Person:Forrest Hill (1)

Number of marriages: 2

Biography

CALDWELL COUNTY, MISSOURI HISTORY Published 1985 Page 107 THE FORREST HILL AND RUTH ESTEB FAMILY Robert Judson Hill was born February 6, 1875 on a farm near Cottage Grove, Mo. He was the son of Thomas Benton Hill and Louise Maria Hill. Louise died when Robert was three weeks old so he was cared for by his grandmother, Mrs. Mary Jane Hume Hill, until she passed away six months later. He was then taken into the home of his aunt, Mrs. W.T. Petty, and stayed with her until he reached manhood. He attended the Cowgill public schools. Lulu Eliza Margaret Elvira Crist, daughter of James Allen Crist and Lavinia Wallace Grimes, married Robert Judson October 21, 1894 in Independence, Kansas. I do not know when they were married there since they were both born, raised and lived in Caldwell county. Lulu was born July 13, 1875. Both Robert and Lulu professed their faith in Christ at an early age and were members of the Hamilton Baptist Church. Robert died February 11, 1950 and Lulu October 21, 1964 and are buried in the Highland cemetery. Robert and Lulu had five sons: James Walter married Mary Ethel Smoot, died 1979; Robbie Wallace married Marie Elizabeth Matchett, died 1966; Forrest Arlie (your author) married Ruth Esteb; Russell Elmer married Edna Pearl Gregory, died 1975 and David Earl married Hazel Lee Hawks, died 1982. I was born February 19, 1900 in Caldwell county, Mo. I attended several country schools as I was growing up. Some are still standing and some are gone. Two I remember are Excelsior school, north of Cowgill, and Frog Pond. From eighth grade on I went to Braymer and was on the football team. After I graduated I farmed for a while with my father and then on my own. I married Ruth Esteb March 6, 1926. We set up housekeeping in Corene Garretts house here i n Kingston. I mostly farmed but did work on a construction crew that built steel and concrete bridges in Caldwell County, for the WPA, built roads in Grant Township and did some logging. John Montgomery Esteb was born November 19, 1870 in Kingston, Mo. He was the son of John Thomas Esteb and Alice Ophelia James. He married Lilly May Bishop October 11, 1893. Lilly was born November 2, 1868 in Knoxville, Iowa to Judge Abijah Wines Bishop and Julia Ann Fort. Her parents and two brothers came to Kingston in a covered wagon when she was two. Two more brothers were born after their move. Lilly died October 23, 1958 and is buried in the Kingston cemetery. John and Lilly had four children; Montgomery Bishop married Maude Ester Kimbrough, died 1954; Marvin Abijah married Pearl Inez Baker, died 1943; Ruth (my wife) died December 1, 1969 and Harold Francis married Leah Bernice Hall, they live in Kingston, Mo. Ruth was born March 18, 1903 in Kingston, Mo. and attended school here in Kingston. She worked for Kepner Drug store at the fountain for ten years. During that time we were married. When Glen Setzer was elected County Treasure Ruth worked f or him for eight years. We moved to the country about 1940 and stayed ten years. We had dairy cows, hogs and row crops. We moved back to town and rented the Bridgewater place. Ruth went to work at the ASCS office and worked there for 13 years. I continued to f arm and kept dairy cows. In 1963 we bought the house I now live in. Harold Esteb, Ruth's brother, remodeled it f or us. We moved in the week before Christmas. Ruth and I had one son, John Robert Hill born December 25, 1929. John Robert Married Virginia Lee Rone September 10, 1948. They had two children: Karen Lea born October 4, 1950 and John Kevin born March 24, 1957. Karen and her husband, Dennis Walker, live in Hamilton, Mo. They have two children: Nesha Denise and Cody Lee. John and his wife, Mary, live in Independence, Mo. They also have two children: Alycia Danielle and Mark Evan. John Robert died April 4, 1967. He is buried in the Kingston cemetery beside his mother, Ruth. I married Ota Baird October 11, 1972. We belong to the First Baptist Church in Kingston, Mo. Submitted by: Forrest Hill Kingston, Mo. 64650

Obituary

Hamilton Advocate, Hamilton, Missouri November 26, 1997 FORREST ARLIE HILL Forrest Arlie Hill was born in Kingston, MO, to Robert Judson and Lula Eliza Margaret Elvira (Crist) Hill on Feb. 19, 1900, the third of five boys. He died on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1997, at Cameron (MO) Community Hospital. Forrest married Ruth Esteb on March 6, 1926. They were charter members of the Kingston Baptist Church. Ruth preceded him in death as did their son - John Robert; Forrst's four brothers; and his second wife - Ota (Baird). His survivors include two grandchildren, one of whom is Karen Walker of Pagosa Springs, CO, formerly of Kingston and Hamilton, MO; four great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. The graveside service and burial were held on Nov. 22 at Kingston Cemetery, conducted by Rev. Jim Straton, a former Kingston Baptist minister. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Bram Funeral Home in Hamilton.