Biography of John Hill (1800
to 1879) and Isyphene Annas Hill (1806 to 1887)
Daniel H. Weiskotten
11/15/1999
last updated 4/17/2003
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For the biography of the Hill family from the Genealogical and Family
History of Central New York (W.R. Cutter, 1912) see Darci's
Place of Origins
From: Smith, James H., 1880,
History
of Chenango and Madison Counties, New York. D. Mason & Co.. Syracuse,
NY
John and Isyphene Annas Hill
Facing Page 699
John Hill was born in New Hartford,
Oneida Co., NY, March 8, 1800. He was a son of Daniel Hill, a soldier
of the revolution, belonging to General Washington's guard. His mother,
Alice DeGross was a French woman. He moved with his parents in the
town of Lenox, Madison Co., NY, when he was seven yeas old. (He)
Was a kind son, taking care of his parents with a loving thoughtfulness
in their old age. In 1824 he married Isyphene Annas and moved upon
a farm he owned in the town of Fenner, Madison Co., NY. Mr. Hill
was a prominent man in political affairs and held the offices, at various
times, of Supervisor, Justice of the Peace and Loan Commissioner.
In 1833, he bought a country hotel known as the Baldwin House, accommodating
travelers upon the old stage route from Chittenango to the Chenango Valley.
In 1837, he moved his family into Perryville, purchasing the property known
as the Oran S. Avery farm, and Dykeman Mill. With large natural endowments,
a keen incisive intellect united with rare vigor and much natural heroism,
he was peculiarly fitted to become a leader among men, which within his
sphere, he was. His courage and energy were simply wonderful and
irrepressible. Was active, full of life, indefatigable in labor,
honorable in deal, prompt and accurate in his executive ability; few possess
such intuitive penetration of character. Men in trouble seemed to
instinctively turn to Mr. Hill for counsel, sympathy and help. A
man with ways positive, direct and unmistakable, he had the capacity to
stamp his personality upon whoever he came in contact with and therefore
was widely known throughout Madison Co. It was never in his heart
to deliberate wrong to any one and many can testify they have been helped
on in this life's battle by his sympathy and aid. As a father, he
was eminently kind and paternal, for his daughters, especially, he exhibited
a love that was chivalrous and beautiful. He delighted in a social
life, with a generous hospitality. Was the father of ten children:
John W., born August 11, 1825, in Fenner, Madison Co., NY, is a lawyer
and farmer, residing in McPherson, KS; Mary, born December 14, 1826, in
Fenner, married Q.A. Ballou, son of Col. A. Ballou, November 9, 1846, died
January 9, 1858, leaving a daughter who is the wife of Judge T.O. Harrison,
in Grand Island, NE.; Mason, born June 18, 1828, in Fenner, lawyer and
farmer, residing in Nashotah, WI; Flaville, born December 14, 1829, in
Fenner, married Capt. C.P. Morey, January 5th, 1853, a resident of Buffalo;
Isyphene, born November 23, 1831, in Fenner, married John Haywood, son
of William Haywood, of Sullivan, April 6, 1854; Webster, born December
7, (year not given), in Fenner, a farmer, residing in Perryville; Nancy,
born May 7, 1836, in Fenner, married Capt. H.G. Morey, January 6, 1856,
in Perryville, died a resident of Buffalo, NY, April 5, 1874; Norman, born
January 11, 1839, in Perryville, Justice of the Peace and farmer, resident
of Perryville; Nellie, born November 21, 1840, in Perryville, married September
25, 1860, M.N. Moot, son of Col. D.B. Moot, of Lenox; Rosa, born June 10,
1845, married December 2, 1863, Oran F. Britt, son of Benjamin Britt, of
Sullivan, died April 7, 1879.
John Hill died September
23, 1879, leaving not only the results of his industry and care, but what
his children may prize more, his principles of honor.
Isyphene Annas Hill was
the daughter of Oliver Annas, who moved with his father into the town of
Nelson, Madison Co., NY, from the state of Vermont. Her father married
Aphema Aldrich, in Wooster Co., MA. Oliver Annas bought and cleared
a farm in the town of Fenner, where Isyphene, their first living child
was born, June 30, 1806. Her parents were of the old Quaker stock,
rigid in their principles and exemplary in their habits. She was
brought up to understand all kinds of spinning, weaving and the patchwork
of those primitive times. At the early age of eighteen, considering
herself an adept in those arts, she consented to marry and start life with
John Hill, a promising young man, who knew, even at that early age, many
of the hardships of life. They were married September 19, 1824 and
began for themselves, with but a small portion of this world's goods.
If one of the Proverbs from the "good book," may be quoted here, with slight
variation. "She did him good, all the days of his life," being a
true and loving help-meet (help-mate) to the man with whom she chose to
walk life's rugged pathway, combining rare sweetness with great firmness
of disposition, she was a helmet of safety, for her somewhat spirited family
to rely upon. In all differences, exercising a remarkable wisdom
in protecting each from the faults and weakness of the other, thereby producing
a harmony of which she was ever the strongest, sweetest note. Always
remembering the time when a thorough education would have been a luxury
to herself and a power to her husband, with his natural abilities, could
the state of the country schools in those times have furnished such a matter,
when they were at the age to prize an ample course of study, they united
in many a noble self-sacrifice and gave generously to their family the
advantages of which they had been deprived, encouraging their improvements
with loving admonitions. At the age of thirteen she united with the
Methodist church and as we will be acknowledged by her church society,
neighbors and friends, been a worthy christian character. "Her children
rise up and call her blessed." And although left for a period of
widowhood, she awaits the call of the divine Master, with peaceful resignation.
Her daughters can tell theirs, of the good wrought by a brave christian
woman, who taught her children all to pray, believing it the key which
opens the door to all good thoughts within the mind. Heroic in patience,
strong in adversity, sweet be the close of life, hoping for the words,
"Well done thou good and faithful servant."