The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-07-05

John Fremont Hill, M. D., the gentle
man nominated at the Bangor Conven-
ton for Governor of Maine ia one of
the first citizens and most prominent
business men of the Capital City, Au-
gusta. He was born in Eliot, York
county, Maine, Oct. 20, 1856. was the
son OF William and Miriam leighton
Hill. His ancestors on both sides have
been distinguished public men In their
day, and the public spirit and interest
In the affairs of the state which charac-
terize the subject of this sketch seem
to be hereditary. DR.. Hills father,
William Hill of Eliot, was in the sixth
generation of direct descent from John
| Hill of Dover. This John Hill was born
10 England In 1924, and came 10 this
country about the middle Of the century.
Dr. Hills mother WAS Miriam Leighton,
eldest daughter Of Andrew Leighton of
E lot, who frequently represented his
district in the State Legislature, and
WIS State senator for a number of years.
The Leighton family began 10 this
country with Captain William Leighton.
who settled in Kittery in 1850, near the
river side at a point afterwards named
Leighton's Fort.
John +. Hill was educated at Eliot
and Berwick academies, the Putnam
School at NeWburyport, Massachusetts,
studied medicine aud graduated at the
Maine Medical School, Brunswick, com.
pleting his studies in his profession at
the Long Island College Hospital,
Brooklyn, New York. After leaving
college DR.. Hill practiced medicine for
about year in Boothbay Harbor, but
very soon decided to devote his attention
to business career. La 1879 he came
to Augusta, and went into business
with p. o. Vickery, and soon after. be-
came his partner, under the firm name
of Vickery & Hill. In 1889 DIR. Hill
was elected Representative from Angus.
ia to the Maine Legislature, and served
on the committees of banks and bank
ing, and of railroads. telegraphs and
expresses. In 1891 he was again elected
Representative, and served as chairman
of the House committee on railroads.
In August, 1892, he was nominated by
acclammation as senator from Kenne-
b. &c county, and sat In the Legislatures
of 1898 and 1895 in that capacity, being
chairman of the important railroads
committee in both years. DR.. Hill has
been intimately connected with the
building of several street railroads, and
has always been Interested in the prog
ress of Maine, particularly in this
direction. He is essentially a man of
public affairs, and Is a director OF the
Augusta National Bank, a trustee of
the kennebec Savings nank, vice presi-
dent and director of the Maine Trust
Company of Gardiner, director of the
Augusta, Hallowell & Gardiner Elec-
trio Railroad Company, of the Rockland,
Camden & Thomaston Street Railway
Company and the Norway & Paris
Street Railway. Needless to say, Dr.
Hill has always been a Republican in
politics. In religious views he is a
Universaist. He is Mason, Knight
Templar and one of the largest share
holders in the Masonic Temple at
Augusta, built in 1895. He is also a
member of the Abnaki club, social
club formed in Augusta in 1895, and
whose membership includes the best
men of the city. DIR. Hill was married
May 10, 1880, to Lizzie G. Vickery,
daughter of his partner, P. 0. Vickery :;
their only child, Percy, was born March
16, 1881. Mrs. Hill died April 10, 1898.
DR.. Hill was married the second time,
April 26, 1897, to Mrs. Hiram Liggett
of ST. Louis, Mo-, daughter of Hon.
Norman }. Coleman, the first Secretary
of Agriculture in the cabinet of Presi-
dent Cleveland