proudest day of my life was
when wrote to my parents that had taken
| . ftret I'M ola oil "a
OF the literary society Of which was a
member.
The cook, Maria, came by my mother,
and was near her age. She also raised nine
children-just the number my mother
raised. One Of the cooks children from
birth was assigned to one of my mothers
children. From our childhood we played
together, worked together, and would fight
for each other against all the world. Stronger
ties than these were never formed 1t was
an alliance offensive and defensive
married in 1S45. My wife had seven slaves,
large and small left her by her father, who
died when she was an infant. Thus We
began life with eight slaves When my
father and mother died the slaves selected
their owner among the children, and had
to take two more, who would go with nc
other child, and paid for them.
NV wife had one other brother left IN
orphan with her. He married several years
after we did, and determined not to keep
his slaves. They were not willing to go oul
of the family and bought them now
had fourteen slaves. ! was professions
man living in town and did not need them.
: | was not willing to hire them out. The
result was bought some land near the town
and moved on 1t with the slaves and told
them to support themselves under my pro
lection. The slaves increased and married
wives aud husbands, and raised children
and to keep them together l bought then
all. | also bought several others who hat
to be sold, and who selected me as theil
owner. In a few years my small place wa
, insufficient for them, and rather than par,
with them bought larger plantation il
the county and placed them on it, and re
moved with my family back to town. wa!
thus a stakeholder from 1915 to 1865, JUS
twenty years. My slaves increased from
eight to sixty-seven, and during all tina
time there were but two deaths among them
and all of them will testify that caret
better for them than they have been able Il
care for themselves since freedom came.