ELDER THOMAS HILL SR.

The following history of Father Hill was written by his son, Elder Thomas Hill, Jr., by request of Coffee Creek Association, and published in the minutes of 1848.

     "Elder Thomas Hill, Sr., was born March 17, 1763, in the State ofNew Jersey. While he was yet small, his parents removed to Virginia, where, at the age of nineteen, he entered the army and served a three months' term in the war of the American Revolution. The 26th of October, 1786, he married to Mary Stone, by whom he had five sons. About the year 1788 or 1789, it pleased the Lord to awaken him to a sense of his conditions a sinner, and, after some months of sorrow and distress on account of sin, he was enabled to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and realize peace in believing. He immediately began to exhort his fellow-men to flee from the wrath to come. He united with the Baptist Church, was baptized by Elder Jos. Anthony, and received a lisense from the Church to preach the gospel. His companion, a few months after, made profession of religion and united with the same church.
    "After laboring a few years in Virginia, he removed to East Tennessee, where he resided about four years. In the fall of 1798, he removed to Kentucky, and settled near Somerset, Pulaski County, uniting with the church at Sinking Creek. Thomas Hansford being pastor. He soon began to hold meetings in a destitute neighborhood about eight miles distant, and in a short time, under his labors, a church was raised up called White Oak, of which he became pastor. He was there ordained the 2nd of February, 1800, by Thomas Hansford and James Fears. He continued his labors at White Oak and retained the relation as pastor about seventeen years, during which time many were added to the church. He labored successfully in other churches and neighborhoods, especially in the vicinity where he resided, and was the favored instrument under God, in the conversion of many souls.
     "In March, 1817, he removed to Indiana, Jennings County, and untied with a small church called Graham's Fork, was chosen pastor, and continued to serve the church as such until May 1822, at which time Coffee Creek Church was organized in his immediate neighborhood and under his labors. He was a member in the constitution, was chosen pastor, and continued his pastorship for sixteen and a half years, when at this own request, he was released in consequence of the infirmities of age.
     "He was a faithful and persevering laborer in the gospel field in Indiana, supplying from three to four churches regularly for many years, until by reason of age, he found himself unable to perform the arduous duties devolving upon him, and was compelled to retire. He labored faithfully, and had the satisfaction to know that his labors were not in vain in the Lord. Many yet live who claim him as their father in the gospel, while many others, who were brought into the fold of Christ under his instrumentality, are gone to enjoy that rest which remains to the people of God.
     "On the 24th day of October, 1844, he was called to part with his bosom companion, with whom he had lived nearly fifty-eight years, She had been a faithful burden-bearer with him in all his labors and toils. The bereavement to him was very painful, but he comforted himself with the thought that his loss was her gain.
     "He continued to labor as far as health and strength would permit, and when he was no longer able to travel out an visit neighboring churches, he was still faithful in attending the meetings of his own beloved church, even when unable to walk without being supported; and frequently, at the close of meeting, he would lean upon his staff and exhort his brethren and sisters to faithfulness in duty, and point sinners to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.
     "He departed this life on Monday, the 22nd of May, 1848, after a short, but painful, affliction, occasioned by a fall. The last month of his life was to him a season of more that usual religious enjoyment. He died in hope of a blessed immortality. In his last illness he remarked to his friends that he felt willing to go, and , after a few moments, repeated: 'Yes, I feel willing to go; my hope is in Jesus. I have no confidence in the flesh.'
     "On the following day, at 3 o'clock, his funeral sermon was preached at Coffee Creek meeting-house by Elder J.B. Swincher, from I Chronicles XXiX. 15: 'We are strangers before thee and sojourners, as were all our fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.' After which his remains were followed by a very large procession to the graveyard, where they were interred by the side of his dear companion, there to remain until the resurrection morn."
     In addition to the forgoing, it is due to the memory of Father Hill to say that he was a preacher of much more than common ability. Although, at the time of his conversion, he was entirely uneducated, he very soon learned to read his Bible, which was his daily companion, and in which he made great proficiency. During the entire time of his ministerial labors in this State, he was regarded as one of our most able expounders of the Scriptures. Perhaps no minister in Southern Indiana had a better faculty of illustrating his subject to make it interesting to all, or of securing and holding, while speaking, the undivided attention of his auditors. Certainly no one more fully possessed the confidence and esteem of the entire community.