Hon. Augustus Hill
Retyped from Beers "History of Greene County" by Annette Campbell
Among
the representative men of Greene county there is not one who is more justly
entitled to the honors awarded him by his fellow-citizens than Hon. Augustus
Hill. He has a genealogical record record of which any man might
feel proud, but it is not to birth or fortune that he owes his success in
life, for he is a self-made man.
On his father's side he inherits many of those traits of
character which distinguished the early English settlers of America, but the
indomitable will, pluck, and energy that have enabled him to overcome all
obstacles, he inherits from his Scotch ancestry on his mother's side. He
was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, April 14th 1816. When only eight
years of age he came with his parents to Durham, and six years later moved to
Cairo. The only advantages he enjoyed in early life were those afforded
by a few months attendance each year at the district school, but in order to
satisfy his thirst for knowledge he went manfully to work to earn his daily
bread. He learned the tailor's trade, and with his earnings he was
enabled to meet the necessary expenses to fit him for the profession he had
chosen. He commenced to study law with Mr. P.C. Mattoon, of Cairo, in
1848, working at his trade at the same time. He received his diploma and
was admitted to the bar in 1855, and commenced practice in Cairo at once.
His reputation as a lawyer was established by his connection with the
celebrated case of "Rickerson vs. Raeder," in which he was council
for the plaintiff. The case was tried first in one court and then in
another, and finally, after about eight years, the Court of Appeals decided in
favor of the plaintiff. The practice of Mr. Hill largely increased
during this period; and at the same time he took an active interest in
politics. In 1850 he was elected justice of the peace on the democratic
ticket, which office he held for 28 years.
During the war of the Rebellion he made himself conspicuous as
a war democrat, and incurred considerable odium among members of his party
because of this course; but adopting the motto of the illustrious Clay,
"I would rather be right than be president," he continued his
partiotic efforts. He addressed the first war meeting held in Cairo, and
throughout the entire struggle he was active in behalf of the Union cause.
In the fall of 1871 he was selected by the members of his party as their
standard bearer, and was elected to the Assembly by a majority of 355.
In the following year he was re-elected by a majority of 780. As a
public debater he was honest, frank and logical, and was regarded as a
gentleman of no mean ability by his compeers. He was always found on the
side of honest legislation, and a bitter opponent of the numerous bills that
were introduced to rob the people.
He introduced a bill asking for an appropriation of $10,000 for
the improvement of the Katerskill Creek. His eloquent and earnest
presentation of the matter secured its passage in the Assembly, but it was
defeated in the Senate, on the plea that it would establish a precedent that
other cities and towns would take advantage of. The trustees of the
village of Catskill held a meeting not long after this and adopted resolutions
expressing in the strongest terms their appreciation of his efforts to secure
this much needed improvement.
He was a member of the committee on railroads, roads and
bridges and a sub-committee of the whole. As an evidence of his
popularity it may be stated that he has never yet been defeated for any public
office. He was twice elected a member of the board of supervisors, the
second year he was chairman.
October 5th 1843 he married Miss Maria T. Prout of Cairo, who
for years has been an invalid. By her he had two children, both of whom
died in infancy. Mr. Hill's father, Harvey Hill, was of English descent,
and his mother, whose maiden name was Sally McDonald was of Scotch. To
them were born four children, viz: Lucius D., born February 5th 1810, a lawyer
by profession, now much enfeebled in health; Susan J., born February 3rd
1812, died February 14th 1837; Richard, born January 12th 1814, died
March 15th 1882; and Augustus. Their grandfather Obadiah Hill, was
with Colonel Lamb's regiment of Artillery during the war of the Revolution,
and was present at the execution of Major Andre, the British spy, at Tappan,
on the 2nd of October 1780. His father was a volunteer in the war of
1812, under the command of Captain Luther Hotchkiss of Waterbury, Connecticut,
and was stationed at New London, where an attack from the British squadron
under Commodore Hardy was daily anticipated. He served throughout the
war and died in 1841, aged 54. Mr. Hill's mother spent a long and useful
life in this community and her death at the age of 90, which occurred on the
4th of December 1873, was lamented by all who knew her. Mr. Hill has
been for years an active member of Kedemah Lodge, F. & A. M., of Cairo,
filling all the positions from J.W. to W. M. He shows none of the
effects of advancing years save his venerable gray hair, and judging from his
appearance, his mental and physical powers will enable him to serve his party,
to which he is faithfully devoted, for many years to come.