Alameda County
Biographies
OTIS HILL
Prominent among the pioneer residents of Alameda county is Otis Hill, a venerable and highly respected agriculturist of Eden township, whose well-kept ranch is pleasantly located about one mile from the city of Haywards. In the development of this section of the county, and in the advancement of its welfare, he has been an important factor. Coming here a full half century ago, he, with the other early settlers of this locality, bravely and cheerfully endured the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and with them will leave footprints where coming generations shall follow with far less exertion, and with a far greater number of comforts, things that in those days were considered as luxuries being now among the necessities of this world. Of New England stock, his ancestors having been among the early settlers of Plymouth Colony, Mr. Hill was born, September 21, 1827, in Lockport, N.Y., a son of Orson Hill.
Born on a farm in New York state, Orson Hill was there reared to agricultural pursuits. After attaining his majority he was engaged in the livery business in Lockport for a few years. Returning then to the occupation in which he was reared, he bought forty acres of land in Niagara county, about eight miles from Lockport, and having improved a comfortable homestead there spent the remainder of his life, dying a the age of seventy-two years. He was fairly successful as a farmer and was a fine representative of the self-made men of his day. During his early life he supported the principles of the Whig party, but was afterwards identified with the Republicans. He married Minerva Smith, who was born, lived, and died in the vicinity of Lockport, N.Y., attaining the venerable age of eighty-four years.
Until becoming of age, Otis Hill remained on the home farm, assisting his father in its management. He subsequently learned the cooper's trade, after which he opened a shop of his own, and was engaged in business as a cooper for several years. Coming to California by the Nicaragua route in 1855, he located in Haywards, where he had a brother living, and for the next two months worked as a farm laborer, receiving $1.50 per day wages, being afterwards employed for a short time in a blacksmith's shop. In 1856 Mr. Hill bought, for $900, one hundred and thirty acres of land in the Castro valley, and began its improvement. Three years later he added seventy acres to his original purchase in Eden township, his first purchase being a squatter's right. Some time during the sixties he got the Spanish grant title to two hundred acres, a part of which constitutes his present ranch, and which was formerly used as a sheep range. When it came into the market he bought it, running into debt to the amount of $10,000. He immediately began general farming, making a specialty of raising wheat. Selling one hundred acres of his land in 1867, he cleared himself of his indebtedness. Mr. Hill has since sold eighty acres of his farm, receiving from $150 to $400 per acre. He has now in his home ranch fifteen acres of very valuable land, supplied with water from a spring, and lying on the line of the Haywards and Oakland Electric line, a most favorable location. He carried on general farming to some extent, paying especial attention to the cultivation of fruits, as an orchardist being quite successful. He also has a valuable gravel pit, which is a source of considerable revenue.
In 1848, in New York state, Mr. Hill married Rebecca Riche, a native of that state. In 1856 she came by way of the Isthmus of Panama to California, joining her husband in Haywards. She died on the home farm, in January, 1894, aged sixty years. She was highly esteemed by all, and was a valuable member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Two children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hill. Oscar Leroy, who is married and has two sons and two daughters, is living on the home ranch with his father; and Rozaltha died when five years old. True to the political faith in which he was brought up, Mr. Hill is a stanch Republican, but has never held public office, having in the early days persistently refused the nomination for sheriff. He has always taken keen interest in educational matters, and assisted in raising the money for building the first school house in his district. In 1859 he joined Eden Lodge No. 113, F.& A.M., at San Leandro, and is a member of Doric Chapter No. 66, R.A.M., of San Leandro, and of Oakland Council No. 11, R.& S.M. Although not a member of any religious denomination, Mr. Hill is a true Christian, and contributes liberally towards the support of the churches. One of his benefactions to the public was the building of a watering trough for the purpose of supplying man and beast with water piped from the spring on his land.
Transcribed
5-25-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1189-1190. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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