Charles T. Hills is a retired business man of Muskegon. He was born at Bennington, Vermont, Nov. 14, 1821, the son of Turner and Adelia (Hubbel) Hills. In 1834 the family moved to Pittstown, N.Y. and in 1838 to Grand Rapids, Mich. Charles T. attended district schools at Bennington until 13 years of age, when he secured a clerkship in a store in Troy, N.Y., and on the removal of the family to Michigan, accompanied them there. In December, 1838, the family moved to Konkle’s Mill in Alpine township in Kent county, and I the spring of 1839 bought forty acres of government land on which they erected a two-room shanty, of which they took possession in November 1840, their nearest neighbor being three miles distant. The father died in 1842 and the care of the family devolved largely upon the son, who built a house about 1846 into which the family removed. The first introduction of Charles T. to the lumber industry was in riving shingles, which were then all made by hand, the fruit of his labor contributing towards support of the family. In May, 1852, Charles, with a younger brother, went to Muskegon and building a shanty on Black creek, engaged in shingle weaving. In September, 1853, Charles engaged as a clerk with the sawmill firm of Ryerson & Morris, and continued with them until 1859, when he took charge of the books of the firm. In 1865 he became a partner in the newly-formed firm of Ryerson, Hills & Co., and in connection with Mr. Getty, another partner, had the management of the then large and increasing business, and in 1887 the active management fell entirely into his hands, the other partners having removed to Chicago. Mr. Hills was for more than forty years the ruling spirit in an immense business, the various changes in which and improvements in plant it would be impractical to trace this connection.
In his earlier life Mr. Hills held the office of supervisor of Alpine township and in 1876 was elected treasurer of Muskegon county, which are the only public offices he ever held. From 1876 to 1887 he was president of the Muskegon National Bank. He was one of the incorporators of the Oceana County Savings Bank at Hart, and was largely interested in the Muskegon Booming Co., of which he was for many years president, also serving in other official capacities. It goes without saying that he has at all times borne an important part in all enterprises tending to the material, social and moral advancement of Muskegon. This is exemplified in his having built and donated to the Masonic fraternity of Muskegon a temple costing $50,000, which was dedicated Sept. 12, 1900, being the second largest in Michigan. He is an enthusiastic Mason and has published a leaflet giving in brief his Masonic record. He has the higher degrees in the various orders of Masonry and has filled the chairs in most of the local bodies, and was fourteen consecutive years eminent commander of the Muskegon Commandery, 1868-1881, and was elected to a fifteenth term in 1886. Mr. Hills has been twice married. By his first wife, Miss Jane M. Wheeler of Waukegan, Ill., to whm he was married in 1854, he had six children, two of whom are living, C. Hubbell, private secretary to his father, and Julia L., wife of T. D. Whitney, of Chicago. Mrs. Hills died in 1876, and in 1878 Mr. Hills married Miss Margaret McIntyre, of Kewaunee, Ill.
-Men of Progress embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan Men; Evening News Association, Detroit, 1900. Page 432
Obit provided by Anonymous
In his earlier life Mr. Hills held the office of supervisor of Alpine township and in 1876 was elected treasurer of Muskegon county, which are the only public offices he ever held. From 1876 to 1887 he was president of the Muskegon National Bank. He was one of the incorporators of the Oceana County Savings Bank at Hart, and was largely interested in the Muskegon Booming Co., of which he was for many years president, also serving in other official capacities. It goes without saying that he has at all times borne an important part in all enterprises tending to the material, social and moral advancement of Muskegon. This is exemplified in his having built and donated to the Masonic fraternity of Muskegon a temple costing $50,000, which was dedicated Sept. 12, 1900, being the second largest in Michigan. He is an enthusiastic Mason and has published a leaflet giving in brief his Masonic record. He has the higher degrees in the various orders of Masonry and has filled the chairs in most of the local bodies, and was fourteen consecutive years eminent commander of the Muskegon Commandery, 1868-1881, and was elected to a fifteenth term in 1886. Mr. Hills has been twice married. By his first wife, Miss Jane M. Wheeler of Waukegan, Ill., to whm he was married in 1854, he had six children, two of whom are living, C. Hubbell, private secretary to his father, and Julia L., wife of T. D. Whitney, of Chicago. Mrs. Hills died in 1876, and in 1878 Mr. Hills married Miss Margaret McIntyre, of Kewaunee, Ill.
-Men of Progress embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan Men; Evening News Association, Detroit, 1900. Page 432
Obit provided by Anonymous
Charles T. Hills is a retired business man of Muskegon. He was born at Bennington, Vermont, Nov. 14, 1821, the son of Turner and Adelia (Hubbel) Hills. In 1834 the family moved to Pittstown, N.Y. and in 1838 to Grand Rapids, Mich. Charles T. attended district schools at Bennington until 13 years of age, when he secured a clerkship in a store in Troy, N.Y., and on the removal of the family to Michigan, accompanied them there. In December, 1838, the family moved to Konkle’s Mill in Alpine township in Kent county, and I the spring of 1839 bought forty acres of government land on which they erected a two-room shanty, of which they took possession in November 1840, their nearest neighbor being three miles distant. The father died in 1842 and the care of the family devolved largely upon the son, who built a house about 1846 into which the family removed. The first introduction of Charles T. to the lumber industry was in riving shingles, which were then all made by hand, the fruit of his labor contributing towards support of the family. In May, 1852, Charles, with a younger brother, went to Muskegon and building a shanty on Black creek, engaged in shingle weaving. In September, 1853, Charles engaged as a clerk with the sawmill firm of Ryerson & Morris, and continued with them until 1859, when he took charge of the books of the firm. In 1865 he became a partner in the newly-formed firm of Ryerson, Hills & Co., and in connection with Mr. Getty, another partner, had the management of the then large and increasing business, and in 1887 the active management fell entirely into his hands, the other partners having removed to Chicago. Mr. Hills was for more than forty years the ruling spirit in an immense business, the various changes in which and improvements in plant it would be impractical to trace this connection.
In his earlier life Mr. Hills held the office of supervisor of Alpine township and in 1876 was elected treasurer of Muskegon county, which are the only public offices he ever held. From 1876 to 1887 he was president of the Muskegon National Bank. He was one of the incorporators of the Oceana County Savings Bank at Hart, and was largely interested in the Muskegon Booming Co., of which he was for many years president, also serving in other official capacities. It goes without saying that he has at all times borne an important part in all enterprises tending to the material, social and moral advancement of Muskegon. This is exemplified in his having built and donated to the Masonic fraternity of Muskegon a temple costing $50,000, which was dedicated Sept. 12, 1900, being the second largest in Michigan. He is an enthusiastic Mason and has published a leaflet giving in brief his Masonic record. He has the higher degrees in the various orders of Masonry and has filled the chairs in most of the local bodies, and was fourteen consecutive years eminent commander of the Muskegon Commandery, 1868-1881, and was elected to a fifteenth term in 1886. Mr. Hills has been twice married. By his first wife, Miss Jane M. Wheeler of Waukegan, Ill., to whm he was married in 1854, he had six children, two of whom are living, C. Hubbell, private secretary to his father, and Julia L., wife of T. D. Whitney, of Chicago. Mrs. Hills died in 1876, and in 1878 Mr. Hills married Miss Margaret McIntyre, of Kewaunee, Ill.
-Men of Progress embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan Men; Evening News Association, Detroit, 1900. Page 432
Obit provided by Anonymous
In his earlier life Mr. Hills held the office of supervisor of Alpine township and in 1876 was elected treasurer of Muskegon county, which are the only public offices he ever held. From 1876 to 1887 he was president of the Muskegon National Bank. He was one of the incorporators of the Oceana County Savings Bank at Hart, and was largely interested in the Muskegon Booming Co., of which he was for many years president, also serving in other official capacities. It goes without saying that he has at all times borne an important part in all enterprises tending to the material, social and moral advancement of Muskegon. This is exemplified in his having built and donated to the Masonic fraternity of Muskegon a temple costing $50,000, which was dedicated Sept. 12, 1900, being the second largest in Michigan. He is an enthusiastic Mason and has published a leaflet giving in brief his Masonic record. He has the higher degrees in the various orders of Masonry and has filled the chairs in most of the local bodies, and was fourteen consecutive years eminent commander of the Muskegon Commandery, 1868-1881, and was elected to a fifteenth term in 1886. Mr. Hills has been twice married. By his first wife, Miss Jane M. Wheeler of Waukegan, Ill., to whm he was married in 1854, he had six children, two of whom are living, C. Hubbell, private secretary to his father, and Julia L., wife of T. D. Whitney, of Chicago. Mrs. Hills died in 1876, and in 1878 Mr. Hills married Miss Margaret McIntyre, of Kewaunee, Ill.
-Men of Progress embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan Men; Evening News Association, Detroit, 1900. Page 432
Obit provided by Anonymous
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