My Genealogy Hound

ALVIN HILL has long been numbered among the prominent merchants of Bethlehem, having been active in its upbuilding, and owning a great many houses and pieces of property in the city. He is engaged in the hide and tallow business, and owns the site of the old Moravian tannery. He was born in Brown field, Me., December 9, 1843, and in that state his father and grandfather, the latter named Henry Hill, were born and engaged in farming during their active life. Our subject’s lather, Benjamin Hill, died in his native state at the age of forty-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Hulda Parker, also of Maine, was the daughter of Caleb Parker, who fought in the War of 1812, and to obtain a livlihood followed contracting and building. Mrs. Hulda Hill died in 1870, and four of her nine children are now living. One of the sons, Joseph, enlisted in the late Civil War for three years’ service, going to the front with a Massachusetts regiment.

Alvin Hill passed the days of his boyhood on his father’s farm in Maine, giving him his assistance when not pursuing his studies in the district schools. When sixteen years of age he went to Boston, Mass., and from that time he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He was engaged in clerking until the spring of 1864, when he enlisted for ninety days’ service in the company known as the Old Fusileers, his duty being mainly in Boston Harbor. He was married in that city in 1864 to Miss Ruth J. Annis, who was born in Benton, N. H, and was reared in Stoneham, Mass. Her father, Pearley Annis, followed the occupation of a farmer. Mr. Hill resided in Stoneham until 1874, being occupied in that city in the manufacture of boots and shoes. In the spring of that year he removed to Bethlehem, where he engaged in the hide and tallow business. His brother, Joseph Hill, had formerly purchased a tannery on Monocacy Creek, and in partnership with our subject ran the same successfully for three years. The death of Joseph Hill occurred in 1882, and afterward Alvin continued to run the business alone. In 1875 he and his brother purchased the old Moravian tannery, which was probably the first tannery located in Pennsylvania, and is situated near the center of the borough on the Lehigh & Lackawanna Railroad. Here they continued in the hide and tallow business, which is now carried on by Alvin Hill alone.

The residence of Alvin Hill is located at the corner of North and Main Streets; and in addition to this he owns twelve residences in West Bethlehem, all of which he erected, four residences in Bethlehem proper; a store building at No. 62 South Main Street, formerly the old Lehigh Valley National Bank building, which is a brick structure three stories in height, also other property. He is a stockholder and Director in the Electric Light Company, a stockholder in the First National Bank, and was one of the first incorporators and stockholders of the Cutter Silk Mill. Besides those mentioned he is a stockholder in the Bethlehem Fair and Driving Park Association. In 1888 he was elected to serve on the Council from the Third Ward for three years, and in 1891 was reelected without opposition for a further term of three years. During this time he was chairman of the Street Committee, a number of streets being then macadamized, and he was also chairman of the Water Committee and other important committees.

The first wife of our subject died in Bethlehem in 1889, and of their seven children, three are living: Edward M., who is engaged in business with his father, Harry and Joseph. The present Mrs. Hill was formerly Elizabeth Gangewere, and was born in Catasauqua. They have one child, Lloyd. The parents are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Hill being a member of the Board of Trustees, in which capacity he has acted since 1877. Fraternally he is a member of the Royal Arcanum and Heptasoph. In politics he uses his influence and ballot in support of the Democratic party.