Thomas Hill - History of Rush County, Indiana
From History of Rush County, Indiana, Brant & Fuller, 1888, pages 586-587:
Thomas Hill was born in Guilford County, N. C., November 30, 1797.He was the son of Thomas and Anna (Haskett) Hill.The family embraced the following named children:Jesse, Thomas, Jonathan, Betsey (Jessup), Sarah (Bentley), Hulda (Overman), Penninah (Lacy).At an early age, Thomas was brought with the family to Wayne County, Ind., to a new home in the wilderness, about five miles from where Richmond now is.His parents died soon after they arrived in Indiana, and Thomas went to live with his cousin Robert Hill, two miles east of Richmond.In 1820 he entered a farm in Rush County, and the same year built a cabin on his new possessions.The cabin stood in Section 24, Town 15 north, Range 8 east.In September, 1821, he returned to his cabin, bringing with him his young wife.As many of our people have never seen a marriage certificate such as was used by the Friends, we here insert this one:“Whereas Thomas Hill, of the State of Indiana and the County of Wayne, son of Thomas Hill and Anna, his wife, both deceased, and Tamar Clark, daughter of John Clark, and Sarah, his wife, deceased, of the State and county aforesaid, having declared their intention of marriage with each other at the monthly meeting of the religious society of Friends, held at White Water, according to the good order used among them and having the consent of parents and parties concerned.Their said intentions of marriage were allowed of by said meeting.Now these are to certify whom it may concern that for the full accomplishment of their said intentions this thirtieth day of the eighth month in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, they, the said Thomas Hill and Tamar Clark by the hand, did openly declare that he took her the said Tamar Clark to be his wife, promising with Divine assistance to be unto her a loving husband until death should separate them; and then in the same assembly, the said Tamar Clark did in like manner declare that she took him, the said Thomas Hill, to be her husband, and promising, with Divine assistance, to be a loving wife until death should separate them.And moreover, they, the said Thomas Hill and Tamar Clark (she according to the customs of marriage assuming the name of her husband), did, as a further confirmation thereof, then and there to these presents set their hands.Thomas Hill, Tamar Hill.And we, whose names are hereunto prescribed, being present at the solemnization set our hands the day and year above written:John Winslow, Susannah Keeslin, Jesse Davenport, John Clark, John Lacy, Jonathan Hill, Robert Parker, Isaac Bonine, Zilpah Price, Karen Parker, Nathan Pearson, Sarah Hill, Anna Hill, Peninnah Lacy, Alice Clawson, Robert Hill, William Clark.”Of the above names written on that day, there lives only one now, Tamar Hill, who was the blushing young bride in that assemblage of good people, sixty-seven years ago.As above mentioned, they came to their log cabin in a short time; their children were born as follows:Milton, born July 19, 1822 (the first white child born in Ripley Township); John Clark, born January 7, 1825; Sarah Ann, born May 10, 1827; Susannah, born September 29, 1829; Jane, married to Joseph Phelps, born July 13, 1837, Owen S., born February 2, 1838; Enos B., born February 10, 1742.The subject of this sketch, by his industry and honesty, accumulated a competency and secured for himself a name among his neighbors which is as lasting as memory.He assisted at the organization of Walnut Ridge meeting, and was always among the first in every good work.The need of schools for educating his own children and those of his neighbors, early received his attention.The Boarding School in Richmond, under the care of Friends, was organized in 1847.In 1848, Thomas Hill was elected to take charge of it.He remained there two years.He succeeded Barnabas C. Hobbs.This school was Earlham College in embryo.Thomas Hill lived in Ripley Township long enough to see the wilderness developed in to a beautiful land dotted with many happy homes.He died after a busy and useful life, May 2, 1879.His aged widow, a cheerful and happy old lady of eighty-six years, lives in Carthage calmly waiting the change when the summons shall be read, Come up higher.