BIOGRAPHY - ELBERT HILLS
Elbert E. Hills is devoting his time and energies to the cultivation and improvement of a farm of four hundred acres on section 28, Mona township, and is also well known as a stock-raiser. He was born in Kendall county, Illinois, October 28, 1863, his parents being Austin and Cornelia (Vreeland) Hills, the former a native of New York and the latter of New Jersey. They came to Kendall county at an early day and the father, who was a harnessmaker by trade, followed that pursuit through much of his life. Pie and his wife are now living in Kankakee county and are well known in this part of the state. In their family were six children, of whom Elbert E. is the eldest, while the others are: Levi M. and Frederick P., both residents of Kankakee county; Henrietta, the wife of John Iukster, a resident of Herscher; Leroy W., also a resident of Herscher; and one deceased.
The boyhood and youth of Elbert E. Hills were passed in a manner similar to that of most boys of the period. He remained with father until he reached manhood, in the meantime acquiring his education in the public schools. When he had attained adult age he started out in life for himself and worked by the month for three years. He next rented a farm for fourteen years, after which he married and established his home where he now resides. The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Hills was in her maidenhood Miss Emma Dancer. She was born in Ford county and is a daughter of John and Mattie Dancer. She owns eighty acres of the farm on which they live on section 23, Mona township. The place comprises four hundred acres and the soil is rich and productive, responding readily to the care and labor which is bestowed upon it. In addition to the production of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climatic conditions, Mr. Hills also makes a specialty of raising stock and fine grades of cattle are seen upon his place, while his sales annually reach a large figure.
Mrs. Hills is a graduate of the Onarga Seminary and also of the Northern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso. She has likewise studied music and is a lady of broad and liberal culture. Her father died in 1894, leaving a wife and two children to mourn his loss, and Mrs. Dancer is now living in Cullom, Livingston county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hills have been born three children: John Russell D., Irene M. and Milton Albert, but the last named is now deceased.
The parents attend and support the Methodist Episcopal church and are people of genuine personal worth, enjoying in large measure the friendship and high regard of those with whom they have been brought in contact. Mr. Hills is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, No. 612, at Herscher. He has served as school director for several years and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. His political allegiance has been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hills are widely and favorably known in this locality and their home is justly celebrated for its gracious and warm-hearted hospitality.
Extracted 16 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 543-544.
