Milton Hill

Quick Facts

Significance:

Kansas Homesteader

Place of Birth:

Overton County, Tennessee

Date of Birth:

May 1845

Place of Death:

Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas

Date of Death:

September 1938

Place of Burial:

West Plains Cemetery, Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas [Section East, Row 10]

Milton Hill settled on his land located in Bourbon County, Kansas and submitted homestead application #1560 on November 15, 1867 for 78 acres of land located on the West half of North East quarter of Sec.3 – Township 25 S – Range 24. Milton Hill signed his name with an “X”.

Hill received Homestead Land Patent #650 on March 15, 1873 for 78 acres of which 40 acres were cleared for cultivation. Hill was married with two children and built a house that was 12x12 feet, one story, board roof, one door, one window, and a plank floor. In addition to cultivating 40 acres, Hill fenced about 80 acres; set out an orchard containing over 100 fruits trees; and constructed a well built stable and corn crib.

Milton Hill was born May 1845 in Overton County, Tennessee to Joshua and Matilda Hill. Census records from 1850 to 1930 reflect his birth year as 1845, however his death certificate and grave marker list May 12, 1838. In addition to all census years from 1850 to 1930 listing his birth year as 1845, the 1840 Overton County, TN census for his father Joshua Hill lists one male under ten years old; one female under ten years old; one female between ten to twenty-three years old and one male twenty-four to thirty five years old. This information coincides with the 1850 Overton County, TN census that Joshua and Matilda’s two oldest children were Mary Jane Hill born circa 1837 and Allen Parkingham Hill born circa 1841. The 1865 Kansas State census also list Milton’s age as twenty (which the birth year would have been 1845). 

Milton’s parents, Joshua and Matilda had nine additional children: Mary Jane Hill-Morgan born 1837 in Overton County, Tennessee and died June 1889 in Bourbon County, Kansas, (her husband John Morgan was one of the witnesses on the Homestead application); Allen Parkingham “Pack” Hill born 1841 in Overton County, TN and served in the 1st Kansas Colored and he married Lucy Beck of the Cherokee Nation [documented on the Cherokee Freedmen roll] he died circa 1876; Harrison Hill born circa 1843 in Overton County, TN; Milly Hill-Robinson born circa 1845 in Overton County, TN, died 1899 in Neosho County, KS; Frances Hill born circa 1848 in Overton County, TN;  Nancy Hill-Ross born April 1854 in Overton County, TN; Julia Hill-Wash born circa 1857 in Overton County, TN; Thomas Hill December 1850 in Overton County, TN and died August 24, 1937 in Bourbon County, KS; Augusta Hill-Anderson (daughter) born circa 1861 in Jasper County, MO.

Milton, his parents and siblings were all born free and listed as Free Persons of color on early census records. Milton’s grandmother Milly Hill was first enumerated on the 1820 Overton County, TN Census as a Free person of color. Milly Hill was the mother of the following children; Mary “Mariah” Hill born circa 1810; Joshua Hill born circa 1811 and died 1871 in Bourbon County, KS; Elizabeth “Betsey” Hill (married to Levi Stone however maintained her maiden name Hill) born circa 1820; Thomas Hill born 1824 and died 1896 in Bourbon County, KS; Reuben Hill born circa 1830 and died July 1911 in Bourbon County, KS. By the 1850s, Millie Hill’s children are documented as land owners. Their land situated along the Obed River became known as the Free Hill Community.

Milton was first married to Mary Robinson and they had the following children: William Harrison born circa 1867 in Bourbon County, KS; Frank Hill born circa 1868 in Bourbon County, KS; Joseph Hill born circa 1869 in Bourbon County, KS; James Hill born circa 1873 in Bourbon County, KS; Hayes Hill born December 1876 in Bourbon County, KS and died 1935 Bourbon County, KS; Johnie Hill born circa 1879 in Bourbon County, KS. After the death of his wife Mary circa 1888, Milton married a woman named Delphy and to this union two children were born, Nannie Hill November 1893 in Bourbon County, KS and Milton “Melton” Hill born April 1897 in Bourbon County, KS.

Per the 1875 Bourbon County, Kansas state census, Milton is enumerated with his wife Mary and their two sons Harrison (9) and James (2). Additionally three of his sons, Harrison, James and Hayes applied for citizenship in the Cherokee Nation. They were part of an application filed by their maternal uncle William Henry Robinson dated June 11, 1901, [Cherokee Freedmen Rejected 442].

The death certificate for Milton Hill and the grave marker lists his birth as May 12, 1838 however based on the 1850 census and subsequent census years, his birth year was 1845.

The witnesses listed in the land application file were John Morgan (the brother in law of Milton Hill) and David Boss.

~ Contributed by Lyle Gibson

Photo of contributor Lyle Gibson.
Photo Credit: Tati Zalozh

More about the contributor: Lyle Gibson’s children through their maternal line are direct descendants of Joshua and Matilda Hill through their eldest daughter Mary Jane Hill-Morgan. Gibson is a genealogist with thirty-one years of experience and a historian with over twenty years teaching experience developed an interest in history and genealogy while serving in the Air Force stationed in Greece. Gibson holds memberships in the SAR and local genealogical societies. He started working on an historical documentary with film makers Jermaine Thomas and Benjamin Meade in 2015. The film Black Tie White Tie is an adaptation of Gibson’s book with the same title. Gibson served as writer; voice over narrator; and producer for the film. Gibson also worked on the historical promotional on Western Baptist Bible College as producer; writer and narrator.