Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1891-08-13
RETIRED FaOa TaE BENCH.
Judge Robert a. kiii OF ihe UGs-
TED States Circuit Court CT
AississiD1i.

Mississippi.
On Aug. /, after an incumbsn-
cY of over a quarter of centu-
~ as United States circuit Judge
Hon. Robert 4 UiIl rerires from
the bench. having already ten
dered bis resignation 10 take ef
feet on that date.
Judge Hill was born n Ire
dell county, North Carolina
March %, ISL. being the s0n OF
David Hill. and RhOda andrews.
Ia 1916 his parents removed TO
Tennessee, and settled IN Will
hanson county. near Franklin
The family consisted of the pa
rents, four daughters and the
future Judge. The father was
possessed of but little means,
consisting of 4 small farm, and
the usual amount of personal
property owned by small farm
ers at that time In 1921 bis
father lost his health, and al
though he lived Gutii Septem-
bet. 1888. was unable 10 per
form much labor, although an
Industrious maG so far as he was
able, which threw upon his son,
the subject OF this sketch, the
necessity of constant labor, so
much so that his opportunity
for an education was limited TO
a few weeks in the winter. a few
weeks after the crop was laid
by, before fodder pulling to
quote the judge, and q short
time after fodder pulling" and
gathering the crop, and seldom
a whole week at a time, untIi he
was Il years of age, whel he
had the benefits o fthree months
tuition with a good teacher.
This, with his fathers instruc-
ton, aud application at home
when not at work, was the only
opportunity for an education
From 1881 to 1884 inclusive he
taught school portions of the
time. In 1888 he married Miss
Mary Andrews, with whom he
has shared the joys and sOrrows
Of life from that time until the
present
In 1885 he was appointed con
stable of his district. and IN
March, 1896. was elected a Jus
tice of the peace, which office
he held until the first Monday In
December, 1874, when he then
re signed and obtained license
to practice law.
In October, 1915, he settled
in WaynesbOro, Tenn, and with
Judge Elijah Walker practiced
law until October IS47, when
ne was elected by the Legisla-
i1res attorney general for the
Fourteenth circuit; was re elect
ed in 1858 The constitution be-
iDg changed, giving the election
of The office TO the people, the
two terms expired III 1854 In
july 1875, he moved TO TlSho-
u1inSo county. Miss and foIUe.,
"a partnership in the pTae':ce OF
Law with Judge J z E.noId.
which terminated or lis going
On the bench
Ia l55s he VAS elected p.o-
bate judge OF Tishomiago coun-
~. which office he held until the
tall OF $50 In July, is65. lie
was az pointed by Gov. ShaFkey.
special chancellor Of that was
known as the cotton court, for
his Judicial district, which eeas-
eel with the establishment vi
the regular courts.
He was, vithou' being a can
dIdate, elected a delegate to the
constitutional convention OF Is.
90 and served as such, but the
work was not approved by con
gress. He went 10 Washington
during the meeting of Congress
an 1865 TO procure, as far as he
could. sneh legislation as might
relieve his fellow citizens who
had suffered so much by the de-
vastations of the war, and as an
applicant tor the judgeship he
has occupied since May /, lsG6.
to which Office he was appointed
by President Andrew johnson
Owing to the non admission of
the Senators aud Repr, senta-
tives elected from the state.
Judge Hill, together with Judge
Sharkey, looked after the inter
ests of the people of Mississippl
until appointed Judge, and
among other efforts procured a
suspension of the collection of
the direct tax then being press
ed.
In addition to his judicial la
bors lie has been a member OF
the board of trustees OF the
State University fo- most of the
time since he removed to Ok
ford in February, 1867. AID is
now 4 member ofthe board and
takes a deep interest IN the
young men in that fountain of
learning, from which annually
so many young men go cut to
hll places OF trust and honor
lie Is one ofth- lecturers in the
law school and proposes upon
his retirement from the bench
TO devote a portion of his tune
IN uf-rrAr- IL