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Available Sources Records 1875 A. T. Andreas Atlas
Dubuque Genealogy Coordinator
Logo by Ginger Cisewski |
[James] Hill, a Baptist minister, was an early, prominent Cascade resident. Born Dec. 6, 1822, Cheddar, England, he apprentised in the general store business and worked in merchantile business until immigrating to the United States in 1849. In 1854 he moved to Cascade, establishing residence north of town at the now (1984) Edward Breitbach Sr. place. Hill was Pastor of the Baptist Church of Cascade, but also served congregations in Epworth and Worthington. In answer to President Abraham Lincoln's call for 300,000 men to strengthen the Northern Army in 1862, Hill organized a group of 97 volunteers from Cascade. The group was mustered in as Company "I" of the Twenty-First Iowa Volunteer Infantry with Hill serving as first lieutenant. Shortly after the Battle of Vicksburg he was unanimously elected, by the men of his company, to the position of Chaplain. Hill was reported to be a great favorite of the men. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for single-handedly capturing three Rebel soldiers near Champion's Hill during the Civil War. He subsequently became known as the "Fighting Chaplain." After the war, Hill returned to Cascade and later was prominent in the organization of the railroad. He was one of the original incorporators of the Narrow Gauge and also served as vice president of the rail line.
1834 - Cascade, Iowa - 1984: First 150 Years
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