Biography of John Murray Hill

John M. Hill
John M. Hill

John Murray Hill, Auditor for the city of Calais, Washington County, was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, November 7, 1837, son of John and Mary (Albee) Hill. The grandfather, Abner Hill, who was an early settler in Calais and a prominent lumberman in his day, owned large tracts of timber land. He was associated in business with his brother, Stephen Hill, and they were for some years the leading lumber operators upon the St. Croix River. His last days were passed in St. Stephen. The maiden name of his first wife, the grandmother of John M. Hill, was Whitney.

John Hill, born in Calais in 1804, commenced farming in St. Stephen at an early age. He later spent some years in Hopedale, town of Milford, Massachusetts, and then returned to St. Stephen. In 1847 he went to Wisconsin. As the climate of the West did not agree with him, he finally returned East, and resumed farming in St. Stephen, continuing in that occupation until within three or four years of his death. The latter event occurred in 1882, at the home of his son in Calais. He attended the Universalist church. Mary Albee Hill, his wife, who was a native of Machias, became the mother of several children, two of whom grew up and married, namely: John M., the subject of this sketch; and Abbie Price, who became the wife of Edward Hanson, of St. Stephen, and is no longer living.

John Murray Hill began his education in the public schools of Milford. After returning with his parents to New Brunswick, he went upon a trading expedition to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which consumed about six months’ time. Later he completed his studies at the Calais Academy. Then, entering the employ of D. & H. N. Hill as a clerk, he remained with them in that capacity for twenty years. Since leaving their employ he has devoted his time to the real estate business and the care of his property. He is now a trustee of the Calais Savings Bank. In politics he supports the Republican party, which elected him to the Common Council in 1876, and made him City Auditor in 1897.

Mr. Hill married Alma J. Gordon, daughter of John Gordon, of Windsor, Vermont. Mrs. Hill has had three children, two of whom are living, namely: Nellie E., now the organist at the Baptist church; and Elizabeth L. Hill, a student at Radcliffe College, popularly called the Harvard Annex. Mr. Hill is a member of St. Croix Lodge, F. & A. M., and attends the Union church.

Source: Biographical review: containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine. Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1898.

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