The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-11
WILLIAM HILL

was born In the village Of Ballynure: Coun,
" Antrim. Ireland, May the 18th, lSoo, dled
January 18Th, 1856. and buried In Upper Long
Cane cemetery. His father was David IN,
and his mothers maiden name was mary
Maffet. ,oo, .
He came to America in the fall OF 1892, at
the age or seventeen years, Ianolng IN
Charleston aftera long and somewhat stormy
passage lasting for nearly SIX WEEKS.
At that time there were living IN AooeVlile
Dis trict, now Abbeville County. q goooly
had emigrated 10 this country rom the same
section OF Ireland from whence came the suo'
.ject OF this sketch. To several OF lnese ne
uore letters of Introduction, furnished MIN
by his father. -.
Among those to whom he had such letters
was Major John Donald, whose home was
near where Is now D1naldsvilie which place
took It's name from Col Samuel Donald. ora
eat son OF the Major. From the TACT that Mr..
Donald bore the title OF Major. which by the
Young Irishman was considered a marx OF
great distinction. (as iu The old conntry tites
mean something, and consequently are noL
idly conferred, ~ is often the case In Amer
tca,0 he naturally concluded that the Msjor
was no ordinary man, and therefore the nome
of that gentleman was among the first places
TO which the young man betook himseil.
To the BOD OF his old friend David Hill,
whom he had left behind him when be emil
grated TO America years before, Major Doa,
aid extended q most cordial welcome, az ola
bis wife and other members OF DIS ialnlly.
Al this hospitHble home We md that young
Mr.. HI paid frequent visits. Tue reason Tor
.uis WAS not altogether attributable 10 the
fact that 8 warm walcome was ever EXTENDED
to him by the Major and bis vile. as suo-e.
ouent events proved. but largely on account
Of The attractiveness OF their eldest daughter,
Annie Hamlltoo Donald, who at that time
was lust blooming into young womanhood.
This attraction seems TO have been reclp.
rocaI. as we iuu that these young people
were married In less than Two years atIer
their first meeting.
William Hill was q most enthus,astic lrish.
man, never being entirely weaped OF bis love
tor his native land, the home OF the shiilally
and shamrock so g.eeu"; but nevertheless
he was answering In his loyalty to bis
adopted State. South Carolina. be was oiten
heard to express regret that he WAS 40 ad-
vauced In lie az %preclnded him from taxing
an active part In the defense OF the rights o!
the South. In the war between the Slates-a
cause which enlisted his most ardent sympa-
thies. He felt that South Cero!tna. Within
whose borders he had permanently fixed his
habitation, had the first claim upon. hi~loy.
atty, but as between the Untted States and
any foreign power, be was ever ready 10 DO
psiile under the Stars and Stripes.
AS proof OF his LOYALTY TO the United States
prior TO the period at which South Carollna
became involved In a conflict with the CEN
ernl Government. we cite the fact That DC voi'
unteered az a soldier in The Florida or Semi
mole war In 1886, being Orderly Sergeant IN
Capt. Thomas Parker's com pany made up OF
men from old \ bbeville District: and again
In 1886. he willingly permitted MS oluest SOD,
John Donald Hill, not then OF age, to voiun-
reer for the war between the United States
md Mexico, from which war he never re-
turned.
William Hill was a man OF vigorous intel
rect, an omniverons reader, and consequently
= most entertaining nversationalist. NO
man OF his day WAS more beloved and held In
greater esteem thar was he-a fact which was
'ully demonstrated In the frequency Win
which he was elevated to positions OF honor
and trust by the suf'uges OF his fellow citl
Zens.
William Hill WAS elected to the office Of
Judge OF Probate for Aboeville county for
light terms In succession. BY those best &C
,uaiuied with him. he was consi cred a safe
COUNSELLOR In all ordinary legal matters, al
though he WAS never forma " admitted TO
The bar. 1t was no unusual thipg, foEFears
before his death, 10 hear such expressions as,
Il would as soon take the opinion of william
Hill on a question of law, as that OF any
member OF the AbbevilIe Bar"