Biography

08/01/1845 - 03/15/1919

Private Joel Gillette Hill (D26) Susquehanna and Wayne Counties 1903-1906

Early Life:

Private Joel Gillette Hill, born August 1, 1845, Otsego, Otsego County, New York; son of Alpheus C. and Almira Gillett Hill; moved, Equinunk, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, 1848; common schools' education; private, Union Army, Civil War, 1864-1865; engaged, farming, timber business; elected, Democrat, Wayne County Commission, 1893-1899; Associate Judge, Wayne County, 1899; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1903-1906; married, Mary J. Flynn, Private Lewis G Hill, John A Hill, Harris Gillette Hill; died, March 15, 1919, home, Lookout, Wayne County, Pennsylvania; interment, Lookout United Methodist Church Cemetery, Damascus Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Enlisted, private September 6, 1864, Southfield, New York, Company F, 50th New York Volunteer Engineers; battles at Cold Harbor; Siege of Petersburg; Appomattox Campaign; mustered out, June 13, 1865, Fort Barry, Virginia. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Wayne County Commission, 1893-1899. 

Associate Judge, Wayne County, 1899. 

Unsuccessful candidate, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Treasurer, 1902. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 26th district, Susquehanna and Wayne Counties, 1903-1906; standing committee assignments, Senate of Pennsylvania, extraordinary and regular session, 1906, Agriculture, Congressional Apportionment, Elections, Forestry, Game and Fisheries, Military Affairs, New Counties and County Seats and Pension and Gratuities. 

Extraordinary session, legislation accomplished by the Senate, 1906, personal registration law, direct primary legislation, enacted; up until this legislation candidates were chosen at conventions.

Legacy: 

The Hill Sawmill was built by William Holbert and J. D. Branning just after the Civil War, one of many they owned in the area. Joel Hill purchased the Mill from the Holbert heirs in 1898, along with 1500 acres of timberlands and the 205-acre body of water known as Duck Harbor. The Mill remained in operation until 1974.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members H". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1906). Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Miller, H.P. (Assistant Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 823, 829-834, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 804.

Carbondale Daily News (Carbondale, Pennsylvania) Monday March 17, 1919, Page 3

Joel Gillette Hill (1845-1919) - Find a Grave Memorial