May 24, 1900 Spring Valley Sun - D. W. Hill died at his home in Union, Pierce County, May 7th, 1900. He was born in Crittenden County, Kentucky, September 26th, 1829. He moved to Illinois when a boy and was a volunteer soldier in the Civil War. He was married to Rebecca P. Donnell, December 18th, 1855. Two children were born to this union, both of whom are still living. His wife died in October 1866, and he was married to Amy R. Keeler December 20, 1869. Seven children were born to this union, five of whom are still living. Mr. Hill joined the C. P. Church in 1856. What made his death particularly sad was the absence of his son Charlie, who is a solider in the Philippines and his daughter Mrs. Johnson who could not leave her sick husband. He will be sadly missed by his relatives and friends, especially by his wife and children. The funeral took place at the M.E. Church at Ono, Wednesday, May 9, Rev. McKibbin officiating.
The above obituary, compliments of Find A Grave member (RiverFallsHistory)

David's parents Anthony and Eliza "Wilson" Hill, had removed from Kentucky and brought their children to live in Cottonwood, Bond County, Illinois by 1838.

A few years after his wife Rebecca died, David married Amy R. Keller 1.., she was born March 1848 in Wisconsin and was still living at age 72 in Big Bend, Rusk, Wisconsin with daughter May Amy Hill Cookson in 1920.

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Name: Amy R Hill
Residence:Big Bend, Rusk, Wisconsin
Estimated Birth Year: 1848
Age: 72
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Gender: Female
Race: White
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
Film Number: 1822014
DFN: 4392039
Image Number:00671
Sheet Number:4

Name: May A Cookson
Residence: , Rusk, Wisconsin
Estimated Birth Year: 1880
Age: 40
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Gender: Female
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Father's Birthplace: Wisconsin
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
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Name: David W. Hill
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Illinois
Regiment Name: 3 Illinois Cavalry
Regiment Name Expanded: 3rd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry
Company: E
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M539 roll 41
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Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files. 1861-1934
Name: David W. Hill
State Filed: Wisconsin
Widow: Amy R. Hill
Amy applied for and received her widow's pension after David died.
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David and Amy's daughter May Amy Hill married William John Cookson, a clergyman , the young couple lived in Elko, Nevada for a few years and then moved to Monument, Grant Co. Oregon, "May" Amy died not long after moving there on, November 21, 1933. William John Cookson married twice, first to May Amy Hill and after she died he married Edythe Juliet Swick, McDermott, Jepson, Mcdermott, they later divorced.He returned to his homeland and died there.
Another daughter of David and Amy's,Jennie Ann Hill married
Albert G. Johnson
from Norway and they moved to Deschutes county,Oregon, both are buried in the same cemetery as May Amy Hill Cookson.

David and Amy R. had seven children, all born in Wisconsin except their only living son Charles, he was born November 1881 in Cottonwood Grove, Bond Co. Illinois.

Son Charles E. Hill married Jessie Mae Burns,they had one known child, Charles and Jessie both died in Minnesota, he in 1961,Jessie in 1953.
Daughter Bertha A. Hill married Eugene O. Hayden, they had five children all born in Wisconsin, Eugene died in 1927 and Bertha unknown.
No known records of the last daughter Nellie L. Hill born about 1888 and still living with her mother in 1910, she was not in the 1920 census .

Two of David and Amy's children are buried beside David., Arthur Hill ( 1872-1873) no stone., and Annie Hill ( 1884-1884 ) no stone.

Research and bio by JMB


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