Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of the Lake Huron Shore H. R. Page & Co., - 1883 [278] WILLIAM HILL was born in Lockport, Niagara County, N.Y., 1823, and lived there to manhood. He was married at Lewiston, N.Y., to LYDIA A. HORTON in 1857, who died at Alcona in 1877 and was buried in Alcona cemetery. MR. HILL came to Presque Isle, Mich., in 1845, May 15, and to Alcona County the same year and worked for GOODWIN Bros., at Thunder Bay Island, at $14 per month. He bought a gill net and com- menced the business on his own hook. He afterward got more nets and the next year got a boat and increased his business. He came to the Cove in 1853 and had at one time five boats full rigged and did the largest fishing business on the Shore. In the Fall of 1855 MR. HILL opened a store of supplies for fishermen, and ROBERT WHITE acted as clerk. This store was also a hotel where men got food and lodging and did not pay anything. In 1857 MR. HILL bought out MORRISON McKINLY, which included his fishing rig and shanties, and then secured Lots 2, 3, and 4 at the Cove, being in Section 1 and Section 11 in Alcona Township. MR. HILL afterward owned land in Harrisville Township, where the principal part of that village now stands, which he sold to HARRIS Bros. MR. HILL is engaged in farm- ing and fishing now, and although sixty-one years of age, carries on his business with much of his accustomed energy. In 1857 and 1858 MR. HILL was appointed deputy state land commissioner by JAMES W. SANBORN, state land commissioner, and was, during that time, engaged in preventing and prosecuting trespassers on the public lands. MR. HILL was elected highway commissioner of his township and held several successive terms of that office. He laid out and superintended the building of the Harrisville and Black River Turn- pike Road of thirteen miles, the longest road of the kind in the county. MR. HILL furnishes the following naration of wrecks and disasters: In 1847 the steamer “New Orleans” ran ashore and became a total wreck, on Sugar Island, with three hundred passengers and freighted with general merchandise. MR. HILL landed the passengers with two boats without any loss to passengers or freight. The steamer “Ben Franklin,” ran ashore on the southeast point of Thunder Bay Island, and was a total wreck. MR. HILL took off the cargo and a few passengers with his boats, with no loss. The steamer “Albany” went ashore at Presque Isle, in 1856, and became a total wreck, and was also visited by MR. HILL The propeller “Saint Joseph” ran ashore at North Point, and was got off by losing part of her cargo. The U.S. revenue cutter ran on Thunder Bay Island and was saved by one of MR. HILL’s boats carrying out an anchor to keep her off. The well known side wheel steamer “Marine City” took fire at Alcona and was burned to the water’s edge. MR. HILL sent out a boat with his two sons, SAMUEL and BARNEY, JIM JOHNSON and CHARLES FLICK, and took many passengers out of the water and carried them using the tug “Vulcan.” =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================