HILLIS, Henry Harrison - Putnam

HENRY HARRISON HILLIS

This name was familiar to two generations in Putnam county owing to the prominence and wide business achievements of him who bore it. He passed his life in useful employment, developing the industries of the county, giving employment to many men and adding to the general wealth. He was a strong character, upright, honest and square dealing. In fact Putnam county never had a finer citizen than Henry Harrison HILLIS, no one who did more to develop the county's resources. He was born at Mt. Pleasant, Putnam county, March 7, 1840, the son of Abraham and Elizabeth PECK HILLIS. After the usual routine of children of the pioneers with its farm work, short terms of school in the winter seasons, young HILLIS became a farmer, but soon concluded that this was too narrow for him and that he could do much better in other lines. In 1861 he engaged in the brick business at Oakalla, some six miles from Greencastle, and soon showed his aptitude for manufacture by the success he obtained. From a small beginning, he steadily increased his business until the output of his plant amounted annually to more than ten million brick. Mr. HILLIS was of an ingenious turn of mind and ws the inventor of the improved kiln. It is estimated that not less than forty brick are not standing in various Greencastle buildings, all of which were the product of Mr. HILLIS' yards. This makes a stable monument to the memory of a man who is well worth remembering. Not content with the supervision of this valuable industry, Mr. HILLIS branched out in other enterprises, all of which were beneficial to the public. He purchased and operated a large stone quarry just east of Greencastle, developed it into a fine paying property and did a large business over a wide scope of territory both local and interstate. He employed thirty men and always treated them with such fairness that they had for him the greatest esteem. In fact, it was often remarked that Mr. HILLIS had great influence over his employes and this influence was always exercised for their good. He himself was a model citizen in all respects and although he accumulated wealth, it did not spoil him, always being found by those who approached him the same simple mannered, unpretentious man, who dealt squarely with everybody. Though a Republican in politics, Mr. HILLIS was elected county treasurer in 1879 in the Democratic county of Putnam, which was a tribute to his great personal popularity. He was social in his disposition and bore his full share in pushing along all movements calculated to benefit the community. His fraternal relations were with the Masons and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he was always attentive to his lodge duties. For years he was a member of the Methodist church at Mount Pleasant and no one could ever say that he was not a true man in all the relations of life. When he died, May 14, 1900, it was the universal remark that Putham had lost one of her most valuable citizens.

On February 27, 1867, Mr. HILLIS married Sarah E. O'HAIR, member of an influential and widely distributed family. Her parents were James E. and Margaret (MONTGOMERY) O'HAIR, who were generally and favorably known to all the people of the county (for further details of this family's history see sketch of Bascom O'HAIR, published elsewhere in this volulme). Mrs. HILLIS is of distinguished ancestry, which entitles her to become a member of the patriotic order of Daughters of the American Revolution. James Theodore, born August 3, 1868, the eldest of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. HILLIS, is engaged in mining in British Columbia; Jennie, born June 4, 1881, died August 25, 1881; Emma Ethel, born May 26, 1883, died October 29, 1883; Margaret Elizabeth, born September 20, 1870, married Frank SHOPTAUGH and is a resident of Greencastle;Edward Babers, born September 5, 1872, died March 9, 1874; Alice Alma, born October 26, 1874, married A. C. LOCKRIDGE, of Roachdale, son of Robert LOCKRIDGE; Fred B., born February 25, 1879, married Clara CALDWELL, of Ladoga, and is engaged in the coal business in Greencastle and with Mr. SHOPTAUGH is engaged in well drilling; Albert, born October 31, 1876, died January 21, 1885.

FOOTNOTES: Fred B. HILLIS full given name was Frederick Bascom HILLIS and he married Clara Mariah CALDWELL, daughter of Elbert Eugene and Mariah (CROWDER) CALDWELL of Ladoga. Attached is a photo of Fred and his brother Albert taken before Albert's death in January 1885.

I have several old family photos of Hillis-Shoptaugh-O'Hair reunions in Greencastle area dating back to 1897 and 1898. . . . . . . . . . . . NATURALLY they NEVER identified the whole group of people either!!!!!!