Celebrating tradition and heritage in farming, the Kansas Farm Bureau, each year, recognizes farms that have been continuously owned and farmed within the same family for a period of 100 years or greater. The history of these farms and ranches is rich with many stories to tell. Since the year 2000, farms and ranches in Jackson County have been recognized 46 times; some farms have received both the Century Farm and the Sesquicentennial Farm recognition.
This year, Jackson County Farm Bureau Association, along with the Kansas Farm Bureau, recognizes a quarter farmed by Henry & Tracy Hill. This quarter is only part and parcel of their farming operation and the Hills have been a presence for farm advocacy for most of their adult lives. Just within the past couple months, Henry Hill hosted Governor Kelly on his farm to discuss and celebrate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarding $750,000 to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as part of its Farmer-to-Farmer grant program for water protection. The Hills employ conservation and regenerative farming practices with an eye toward leaving the soil, water, and air in even better condition for future generations to carry on the heritage of farming and ranching.
The quarter section celebrated and recognized by Kansas Farm Bureau is located in Straight Creek Township in Jackson County -- the Northwest quarter of the Section 30, Township 6, Range 16.
William Hill, the original Hill to purchase this property bought the celebrated 160-acre farm in 1892 from George and Martha Drake for $4,000. William Hill was born in Andrew County, Missouri in 1851. He passed away in 1915. When Mr. Hill was but three years old, his parents moved the family to Doniphan County, Kansas in 1855. He moved from the family home to Soldier in 1879 and later he moved to the farm recognized in this award. William never married. His sister Elizabeth lived with him on this farm. Below is a photo of William Hill and his sister Elizabeth Hill, who lived in the house now nurtured by Henry and Tracy Hill.
An interesting story was published about William Hill in the Holton Signal in 1897. A convincing fellow approached Mr. Hill asking for employment with a bit of a sad story about a neighbor who failed to follow through on promised employment. Because of the fellow’s seemingly anxious desire to work, Mr. Hill, out of kindness, allowed the man to stay on the farm and help out until other gainful employment could be found. Mr. Hill, having occasion to go away from home on business left the young man in charge. Upon Mr. Hill’s return to the home, he discovered his house had been broken into and a new pair of shoes, a coat, a hat and a vest had been taken. At least the young man left his old shoes for Mr. Hill.
Upon William Hill’s death, the land passed to his sister, Elizabeth Hill and then to William’s nephew, John C. Hill. John was the son of Joseph Hill, who served as a soldier in the Civil War and a county commissioner for Jackson County, Kansas. Little other information about John Hill was available in old Jackson County newspapers. John Hill was married to Harriett Hill and, he, like many farmers and ranchers, was not afraid of hard labor. One newspaper article noted he dug a well for Chester Lukens in 1913. Another indicated that he and an in-law drove cattle to the Reservation. John Hill, like his father, was also willing to serve as a leader: John Hill was a township treasurer for Straight Creek Township.
From John Hill, thence passed the land one-half share to his wife, Harriett, and one half to Doris Hill and Joe Hill, his children. In 1958, William Frank Hill and his wife, Sophie purchased the quarter from William Frank’s cousins, Doris Hill and Joe Hill.
A farmer and stockman, William Frank also served on the board of directors for Jackson County Farm Bureau. Invested in his farming heritage, he was a member of other farming and ranching organizations, such as the Jackson County Livestock Association, Extension Service, Soil Conservation Service, RC & D, and Delaware River WRAPS. Additionally, William Frank served as a leader on the Holton Cemetery Board, was a member of the Holton AF&AM #42 Masonic Lodge and Odd Fellows.
Upon his passing, his son Henry Hill and wife Tracy carry on the farming and ranching legacy of the Hills before them on this 160 acres and more. Not only are the Hills carrying on the tradition of providing food and fiber on these 160 acres passed from generation to generation in the Hill family, they, too, are leaders in their farming and ranching community. Both Henry and Tracy have served on the Jackson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors (two decades ago) as well as numerous other services and organizations supporting the agriculture community. Henry and Tracy have instilled the need for leadership in their children to help maintain the culture of growing food for their community and their world. Their adult children, too, are involved the family ag operation and carrying on the heritage of leadership, over 100 years strong! Congratulations to this Century Farm and Henry & Tracy Hill.
