Newspaper Article, "Golan Goin's"

". . . Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Hill and Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Winters and children were in Lefore the first of the week visiting Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Hill.  The Winters party have recently returned from California where he worked in a defense plant . . ."

Three-Day Reunion of Barbee Children Held at Buffalo Gap

". . . Among others present were Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Hill, the latter a sister of Mrs. Barbee's, of Sylvester, and Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Winter and family, also of Sylvester . . . "

The Mrs. Barbee of the article is Frankie's sister Joanna Coggin Barbee.

Papa Hill with Janice on "Minnie"

This photo was developed in April, 1951.  There is no damage to the surface of the photo, but some damage during the development process or reproduction process has occurred.  (At first I thought the horse had a malady of the coat...)  I don't know if this is likely a copy or if it is original.  

Patsy and Jan agree the baby is most likely Papa Hill's granddaughter Janice Hill, b. 1949.  That makes Papa Hill right at 76 years old--I don't know about Minnie!

W. C. Hill Family Portrait, ca. 1912

This is not an original photo, but is a photo copy.  Elsie looks to be about 18 months old and A. J. about 4 years old, so I'm estimating the date to be from late 1912.  From left:  

Orvel Francis Hill, b. 10 Aug 1905, is around 7 years old.

"Papa Hill" (William Claborn "W. C." Hill) b. 28 Feb 1874, is around 38 years old.

Alton Jackson "A. J." Hill, b. 17 Sep 1908, is around 4 years old.

Elsie Lou Hill, b. 11 Apr 1911, is around 18 months old.

"Mama Hill" (Frances Myrtle "Frankie" Coggin Hill), b. 26 Mar 1880, is around 32 years old.

William Wallace "Red" Hill, b. 12 Sep 1903, is around 9 years old. 

Andrew Darwin Hill, b. 6 Jan 1902, is around 10 years old--almost 11. 

Claborn / Clayburn / Claiborn / Claiborine / Claibourne / Clayborn / Cleborn

My uncle Bud sent an email when I first asked his help in reviewing this site:

I question the spelling on Papa Hill's middle name.  I thought it had a Y or an I in Cla_born?  Clayborn, I think, and a great name for a professional farmer.  

He’s right.  Different people seem to spell it different ways.  This is a problem common to pre-19th century genealogy research.  The 1999 Hill Family Reunion Booklet written by Janice  & Aimee Watson consistently uses “Claborn” throughout, so that’s why I’ve gone with that spelling on this site. 

I’d love to hear from Papa Hill’s other grandchildren which spelling is preferred… and why.  Most records I’ve seen have “William C.” or “W. C.”  I’ll probably run across some more documents that include the spelling of Papa Hill’s middle name, but for now, here’s what I have at my fingertips. 

Amazon.com has an image of the WWI Draft Registration Card for "William Claborn Hill":  

(You may click on the photos to enlarge them, save them to your computer, or print them.  If you have trouble with the process, click and drag the image to your desktop.)

Alfred L. “Fritz” Hill provided a copy of “Early History of the Andrew Jackson Hill Family,” by Eva Mae Cole, June 1, 1956.  She uses the “William Claborn Hill” spelling.

The Hill Family Tree Fritz sent reads:  “William Claborn.”

The Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 Record image is also at Ancestry.com and shows “William Clayburn Hill”:

Papa Hill’s obituary from the 7 Aug 1953 The Merkel Mail has “William Claborn Hill.” 

I have a copy of my grandmother Elsie’s handwritten family tree where she has written “William Cleborn Hill.”  It appears that something was erased and the “e” written over it. 

This middle name came from the OXFORD family; Papa Hill’s maternal grandfather’s name was “William Claborn H. Oxford,” b. 6 Aug 1898 in Buncombe Co, NC, d. 20 Feb 1864 in Morgan Mill, Erath Co, TX.  

The 1850 U. S. Census Record for Hopkins Co, TX shows another variant of the spelling, “Claiborine” or “Claibourne”: 

The 1860 U. S. Census Record for Erath Co, TX shows another spelling, “Clayborn”:

A record from Texas Land Title Abstracts, 1700-2008 shows “Claiborn Oxford”:

Here we see it in a rather definitive way from Ken Jones, a volunteer for “Find A Grave”:

(You may click on the following link to go to the web site, which will open in a new window.)

Find A Grave- Claborn H. Oxford Sr.

Ken Jones notes: “Marker has been re-engraved; original inscription is on other end of slab.”  I wish I could see the original engraving; maybe one of you has visited the site. 

Orvel Sr. and Edna named their son “David Clayborn Hill,” according to the Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997:

Janice & Aimee Watson’s 1999 Hill Family Reunion Booklet reads, “David Claborn Hill.”  Some online white pages searches yield a “David Claborn Hill” associated with Orvel Hill. 

I have a copy of Elsie’s typed list of family birthdays and anniversaries, where she has written, “David Cleborn” for Orvel and Edna’s son. 

Hence some confusion for those of us “not in the know!”

For Bud: Papa Hill

Written on the photo's reverse:

A. J., Lee, Papa Hill, "Red" in 1946

My mother wrote on the reverse, "A. J. Hill, Lee Smith (Elsie Lou Hill's husband), Papa Hill, 'Red' Hill."  This photo seems to be taken on the same day in 1946 as the photo with the notation that Sylvia was age 13, so...

Alton Jackson (A. J.) Hill Sr. (b. 17 Sep 1908) was around 38 years old.

Lee Matt Smith Sr. (b. 27 Sep 1904) was around 42 years old.

William Claborn "Willie" (W. C.) Hill (b. 28 Feb 1874) was 72 years old.

William Wallace "Red" Hill (b. 12 Sep 1903) was about 43 years old.

A. J., Red, Elsie Lou, Mama Hill & Papa Hill in 1946

Mother's caption on the reverse reads, "A. J. Hill, Red Hill, Elsie Hill Smith, Mama Hill, Papa Hill."  Was this photo taken at the farm?  What structure is that to the left?   Red and Papa Hill are enjoying their cigars.  A. J. and Papa Hill seem to be dressed for working.  Are Red and Elsie dressed for traveling?  What about the car?

Has anyone noticed the little girl (or boy...) under the trunk lid?

Mama & Papa Hill

Was this snapshot taken at the Hill Home, built in 1926?  The photo's reverse reads "Mama & Papa Hill."  Any ideas on the date... or even the decade?

Mama Hill & Papa Hill with the Grandkids

Mama Hill and Papa Hill are enjoying their two oldest grandchildren, Patsy Lou Hill and Sylvia Smith.  Written on the photo's reverse in my mother's handwriting is "Patsy Lou Hill, Mama Hill, Sylvia Smith & Papa Hill."

This is definitely a 1933 snapshot, probably early summer.  Sylvia looks to be 4 or 5 months old, so Patsy Lou would have been almost 2-1/2 years old.  Mama Hill, b. 26 Mar 1880, would have been 53; Papa Hill, b. 28 Feb 1874, would have been 59 years old.

Was this at the Hill Farm?

Mama & Papa Hill (Frances & Willie)

This later studio photo (cropped) reads "Mama & Papa Hill / Francis & Willie," written in my mother's handwriting.  Again, if you have any ideas about the date or circumstance of the portrait, please comment.  

Click on the photo to see the enlarged version.  You may then print it or download it to your computer.

Frances & Willie (W. C.) Hill

This studio portrait of Frances Myrtle "Frankie" Coggin Hill (b. 1880) and William Claborn "Willie" Hill (b. 1874) is from a collection of photographs my mom inherited from her mother, Elsie Lou Hill Smith.  "Frances & Willie/W.C. Hill" is written on the reverse in my mother's handwriting.  There are no other identifying marks on the photo.

Does anyone know when this photo was taken or want to hazard a guess?