Conn-Hill Line

Surname Index

Letter to Aunt Lula

My dad's mother was Eunice Tucker. Her oldest sister was Lula Tucker (md. Gill). In 1895, Lula received a letter from her grandmother, Sarah Ann (nee Perkins) Lloyd. This is years after Sarah Ann she divorced Samuel Moses Tucker.

I have the actual 1895 letter and will try to get it scanned, soon. Meanwhile, here is the transcription:

From Manning, South Carolina
Nov. 23, 1895

Miss Lula Tucker: My dear grandaughter, I now try to seat myself long enough to write you a few lines in reply to yours of Nov. 1 which I rec'd today one week ago and I liked not to ans it now for you want to know too many things more than I no myself. I am not don going to school yet. You will have to wait till I am don going my mind is not capable of giving much information [age 69]. My mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Kingdell. she came from England when she was quite young. My father's name was Richard Perkins, born in S.C. don't know what county. Each one [was] some 75 or 80 when they died.

I had three 3 sisters on mother's side and one brother name[d] HENRY BIRCH HOLLADAY & NANCY HOLLADAY & SUSANNAH HOLLAND [probably HOLLADAY], ELIZABETH HOLLADAY, all now dead and I had 2 borthers and 1 sister on Father's side, Isaac Enos Perkins, Thomas Sumter Perkins, Harriet Elender or Elender Perkins all half sisters and brothers, all dead.

I was born in S.C. I guess in Clarendon Co. in the date of 1826, the 30 of Sept. That is the best I can do. I rec'd a letter from your father [Samuel Richard Tucker, son of Samuel Moses Tucker] some time I rec'd yours dated 20 Oct. [He] said all was well. Said he was going to try to visit S.C. 1st of Dec. Hope he can. Well, I don't no what more to say only hope you will do well. Be a good girl and a good Christian. I had like to forget Henry Griffin. Sais you must pick him out a sweetheart. Well you must write soon. Hope you have got well of your cold before now. I remain as ever your loving grandmother, S. A. Lloyd

You or your father one sent me a stamp. I opened both the letters setting down and when I got up I saw the stamp on the floor much obliged to which ever it was.

The Nuclear Family

 

Mom and Dad (aka Opal and Ben)with three kids, Baby Sarah, Brother Ben, & "Peggy". 

My Dad at Sarah's

 

After mother died, Dad used to go to Sarah's on the weekends. There, he would soak up the sun, gaze at the pond, and get totally spoiled by his youngest daughter. 

Wiley was a runner

 

Believe this to be the Azalea Run in Mobile. My father, Wiley Benjamin Hill, Jr., was a dedicated runner of races and marathons for many years in his later life. His earlier activities included boxing, golf, archery, swimming, diving, and tennis...to name a few! 

Bay Springs, Mississippi MS, city profile (Jasper County) - hotels, festivals, genealogy, newspapers - ePodunk

Bay Springs, Mississippi MS, city profile (Jasper County) - hotels, festivals, genealogy, newspapers - ePodunk: "-89.287W"

My grandmother, Eunice Tucker, was born near Acme, Jasper County, Mississippi. Acme no longer exists, but Bay Springs is the county seat.

Lamar County, Mississippi MS, county profile - hotels, festivals, genealogy, newspapers - ePodunk

Lamar County, Mississippi MS, county profile - hotels, festivals, genealogy, newspapers - ePodunk

Lamar County is where Wiley Benjamin Hill, Sr. was born and where he died.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi MS, city profile (Forrest County) - hotels, festivals, genealogy, newspapers - ePodunk

Hattiesburg, Mississippi MS, city profile (Forrest County) - hotels, festivals, genealogy, newspapers - ePodunk: "-89.29W"

Hattiesburg is the site of my father's birth (Wiley Benjamin Hill, Jr.) Feb. 13, 1913.

Lydia Louisa King was the mother of Wiley Benjamin Hill, Sr., my great grandmother.

Why did I have that Louisa Lydia King was born in Jeff Davis County, Mississippi? She was born in 1848 and Jeff Davis didn't even become a county until 1906!

Jeff Davis County, however, was formed from the eastern part of Lawrence County and the Western part of Covington County. It would be reasonable to "assume" that Louisa Lydia King was born, then, in Lawrence County or Covington County. My dad's research has her as being born in both Lawrence County and Marion County, depending on which family group sheet you are looking at. At any rate, while trying to sort all of this out, I stumbled upon (thanks to Google), a really great map for Mississippi counties. Mississippi Quick Facts from the US Census Bureau is a site I will use again and again, I suspect. I tried to save the image, but the site is not configured for that, so I just printed the map out.

My father, Ben Hill, loved figs. There was in his backyard at Cloverdale, near the pool, his wonderful fig tree. That tree that began as a small little feller, grew into a lush and spreading buffet for the shelter and sustenance of birds and perhaps other critters. Dad would go out and pick the figs, even before they were ripe and line them up on the windowsill. I'm sure that he knew, without any dietician or internet, that they were fiber rich.

I never got used to the grainy texture, but loved fig preserves without reservation. I'll bet that somewhere there is a cookbook with a whole section of fig recipes! Fig cookies, fig cake, fig candy? I was a little dismayed when the fig tree was cut to the ground after Hurricane Ivan. Perhaps, a snip or two remained and the tree has begun growing back. Hope springs eternal, right?

Why the 445th? This link mentions the Pyote Army Field (Army Air Corps) which is located in West Texas. I wonder if my dad ever flew there or if he did his training of pilots there?

From a rootsweb site, I found an interesting article about Pyote. I can't help wondering if this is where my dad trained pilots on the T-38's or whatever.

This site also talks a lot about the kind of place that Pyote was. In 1930, Wiley B. Hill, [sr], was there working in the oil refinery as a fireman; his son, Rudolph, age 21, was working at the refinery as a chemist. I think my dad, "Bennie", was attending school and playing football!

Letter of 19 Dec 1977 from Wiley B. Hill, Jr., my dad, to Mrs. and Mrs. Earl Rudolph Hill, [They were residing in Middleton, Colorado at this time; Rudolph is my Dad's brother].

"Dear Rachel, Rudy, and Laman, [Rachel is Rudolph's wife, "Rudy" is the nickname for my Uncle Rudolph, and Laman is their son]:

It's doubful that this shall reach you prior to Christmas, but I hope so. In spite of my long days of procrastination, I did want you to know that we care for you...all of you. Sometimes, I find it difficult to write anyone, and I've gone thru one of those periods.

Just for example: I delayed filing my income tax statements for 1972, 73, 74, until this past year. And the same with 1975 & 76. I was just bull-headed and wanted to see just how far I could tempt them. The fire added to my delay [there had been a fire at the big house while mother was gone a short trip and dad was sleeping alone in the house], and my many excuses before given. However to make a long story short, a bevy of birds flew in from Washington and gave me a short short directionary course in the filing of tax returns. And now I'm an expert. They reminded me that Eglin Federal Prison wasn't quite full yet...

Now, I just owe them the 1976 return, and soon will be after '77.

To give you a resume of what the last year has done to ye ole former private, U.S. Air Force:

My tax accountant after having been requested by my banker to provide him with a recent financial statement [from] which I learned, finally, that I was a millionaire, on paper, but I owe more money than I ever have, previously. And I'm in the process of opening up another subdivision of lots which I hope will be sold before the "final" crunch comes.

[This is only the first page of the letter, or possibly, my dad never finished the letter; I failed to locate any additional pages, thus far.]

Family Notes from Marg:
Earl Rudolph Hill

Social Security Death Index Info

Blue Springs, Jackson County, Missouri where Uncle Rudolph lived at the time of his death.

Raquel R. Hill: was born 17 Dec 1924 and
Died: 28 Dec 1996

Looking through a plastic box of loose papers, tonight. The legacy and genealogy left to me by my dad is just not going to all get done, I fear. However, here is a carbon copy or rough draft of something that is probably continued somewhere else, in another box:

The Early Years of Wiley Benjamin Hill, Sr. (my dad's father):

On the 11th of February, 1881, Wiley Benjamin Hill (to become Sr.) became the fifth of seven sons and two daughters of John Mack Hill, and his wife, Louisa Lydia King. These folks led an intinerant existence, moving frequently from rural farm area to shifting logging communities that were located in Marion County, Mississippi. Wiley carries the name given to his grandfather, Wiley King. Benjamin was perhaps a given name of some statesman, (the senator from Georgia, Benjamin H. Hill?). Many Southerners admired Senator Hill for his patriotism during the days of and following the Civil War.

Wiley's brothers and sisters, in order of their birth were:

1. Langston "Lance" Joel Hill, born 25 Dec 1868; Died 15 Sep 1940; married Sarah Ann Mims on 13 April 1893.
2. John Austin "Aus", born 29 Feb 1870; Died 4 Aug 1953; Unmarried
3. Margaret Missouri Hill, born 7 Mar 1876; Died 15 Oct 1959; married William Alexander Conn on 13 Dec 1894 or 1897. See also: Peggy Conn Burley
   
4. Mary Loucinda "Lou", born 29 Aug 1878; Died 15 April 1960; married Prentiss Ira Slade.

The story on this piece of paper ends here, but I have provided a few links that may shed more light on this family.

Always a good place to go to list queries or search for relatives is genealogy.com, in this case, to the Hill Forum.

Extract from Estate Administration (No Will)
County of Lawrence
State of Mississippi

To the Hon. John Dickerson, Judge of Probate Court:

Your undersigned petitioners respectfully show that Benjamin Bennett departed this life sometime in the month of February 1864, aged 92 years of age leaving a considerable estate consisting of one slave, about 80 acres of land, and promissory notes amounting to about $3,000.00, said personal estate amounting to about $4000.00 Petitioner does not know of any debts owing by said decedent.

Said decedent left the following named heirs:

Cynthis Saunders, Elizabeth Thames, Corandra or Cassandra Armstrong, of Choctaw Co., Mississippi; Richmond Bennett and Isaac Bennett. Also the children of Kasen (Kyzar?) Bennett, deceased, who was a son of said Benjamin Bennett, and the children of Drury Bennett, dec'd, who was a son of said Benjamin Bennett. It will be necessary that said estate should be administered on in order to collect (several debts) and make the distribution among the heirs aforesaid. petitioner is a grandson of said decedent and as several months have elapsed since his death without anyone applying for letters of adminstration, your petitioner has concluded to apply for same. Said Richmond Bennett has rejected petitions (or petitioners)to take the adminstration and his daughters are quite (must be dau. of Benjamin instead of Richmond)old; of whom is petitioner's mother (Cynthia Bennett Sanders) will not as petitioners thinks have any objection to his taking upon himself the trouble of the administration. On his securing bond as required he prays for letters.

Signed: B. T. Sanders, filed 27 June 1864. Estate Papers of Benjamin Bennett, Box ___? in Chancery Clerks Offices, Lawrence Co., Monticello, Miss. Book ___? Pg___? (I misplaced the original extract made by W.E. Driver).

Note: Cynthis Sanders must have been B.T. Sanders mother. Benjamin Bennett lived with his dau. Cynthia Sanders at time of 1860 census, in Lawrence Co., near family of Thomas J. Sanders, age 24, believed to be his grandson.

Copied for Blanche Bennett Robinson, duaghter of Marcus LaFayette, at 11888-B So. Truro Ave., Hawthorne, California.
_______________________________________

Extract from Will: Made by W.E. Driver, (checked later by Wiley Benj. Hill, Jr.), on 8 March 1966.

Date of Will 3 Feb 1849
County of Lawrence
State of Mississippi

Date of Drury Bennett's death: sometime during February, 1862.

To wife, Emily P. Bennett, all real and personal property, for her natural life, or until she remarries, in which case all property then to be divided among children.

Testator left surviving him, the following children:

Delila Elmira Allen, the wife of William Allen, deceased.
Susana F. Williamson, wife of Joshua Williamson.

The following minor children: Benjamin F. Bennett, Sothern M. Bennett, Drury B . Bennett, Carol B. Bennett, & Daniel Bennett, infant children of Unity Bennett, dec'd daughter of testator.

Note by Abstracter: Emily P. Bennett, died 16 April 1863 during period of time that the will of Drury Bennett was being probated.

Final Accounts made for Emily P. Bennett, Executrix.

Petition of Elmira Allen and Jesse Ward, for letters to issue to them as administrators "de benis non", filed 3 Aug 1863. Appointment made as above 1st Monday in August, 1863. On January 4, 1866, Commission issued to Jas. Strickland, and to Jesse Ward, to divide lands of decedent among heirs.

Report of Commissions: J. M. Cannon, Jas. Strickland and James Bourn filed 22 Jan, 1866, reports that the lands of decedent cannot be equally divided among heirs.

Petition of Elmira Allen and Jesse Ward administrators filed 27 Aug 1866, prays for an order to sell the lands of Drury Bennett (which were about four or five miles southeast of Monticello, about 440 acres, estimated. Lands were sold to J. A. Scarborough, Isom Williamson and B.F. Bennett.

Note: Emily P. Bennett was sole executrix of will, and oath was taken 7 July, 1862, but she died 16 April, 1863, necessitating sale of lands.

Bondsmen: Jesse Ward and Jas. Strickland
Witnesses: Jas. Strickland, Benjamin Bennett, and Jesse Ward.
Proper Proof made of will by Jas. Strickland and Jesse Ward.

Letter from Wiley Benj. Hill, Jr.
Dated 25 Fewbruary 1966
Addressed to Mr. Albert L. Allen of
Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Dear Mr. Allen:

I am most grateful for the information sent.

Mr. Vogtle sent me many helpful clues, but the one vital bit of information was in your letter! I am looking for all of Benjamin Bennett's sons and daughters, so I am inclosing a family group sheet for you to fill out on Drury Bennett. All I had on him was from the 1850 & 1860 census of Lawrence Co. [Possibly you have all that, but if you don't, I will send it later].

Mr. Allen, even though you cannot devote as much time to genealogy as you would like...neither do I, but you are real close to the vital records, cemeteries, etc., where you could be obtaining a lot of real stepping stones along the path of your forebears.

Would like to strike a bargain with you. I have several microfilms of Lawrence Co., Marion, Lincoln, Covington, and a small but quite efficient reader. If you will furnish me with a pedigree chart which I have inclosed for you to fill out, I'll help you get started...before you retire!

IN return, I would appreciate your filling in all you know about the other brothers and sisters of Langston and Drury.

Do you by chance have a will or the administration of the estate of Drury? Or do you know where he died and is buried? Anything else regarding Benjamin's family. According to the standards of Drury's day, he was definitely well off! So he should have left a will, and it should be located in Lawrence Co., if that is where he died. He was not a survivor of Benjamin who died Feb. 1864, but he was on 1860 census. So he must have died between 1860-1864.

Will be glad to help you in any other way I can. I expect to come over there on nite of Saturday, 5th of March for the celebration of Robert Benton M. King, who is the son of Delilah Jane Bennett, one of Langston's daughter. He (Robert) will be 100 years...young! Since he is quite feeble, and not too well, I think they will have a quiet gathering at his home at 1842 Compress Ave., in Laurel, at the home of Emma Mae Barnes, his daughter. Robert Benton King's father was James Washington King and my he was my grandmother's brother.

I had better get this in the mail. Let me hear from you. With my best wishes to you and your wife and family, I am, Yours very truly, Wiley Benj. Hill, Jr.
[So, it would seem that the link to the Bennett family is more than that of one man's curiosity. I had always thought that my dad was just researching the Bennett's because of his grandmother's first husband who was killed in the Battle of Peachtree Creek--because of that incident, my dad's grandmother met up with his grandfather and hence, my dad came about].

From Mrs. H.O. Allen of Monticello, Mississippi
15 April, 1966

Delila Elmira Bennett married William Gordon Allen. Their children were:
Jane (Allen) Gray
Matt (Allen) Gray
Drury Albert Allen, born 14 November, 1849.

Miss Carrie Bennett of Columbia, Mississippi can give you infromation about the Bennett's.

Death Certificate
Doc. #: 15494
Marion County, Mississippi


Decedent was a resident of the county for sixty years. The street address of the decedent is listed as 1006 N. Main St., Columbia, Marion (County), Mississippi. This is inside the city limits.

The decedent is Mrs. Mary B. Bennett, a widow, who was born November 15, 1871. She died October 1, 1957 and the burial took place at the Columbia City Cemetery on October 2, 1957, under the direction of ___________Funeral Home. The death certificate is signed October 5, 1957.

Mary was born in Jeff Davis County, Mississippi. Her father was _____Burkett and her mother was Frances Cole. The informant for the information on this death certificate was Miss Tressie Bennett.

Mary was ill for 3-10 days before her death in __________General Hospital. The causes of death were 1) Uremia and 2) Acute pyelonephritus. Mary also had hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

Letter to Mr. Wiley
B. Hill, Jr. of Fort Walton Beach, Florida

from Mr. Albert L.
Allen of Hattiesburg, Mississippi:

Hattiesburg,
Mississippi

April 20, 1966

Dear Mr. Hill:

Thanks very much
for the information in your last letter. I appreciate it very much.
I have an old Allen Family Bible that includes many names I've never
heard of before and know nothing of the connection between them and
the Allens. I'm sure they were close relations but I have no idea
just how.

I'm enclosing a
couple of small sheets giving information about Delila Elmira Bennett
who married my great grandfather. Her date of birth and marriage are
included in the Bible and her death date and place were taken from
her tombstone.

I'm taking a
couple of weeks annual leave in June and hope to spend two or three
days in Monticello and Lawrence County. I also hope to check on some
cemeeteries in the area you mentioned. I'm sure that the Patterson
and Bennett land was close to the old Silver Creek Baptist Church
about four miles below the town of Silver Creek. This is an old
church and I'll check the cemetery to see if I can find any Bennett
grave markers.

My mother's
health and mind are very good for her age but she has quit writing.
She never writes us—my sister and me – anymore. Two or
three people have written her about our family and she always refers
them to me because she thinks I might have some information they
could use.

Again, I
appreciate the information you sent me, and if and when I find
anything else on the Bennett's.

Sincerely, Albert
L. Allen

---

Enclosed in the
envelope are three notes detailing information from the Allen Family
Bible. They are:

1. Delila
   Elmira Bennet Allen died 27 October 190? and is buried in Baptist
   Church Cemetery about one mile west of Silver Creek, Mississippi.

   
   

2. William G.
   Allen was married to Delila E. Bennett, his wife, November the 2^nd,
   1843, A.D. Delila E. Bennett was born May the 11^th,
   1826. This taken from the Allen Family Bible, in possession of
   Albert L. Allen, as of 20 April 1966, Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

   
   

Death Certificate
Extraction

Mississippi State
Board of Health #13648

Marion County,
Mississippi (Columbia Precinct)

Ruth Bennett, White Single
Female

Died 15 July 1926 at the age of 17 years, one month, one day. She
was attended for this illness by Dr. Thompson from 30 Nov 1925, until
the 15^th of July, 1926. Cause of death: (Cannot
decipher). Informant: Mrs. Mary Bennett, (mother).

Ruth was born 14 Jun 1909 in Columbia, Marion, Mississippi. Her
father was J. T. Bennett, who was b orn in Lauren County,
Mississippi. Ruth's mother was born Mary Burkett in Jeff Davis
County, Mississippi.

My poor attempts at a Translation of a letter from William Claiborne (W.C.)Tucker to Mrs. Eunice Hall (Tucker), his sister.

Date of Letter is 16 Apr 1943 (Postmark at 8:30a.m.), 307 North 5th Street
West Monroe, La.

Address for Eunice at this time is 835 Forest Road, Columbus, Georgia.

W.C. Tucker is age 67, approx., at this time. My grandmother Eunice was age 56 approx., at this time.

Dear Sister,

Received your letter sometime ago. Glad to hear from [you] and sorry your condition was not improved. I trust that treatment does you some good.

I have been having some severe head pains. Guess they are caused by neuritus. There was near 9 months that I was not bothered with the pains, but since February I have had some severe [attacks]. Maybe it will get better. I have all my teeth out but 7 ___? ones and the dentist says they are sound but I may have them pulled before long but I guess it is neuritus that causes it.

We are all very well now. Marthas mother had an attack last week and we had the Dr. here.

I have just come back from Mildreds. She has two fine little girls and they sure are foolish about me.

We have a very good garden; soon be eating English peas. Have lettuce, onions, and a little mustard [greens?]. Will have roasting ears by June 1st or sooner.

Well had a letter from Rosa [his sister, also] last Saturday. She said Jr. had cut off her allowance and she was going to try and get Frank to sell the place and give her her part and said she might come the 15th but she has not showed up yet. I wish she would come; Martha went to work Monday at the Laundry at $10.00 per week.

Well, I have about 1 and  acres to plant. Also to burn some off. It is as rich and loose as land can be. If I have any luck at all I want to put up 500 quarts of tomatoes, soups, beans and other things. Guess I will use glass jars as they are the cheapest in the long run.

I am looking for my Sam; he said they had promised him a furlough as soon as they could spare him a little while. They are making something for the government, but he said he could not tell what it was. Sam has always been a good boy to me, him and Mildred neither one has never sassed me.

Our church is doing very well. We have added 3 new members in the last 6 weeks. I think we will have district conference in May and I think I will get up a notch higher, then.

Well, I trust I will be able to go to Arizona in October to pick cotton one more season. I also want to see if that climate will help my neuritus. I want to go and see Lucius but I dont think I can make it before July as I have a lot of truck (garden produce?) To sell. So I will be quite busy.

I hope Rosa can come and stay this summer. Also I wish it was so you could come. So guess will close; will say a few words if I have heard from him (Lucius?) Since he was in Yuma. I believe it was and sure hate he is always in such unpleasant mind. He looks like could get some little watching job or something, now and stop awhile.

Well all send love and I sure wish I could do something for you. Maybe I can by fall. You should go out to Arizona. When I get there will wirte. When you feel like it my love to all and may the Lord bless you.

Your brother, W.C. Tucker.