Printed in the September 28, 1933 Pilot-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

DEATH TOOK PROMINENT PIONEER TOPOGRAPHER EARLY MONDAY

W.H. Hill, aged 87, Washington County Surveyor for 45 years prior to his retirement in 1931, died Monday morning at his home on west Colfax street from infirmities caused by his advanced age. He had been active and able to get around until this year.

Mr. Hill was born January 16, 1846 in Osceola, Pennsylvania and spent his boyhood years in that state. When a young man, he came west, finally locating in Nebraska, where he was employed as a town lot surveyor by the Chicago and North Western railroad. In 1868 he moved to Blair, still retaining his job with the railroad company. He had been a resident of Blair since that time.

He was married to Miss Lizzie Wentworth April 27, 1874. The couple celebrated its 59th wedding anniversary last spring at the family home.

The position of Washington county surveyor was first filled by Mr. Hill in the spring of 1882. He held the job every year until 1914, at which time he spent four years out of office. In 1918, though he again accepted the position and held it until his retirement in November of 1931, at which time he was succeeded by the present county surveyor, Harry Mortlock. Upon his retirement, Mr. Hill turned over to Mr. Mortlock all the charts and plats he had made out in his 45 years of surveying here, which included descriptions of every foot of land in the county. Mr. Hill’s charts of Missouri river accretions are extensive, and he was regarded as an authority in this line.

As town lot surveyor for the Chicago and North Western railroad, Mr. Hill had laid out additions to scores of towns and cities in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Wyoming.

Washington and Bennington, in this county, are two of the towns laid out entirely by Mr. Hill. In addition there are Belle Fourche, the larger part of Hot Springs and all the towns on the branch line from Rapid City to Fort Pierre, in South Dakota; Brunsville and Craig in Iowa; and Van Tassel, Wolten, Cadoma and Moneta in Wyoming.

Surviving Mr. Hill are his wife and three daughters, Grace and Blanche of Blair, and Ella, a teacher in the Omaha public schools.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the residence, with Rev. A.F. Newell officiating. Burial was in the Blair cemetery.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

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