Hills - Francis Eugene
Source: Crawfordsville, Indiana Journal & Review, Saturday, Jan 10, 1931
The following story, taken from an Enid, Oklahoma newspaper tells of the death of Francis Eugene HILLS, former resident of this place, who is remembered by a number of the older residents of the city. Funeral services for Francis Eugene Hills, 86, Civil War Veteran, pioneer of Garfield county and justice of the peace, will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon at Henninger Funeral Home. Hills died yesterday morning at a local hospital after a long illness. Members of the Grand Army of the Republic and Women's Relieve Corps will participate in the services. The Rev. Frank Parkinson of First Methodist Church of which Hills was a member will conduct the religious services. Hills was past grand commmander of GAR in this state. Pallbearers were appointed by Winfield Scott, president of the Garfield County Bar Association last night. They are: HJ Sturgis; CB Wilson; WJ Otjen; George D. Wilson; CD Rosenman; PD Simons and ME Shockley. Should any of the bearers be prevented from attending the funeral, Scott will take his place. Scott announced members of the Bar Association would assemble at the court house at 1 p.m. Monday and go from there to the funeral home. Members of the Women's Relief Corps, Ladies of the GAR and Daughters of Union Veterans were asked to assemble at the funeral home at 1:45 p.m. Hills was born at Xenia, Ohio April 1, 1844. When a small child he moved with his parents to Crawfordsville, Indiana where he was educated in the public schools. He enlisted as a young man in the 11th Indiana Infantry and served as a federal soldier in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. He participated in campaigns at Bailmont, Mo; Donaldson; Shilo; Vicksburg; Missionary Ridge; Look Out Mountain; Shenadoah Valley; Winchester; Cedar Creek and Richmond. He was mustered out of the service at Ft. McHenry, Baltimore. After he returned to Indiana he married. Seven children were born, four of whom survive: WH Hills, attorney of Enid; Mrs. Beulah Goetsche of Kansas City, Mo; Gaylor D. Hills, Hot Springs, Ark and Oscar T. Hills of Enid. His first wife died in1 885. He married again. His second wife was Sally Turner of Claysville, MO who died in November, 1927. After his first marriage which was in Indiana, he moved to Iowa, where for six years he operated a woolen mill. He then moved to Kansas City, Mo and for four years operated a woolen mill at Liberty, Missouri. Thereafter he engaged in the contracting business in Kansas City until 1893, when the Cherokee strip opened. With his youngest son, Oscar he made the run, into the strip and filed a claim in McKinley Twp, Garfield County, proved it and lived on the claim until 1912, when he traded his farm for his home in Enid. He served as justice of the peace for a number of years after moving to Enid, relinquishing the office after his hearing and sight had become impaired. For many years he was a member of the First Methodist Church here. He is mourned by scores of friends.- typed by kbz