HILL, Joseph Addison - Putnam

Source: Greencastle Star Press, 23 April 1892 p 5

J.A. Hill died of nervous exhaustion last Sunday at 3 pm. The funeral services were held at the residence Tuesday afternoon and Dr. Ridpath gave a memoir of which the following is a synopsis: One of the oldest and most respected citizens of Greencastle has passed away. Our friend, whose funeral we observe at this hour, has lived in our town for 32 years. That is within the average duration of human life. It is now our duty, since he will go in and out no more among us, to refer in such poor words as we may frame to his life and work. Joseph Addison Hill was born in Urbana, Ohio March 2, 1827. He was 65 years 1 month and 15 day sold at the time of his disease. He was the son of Dr. John Hill of Virginia who was a New England man by education and physician by profession. There at Urbana, his only son, Joseph Addison was born. It was for the purpose of educational advantages the father removed to Bloomington, Ind where young Addison successfully accomplished the classical course. He was always a man of ideas and of thought, student of books and observer of life and lover of men. He was a critic and artist in painting and sculptor. Astronomy was one of his favorite pursuits. When only 17 he constructed a telescope. He also made orreries represented the movements of the planetary and sidereal heavens; and with these contrivances gave lectures in several states. He became an expert photographer, an art which he practiced successfully in Greencastle for many years. On Feb 21, 1847, Mr. Hill took in marriage Miss Emaline Deming of Bloomington, ind. The wife survives him to receive on this saddest of occasions of her life such poor consolation as her family and friends are able to administer. Of the marriage were born six children, three sons and three daughter, all of whom survive and are present today at the father’s funeral. The deceased was associated with several brotherhoods, principally with the Knights of Pythias, to which he gave considerable time and attention. He was one of the charter members of Eagle Lodge, of Greencastle by whose members his funeral today is chiefly conducted.  It was to his inventive mind that the project of organizing an independent order corresponding to the Knight but designed for women is attributable. He gave himself to the project with enthusiasm and it was finally adopted by the order. He wrote nearly or quite all of the ritual, devised the forms, chose the emblems, prescribed the ceremonies and indeed did all the principal work in the organization of this most successful sisterhood. Within the last year he published from an Indianapolis press his book of tableaux, by far the most complete and able monogram published of that subject. He was a philanthropist. His ideas flew high, and were always busy with the sublime things. Best of all he was an honest man,. Sad to relate, he was a life long sufferer. Only his intimate friends know to what extent he suffered from the unabated assault of physical pain and how bravely and courageously he bore up under his affliction. Certain it is that he enwove himself with the affectionate esteem of those men who knew him best and that today in the hour of his sepulture there will be blinding tears and breaking hearts. - kbz