Robert Hill and Rebecca Caldwell of Monongalia County, (Wet) Virginia

     Robert Hill and Rebecca Caldwell Hill are my paternal great great great great grandparents.  I wrote a biography and posted it on my outdated genealogy website years ago and it was copied from a GeoCities genealogy page I wrote even earlier.  I have copied and pasted it to by blog with added information.

     Robert Hill, son of William Hill and Elizabeth Johnson, was born in King William County, Virginia on February 5, 1758. 

     Robert served in the Continental Line for Virginia during the Revolutionary War. Virginia military records indicate that he was drafted on February 28, 1778 as a private in Captain Benjamin Casey’s Company, the 12th Virginia Regiment commanded by Colonel James Wood. In June 1778 he was transferred to Captain Michael Boyer’s Company in the 4th, 8th and 12th Virginia Regiments. Finally, about October, 1778, Robert was transferred to Captain Benjamin Casey’s 8th Virginia Regiment commanded by Colonel James Wood and was discharged on February 16, 1779.

     Following his service, Robert and his brother, William removed to Frederick County, Virginia. There on June 7, 1787 he married Rebecca Caldwell, daughter of John and Mary Caldwell, born on June 7, 1765 in Charlotte County, Virginia. 

     The Hill family removed to Monongalia County, (West) Virginia and made their home on a large tract of land, called Hill Farm, located one mile north of Morgantown along the Chestnut Ridge Road. All, or a portion, of the land was given to Robert Hill for his service during the American Revolution.

     Due to the fact that Robert Hill is a common name, it becomes difficult to determine which early Monongalia County records belong to our ancestor. In James Moreland’s book, The First Presbyterian Church of Morgantown, West Virginia,” the author discussed the early origins of the church and lists Robert Hill as one of the first elders dating back to 1788. Samuel T. Wiley, in his book, “History of Monongalia County, West Virginia,” lists on page 529 that Robert Hill was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church in Morgantown in 1790 and that later, his son, George D. Hill became a ruling elder.

     By 1800, our ancestor was the only Robert Hill in Monongalia County which makes searching for his records somewhat less complicated. He is listed in numerous early personal property tax records in the county from 1801-1805 and had a census enumeration for 1810 and 1820. 

     Robert Hill’s farm, Hill Farm, was located on the road from Morgantown to Uniontown, Pennsylvania and it is mentioned in a number of early court documents. 

     At the June 1800 court Robert Hill was asked to work on a road “from Morgantown by Robert Hill’s into the Uniontown Road.” The surveyor on this road project was Jacob VanGilder. Little did the two men know that on June 14, 1853 descendants from their two families would marry. In 1806 Robert was appointed by the court to survey a road outside of Morgantown and presented a bill to the court for $8.25 for a team, cart and two indexes one at the end of each road leading from Morgantown to Beeson Town on June 1807. This bill was paid out of the county levy of 1807.

     Robert Hill died, at age sixty two, in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia on January 15, 1822. There is a court record of his personal inventory dated February 7, 1822 and another dated March 1, 1822. 

     Rebecca continued to live on the farm until her death, at age seventy eight, on October 20, 1843. 

     

     Rebecca Hill's will was filed on September 29, 1832 and probated during the November, 1843 term. In her will, Rebecca named her youngest child, Robert Johnson Hill as executor and bequeathed the whole of her estate to him as her other children had already received their portion from their father’s will or it was given to them during her lifetime. The will goes on to state that all of her children, except Robert Johnson Hill are married.

     Robert and Rebecca were originally buried in a family plot in Morgantown, but were removed in the Spring of 1928 to Mount Union Cemetery, north of town. Both tombstones are in good condition. 

     The inscription on Robert Hills tombstone reads:

“Here lies the body of Robert Hill

Who departed this life Jan 15, 1822

Age 62.

Hark upon the tombs a doleful sound

My ears attend the cry

The living may come view the ground

Where they must shortly lie.”  

     The inscription reads:

In Memory of

Rebecca Hill. Wife 

of Robert Hill.  Was bo

rn June 7th AD 1765 depa-

rted this life Oct 20

1843 Aged 78 years 

4 mo. & 13 Dys

    

     On June 6, 1971 the DAR met at Mount Union Cemetery and dedicated a marker for Robert Hill, a Revolutionary soldier.

Children of Robert Hill and Rebecca Caldwell:

1.     Jonathan Hill born February 11, 1789 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia died July 30, 1855 in Henry County, Indiana married Esther Davis on October 1, 1818.

2.     Margaret Hill born December 14, 1790 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia died July 11, 1832 married Porter Johnson. Also listed as having married Jonathan Davis.

3.      JOSEPH DAVIDSON HILL born September 4, 1793 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia died August 24, 1859 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia married SARAH HOUSTON. My paternal great great great grandparents

4.     William J. Hill born December 25, 1795 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia died November 14, 1858 in Taylor County, (West) Virginia married April 13, 1815 in Monongalia County, (West Virginia) Rhoda Houston.

5.     James Hill born July 10, 1796 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia married Unknown Leasure.

6.     Sarah Johnston Hill born May 18, 1800 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia died March 20, 1867 in Springhill Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania married February 20, 1823 Warwick Ross.

7.     George D. Hill born July 1, 1802 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia died about 1848 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia married on November 29, 1836 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia Julia Davis also listed as Julia Henderson. Also listed as having married Unknown Caldwell.

8.     Elizabeth Hill born October 20, 1804 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia married George B. Rogers May 26, 1827 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia.

9.     Robert Johnson Hill born April 30, 1808 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia married Jane Porter.

 

Hill Bible

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Artistic--Helena Mae Smith Hiser

Helena's symbol I stitched on
a gift given to her

     

     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

    The prompt for week # 24 is Artistic.

     There is a genetic artistic gene floating around in the Smith/Hiser gene pool.  I have blogged about my two sons, Aric and Garrett, paternal grandsons, of Helena and one of her Tate/Hess cousins, Harold Hess Tate.  Helena's brother, Gilbert Smith, was also an artist and brother,      Howard Smith, was artistically creative, crafting all the set pieces around his magnificent train display.  A nephew, Fred Bowman, was employed as an illustrator-designer for screen printer sportswear. He has always painted and sketched.  Even her son and my husband, Ted Hiser, does very creative doodles on any available piece of paper that happens to be in front of him while he is on the phone or thinking about a project.  

     Helena Mae Smith, the daughter of Grover Cleveland Smith and Mildred Claudene Tate, was born on March 12, 1922 in Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio.  On November 9, 1942, she married her high school sweetheart, Clarence Harold Hiser, in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin where he was stationed with the United States Army before being shipped overseas.

     I am certain that Helena's artistic activity did not begin with her marriage to Clarence; however, when cleaning out her final residence in Tiffin, Ohio, I did not find any art from a previous time.  There was plenty from about the 1950's and forward.  Plus I saved numerous pieces she crafted for my sons when they were young.

Sketch of Clarence a year after his death

     Helena's talents were varied.  She was a sketch artist and often finished her pieces with oils or acrylics.  

Circa 1950-51
My husband's outfit

Cape for moi 1972

     Her seamstress abilities were legendary.  She made clothes for all of us.  Dresses, skirts, men's suits, pants, cute outfits for all of her grandchildren.  I was especially appreciative of the clothes she sent to  me when Ted and I were "poor graduate students" in Boston in the early 1970's. 😊

Note her HH in a heart symbol

     Her handiwork ranged from quilting, crocheting and applique.  There were new baby bibs for every occasion. 

     Halloween costumes.  The Native American costume even had embroidery on it.  Luke Skywalker's name embroidered on the cape and matching fabric finishing on the inside top.

     Often Helena would use plain paper to wrap a gift and hand draw a decoration on top.  I am happy I saved one of them. 💖

Cousin Roberta shared this picture

Clarence made these as gifts.
A poinsettia plant fits nicely inside

I guess I could have found a better display place. 😉
This was an afternoon project
Clarence did with his grandsons. 

     Later, with Clarence, they handcrafted wooden pieces.  Helena would make the pattern and Clarence would cut and saw the wood and piece it all together.  Helena would finish each piece with hand painted decorations.  We were not the only recipients of these treasures. Helena's niece sent me a photo of a stool she received as a gift.

      This has been a fun blog, looking back over fifty six years of being a Hiser and honoring the extraordinary artistic work of my in-laws.  I may be considered a "pack rat"; but it comes in handy when blogging.  😁    

  

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Reunion--The Annual Smith Family Reunion

   

     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

    The prompt for week # 22 is Reunion.

Picnic in our backyard with our Michigan Family
Summer of 1960

A "real" family reunion
Summer 1961

     Growing up, my extended family was rather small--or I was told that.  We did not have annual family reunions.  My Dad and his brother were not close. Cousins we could have shared time with, didn't happen.  Twice in a decade we had a gathering.

     Imagine my surprise when I began researching my genealogy and all the family I found.  I remember mentioning to my Mom that she had numerous cousins she never talked about.  Her response, "I guess we all just grew apart."  Those same cousins were ones I reached out to for family information.

Smith Family Reunion 1950
From the photo files of Roberta Smith Fatzinger

     My husband's Smith family remained close, especially the seven children of Grover Cleveland Smith and Mildred Claudine Tate.  There was an annual picnic reunion every summer.  To be fair, many lived within close proximity of each other in Tiffin, Ohio.  There was a branch, that were railroaders, who relocated to a town in Indiana.  Those cousins also attended.  

     I came onboard in 1969.  My first Smith Family Reunion was the summer of 1970 before we moved to the Boston area.  I was gob smacked at so many folks all coming together for an enjoyable afternoon.  There were games for all ages, conversation, old family photos and THE FOOD.  So many delicious casseroles, hot dogs and burgers, and DESSERTS.  These women could cook.  

Smith Family Reunion 1978

    There was a business meeting.  They elected officers, decided on the reunion date for the following year and gave prizes for the youngest, oldest and family that came the furthest.  My son Aric won the youngest in 1978 at two months old.

     I think my favorite event was Bingo.  Prizes were given to the winners and most were handmade or old family treasures.  

Smith Family Reunion the Hiser Branch
1986

Smith Family Reunion Hiser Branch
1989

     My husband and I missed a few reunions while living in Massachusetts; however, once we returned to Ohio, we were annual attendees.  I can remember driving to Indiana one summer to have the reunion there.  

     Unfortunately, I have few photos to share of the Smith reunions when I attended.  They must remain as fun memories.

Hughes Family Gathering
Cousin Judy Hughes Wedding
June 1989

Hughes Reunion 1990
North Olmsted, Ohio

     My Hughes Family did get its act together in 1986 for Cousin Fran's wedding and 1989 when we all attended Cousin Judy's wedding in Michigan.  For the next few years we gathered at weddings.  In 1990 I sponsored the first Hughes Family Reunion at my home and we were off and running for the next thirty-five years.

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Military--Orison Henry Hiser

 

Orison Henry Hiser
World War I
Portrait

     

     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

    The prompt for week # 21 is Military.

    Orison Henry Hiser, named for his maternal grandfather, Orison Smith, and his paternal grandfather, Henry Hiser, was my husband's paternal grandfather.   

     Orison was born on February 29, 1896 in Pemberville, Wood County, Ohio the son of Quincy LeRue Hiser and Isabelle Smith.  

    The Hiser family moved around north eastern and north central Ohio during Orison's growing years.  

     On June 5, 1917, twenty-one year old Orison registered for the World War I draft.  His residence in the city of Lorain, Lorain County, Ohio is a sizable house.  He was employed as an electrician with the Lorain Railway Company.  Whether the entire Hiser family had moved to Lorain from Tiffin, Ohio or if Orison was living with a family relation or renting a room is unknown.

     Orison enlisted as a private on March 30, 1918 into the National Army in Lorain, Ohio.  He served at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio.  The enlistment paper gives information regarding Orison's service during his one year in the Army.  

     The written comments at the bottom outlines his service.  I found these comments regarding his character to be interesting.  "Services Honest and Faithful.  Entitled to travel pay.  No AWOL or absence under GO.  Entitled to a $60.00 discharge bonus

Camp Sherman Post Cards
World War I

     On August 5, 1918, Orison  was appointed to the rank of Corporal of Company A Division Battalion No 2 of the National Army.  Oddly, this Company is not listed on any of his World War I papers.

     A month later, on September 10, 1918, Orison was appointed to the rank of Sergeant of Company B 418 Reserve Labor Battalion.  

     On March 29, 1919, Orison was honorably discharged from his military service at Camp Sherman.  

     I copied Orison's record from Adjutant General's Military Records.  Of his service in various sections, I only have the 418 Reserve Labor Battalion.  Company A Division is not listed.  The date he became a Sergeant is incorrect in the Adjutant General's military records.  

This photograph was inside
Orison's pocket watch

     Following his service, Orison returned to Lorain, Ohio and on August 30, 1920 he married Eva Matilda Farschman and the continuation of my husband's Hiser branch.

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser