Hineman - Jesse
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