My Genealogy Hound

PLEASANT B. HILL is one of the progressive farmers of Johnson County, his home having been for a quarter of a century in township 46, range 27. The homestead comprises one hundred and eighty-seven acres of fertile and arable land, well adapted for general farming purposes. The proprietor is a typical pioneer, and spent several years in the West, seeking for gold on the Pacific Slope, enjoying many of the novel experiences of those days. He has also traveled in the South, having gone into Mexico.

The parents of our subject were William and Mary (Carmichael) Hill. The former, who was born in South Carolina, had the misfortune to lose his father when he was quite young and was bound out to an uncle, with whom he lived until his aunt died, when he became a member of another family, and was there reared to manhood. Then, going to Tennessee, he met the lady who became his future wife. In the fall of 1832 he emigrated to Missouri, and on his arrival here settled near the present town of Pittsville, this county, but at that time located within the boundaries of Lafayette County. From that time until his death, which occurred in February, 1835, he was employed in agricultural pursuits.

The birth of our subject occurred in Tennessee, March 22, 1823, and as the school privileges of that day, and in that section of the country, were of a very primitive order, he was obliged to rely on private study for an education. In 1846 he entered the employ of a trader, and drove a team from Independence, Mo., to Chihuahua, Mexico. There the owner of the goods (of which our subject and a brother of the proprietor had charge) was captured by the Mexicans, and the teams, wagon and whole outfit were sold to the Government. Afterwards Mr. Hill drove a team for the Government to Matamoras, and during his trip under Colonel Donovan, had some very exciting times, taking part in one hot engagement. Leaving the service at Matamoras, he went back to New Orleans, and after receiving his salary returned home. In the spring of 1848 he contracted to drive a team to Santa Fe, N. M., the trip requiring about three and a-half months, and by the 1st of August he was once more on home ground. When the gold fever broke out he decided to join the thousands of prospectors, and in April, 1849, started for the Pacific Slope. After a four-months journey overland, he reached Sacramento, and for the next ten years his lot was with the miners of that region. For two years he mined in the summer, and devoted himself to hunting in the winter. A part of this time his mining ventures were on the Little Yuba, but he found that he did better financially on Scott’s River, where he made from $10 to $16 a day. He and his comrades sometimes had trouble with the Indians, and in one skirmish with them killed five of the redmen. About 1858 Mr. Hill turned his attention to farming for a short time, after which he went to Victoria, Vancouver’s Island, and from there to Langley, British Columbia, in a small boat constructed for the purpose. He remained there all winter, but was unable to do any mining as the snow fell for thirty-one consecutive days. In 1859 he turned his face homeward, and after a short respite from his wandering and venturesome life, the war broke out and he enlisted in the Second Mounted Missouri Infantry, in Rain’s division, Col. Eugene Irvin commanding officer. He was captured at Vicksburg, and was confined at Alton, Ill., for a few days, when he was exchanged. At the close of the war he resumed the peaceful avocation of farming, and settled down to a quiet life. The last year of the war, however, he joined the Texas Rangers, and did gallant service on the frontier.

August 23, 1862, Mr. Hill married Miss Mary F. Matlock, by whom he had four children. Only two are now living: Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Robert I. Gladden, a well-to-do farmer of this county; and Belvinia, who married Thomas Lee Irwin, also a successful farmer of this county. Mr. Hill uses his right of franchise in favor of the Democratic party, with which he has been affiliated since he became a voter.