El
Dorado County
Biographies
SEYMOUR HILL
A
representative of one of El Dorado County’s old pioneer families, and now the
proprietor of the Hotel Hill, in El Dorado, is Seymour Hill, who has spent
practically his entire life in this locality.
He was born in El Dorado County on the 27th of August, 1864,
and is a son of Samuel and Mary Jane (Sackett) Hill. The father first came across the plains to
this part of the coast in 1851, but in the following year went back east,
taking the isthmus route. In 1853 he
again made the journey across the plains, driving an ox team, six months and
thirteen days being required to make the trip.
Here he engaged in mining and cattle raising. He became prominent in local affairs and in
1858 was a member of the state legislature.
He died in November, 1891, and his widow passed away in August, 1896,
both being buried at El Dorado. To them
were born two sons and four daughters.
Seymour
Hill, the only member of the family now living, attended the public schools at
El Dorado and when twenty-three years of age engaged in merchandising, to which
he devoted his attention for twenty-eight years. During that period he also served one term as
postmaster. For several years he has
been the owner and manager of the Hotel Hill, in which he has met with marked
success. The present hotel is a portion
of the original California Hotel, which was built in 1852, and which was later
called the Oriental Hotel. At this hotel
stopped many of this county’s most noted men during the days of the historic
gold rush of three-quarters of a century ago, and it was also the stopping
place for the stages which ran through this place. Today it contains forty rooms, which are well
furnished and are kept scrupulously clean, while the dining room service is all
that could be desired. The hotel is well
patronized, being well liked by the traveling public, and Mr. Hill is a popular
host. He divides his time between his
mining, cattle and hotel interests, in all of which he is winning success.
Mr.
Hill was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Squires, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Ogden Squires, her father having been judge of the local court and one of the
best known citizens of this section of California in early days. Mrs. Hill was born in Aurora, Illinois, and
was brought across the plains to California in her girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are the parents of two
daughters, Hazel and Oralea. Politically
Mr. Hill has always supported the Democratic Party. He is a member of Grass Valley Lodge, No.
538, B. P. O. E. He has led an active
and useful life, by his individual activities has contributed to the general
welfare of El Dorado and is recognized as one of its representative men.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 Pages 269-270. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's El Dorado
County Biographies