THE HILL FAMILY OF HENDERSON, KENTUCKY

Published by Michelle Taylor © 2023

The matriarch of the Hill family was Sarah Hill. Sarah appears in the 1870 U.S. Federal Census living next door to her daughter America Williams (nee Jordan). Sarah was born circa 1834 and had a total of six children. Her eldest child, America Jordan was born in 1847.

1. America Jordan (1847-1947)

2. Jane Hill (1853-Unknown)

3. Gabriella Hill (1855-Unknown)

4. Frank Hill (1857-Unknown)

5. Georgia Hill (1862-1911)

6. Robert Hill Jr. (1863- Unknown)

America Jordan married Henry Williams in 1865 in Henderson County, Kentucky. America and Henry relocated to Newburgh Indiana before the turn of the century. The couple had a total of ten children which included Henry Jr., Cora, Thomas, Estella, Mamie, Butch, Nelson, James, Horace, and Annie.

Georgia Hill had her first child with Edmund Robertson in July 1879. The child’s name was Ida Hill. Ida appears living with her parents in the 1880 U.S. Federal Census. Six more children were born between 1880 to 1895. Their names were Willie Anna, Sarah, Bruce, Mary, DeWitt and Sophia.

Frank Hill married Eliza Saunders in 1884 in Henderson County, Kentucky. Frank and Eliza raised their children in Reed, Kentucky. There were eight children in total which included Carrie, Pearl, Cora, Hugo, Ethel, Naomi, Admiral, and Edith (China Mae).

There were limited economic opportunities for African Americans after slavery especially in Henderson County, Kentucky. By the 1910s, some members the Hill family sought out better opportunities by moving to larger cities including Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Lexington, Evansville, Newburgh, and Indianapolis.

Detroit, Michigan

Frank Hill’s son Admiral Hill appears in the 1920 U.S. Federal Census living in Detroit, Michigan. Admiral was only 23 years old according to the census record. His occupation was listed as a “bus man” for a hotel.

Members of Hill Family Who Lived in Detroit Between 1900-1965

1. Admiral Hill

2. Mamie Hill (née Williams)

3. Butch Williams

4. Sophia Banks (née Robinson)

5. Catherine Banks

6. Clara Mae Banks

7. Robert Edward Banks, Sr.

8. Robert Edward Banks, Jr.

9. Camille Smith