William Hillis, born Apr. 8, 1819, was the only son of Robert Hillis and Elizabeth Wynn in Westmoreland Co., PA. He attended local schools and Washington College before taking up teaching. After ten years he worked with scientific farming. He had a reputation of a being a successful agriculturalist, increasing his 200 acre farm to 460 acres. There was also a salt well and coal mine on his farm.

 

In 1840 William Hillis set aside a plot for a church. In preparation for the building he would scour the vast acreage with digging irons to locate large stones which were drilled for the insertion of a rod. Then in the winter's freezing temperature, the stones would split into sizes for the pile he was collecting for the church. Finally in 1846 the church was built. "I handled every stone that went into that church, Hillis would say.

 

 

He was strongly religious and attended the Baptist Church at Big Sewickly until his death Mar, 19, 1910. He is buried at that church cemetery. William Hillis was a liberal supporter of many philanthropic an charitable undertakings.

 

 

William married Catharine Simpson Feb. 22, 1844 and in 1861, built a wonderful stone home with 11 rooms and walls 22 inches thick while window ledges were only 21 inches to allow Catharine to put plants and knickknacks. There was no kitchen in the house. In those days, the kitchen was built separately in case of fire. I visited this home in 1965 and it is a wonderful place.

 

 

William and Catharine had 11 children:

 

Robert Hillis, named after his grandpa, Robert Hillis b. June 25, 1845 d. May 8, 1850 buried at the Middle Presbyterian Church near Youngwood, Mt. Pleasant TWP.

James C. Hillis, b. Mr. 19, 1847, d. Mar. 28, 1851 buried at the Middle Presbyterian Church near Youngwood, Mt. Pleasant TWP.

Albert E. Hillis b. Apr. 1, 1849 m. Louise Fox, d. July 18, 1914 buried at Stone Church Hill.

Millard Fillmore Hillis b. May 24, 1852 m. May 20, 1875 to Sarah Alice Gongaware, d. June 1919. He was a farmer and road supervisor.

Lyman Hall Hillis b. Dec. 21, 1853, m. May 2, 1888/9 Esther Sillaman d. Sept. 12, 1911

Emma Catharine Hillis b. Dec. 3, 1855 on a farm in Mt. Pleasant, m. Clemence Henry Harrold Oct. 23, 1879 d. Sept. 29, 1937 and is buried at Harrold's Cemetery.

Jessie Benton Hillis b. Sept. 12, 1857 m. June 25, 1891 to Frank Van Dyke d. Nov. 16, 1905

Edgar C. Hillis b. Aug. 10, 1859 m. Oct. 5, 1895 to Amanda J. Mattheas, d. Dec. 23, 1942. Lived at the Fairgrounds in New Stanton.

Mary Bird Hillis b. Sept. 13, 1861 d. Sept. 13, 1861 at birth.

Willie Grant Hillis b. June 3, 1865 d. Feb. 19, 1870.

Warren Grant Hillis b. Dec. 26, 1869 m. June 5, 1899 Catharine Alvie Beister d. Mar. 9, 1952. His daughter, Miram Hillis Dorsey lived in the house until her death.