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E-BOOKS.LIFE & TIMES OF GEORGE
WASHINGTON HILL
Two
Editions are now available: Edition 2
& Edition 3
Each has different photos & family group sheets in the Family Album
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Click cover for larger image.
By Theresa Snow
Hill. Published by her daughter Cornella Hill in
1997.
Revised Edition text and more photos added by Jeffrey Roy Davis in 2001.
Hard Cover 8.5 x 11
1st & 2nd Editions: ISBN 1888106271 Library
of Congress 97-067731
Edition 2: Photos of
George Washington Hill and wife Cynthia
Utley Stewart line were added to Edition 2. It also contains photos of
George Richard Hill and wife Elizabeth N. Burch
Edition 3: Photos of Richard Hill and wife Sarah Strait and
their Family Group Sheets (replaced Edition 2 photos.)
All three editions are available for reprint.
Theresa Snow Hill has other books you can read
about: 1) Erastus
Snow 2)
Henry Eyring &
Mary Bommeli 3)
Reuben Lorenzo
Hill & Theresa Snow
Introduction
Photos from Book Table of Contents Two Stories Page for Google, Yahoo, MSN
INTRODUCTION
In compiling these stories from the life of George Washington
Hill, I have referred to several sources for material.
Click photo for larger
image.
1. Partial autobiography by George Washington Hill himself.
2. Events from the Life of George Washington Hill, by
his grandson, John J. Hill.
3. Stories related by great-grandchildren, George R. Hill, Zina Hill Baker, Laura Moench Jenkins, and Nettie Hill Daley.
The events are all true to history, but told in my own
language. I have drawn on my imagination as to what the characters in the story
might have felt and said in certain situations and even as to what they might
have done under these circumstances.
In writing these stories I have learned to appreciate this
great and noble ancestor of my children. He was one of God’s noblest leaders
and I am sure is a leader in the heavens above in the work of Our Father.
In writing these stories, my one great hope is that all
readers will gain a stronger testimony of the ability of the belief in and
practice of the restored Gospel to produce great characters such as this great
man became. His belief and confidence in our Lamanite brother cannot be equaled
anywhere and I am in hopes that those reading these stories will in some tiny
measure at least gain some of that confidence.
Click photo for full image.
Theresa Snow Hill
Table of Contents
THE RICHARD HILL AND SARAH STRAIT FAMILY
IN THE OHIO VALLEY
PIONEERS HUNTING A HOME
CYNTHIA STEWART IN HER BEAUTIFUL HOME IN THE SOUTH
THE SONG IN THE WOODS
GEORGE AND THE CAMPBELLITE MINISTER
WEDDING BELLS RING FOR GEORGE AND CYNTHIA
GEORGE AND HIS NEW FAMILY BRAVE THE WILDERNESS
HARD EXPERIENCES FOR ONE WHO WANTED SO MUCH TO BECOME A SAINT
THE HILL FAMILY MOVE TO WINTER QUARTERS
ON THEIR WAY AT LAST WITH GEORGE AS HUNTER FOR THE COMPANY
BUFFALO AND WHAT THEY MEANT TO GEORGE AND THE OTHER PIONEERS
A HIKE AND A BUFFALO KILL IN THE BLACK HILLS
A TRUE BEAR STORY AS TOLD BY GEORGE WASHINGTON HILL HIMSELF
THE JOURNEY’S END
THE LAST WEARY MILES
HARD EXPERIENCES EVEN FOR SAINTS
A MARVELOUS PROPHECY AND ITS MIRACULOUS FULFILLMENT
GOOD NEWS FROM MISSOURI
INDIANS ON THE WARPATH AS TOLD BY GEORGE WASHINGTON HILL
GOD OUR FATHER CARES FOR HIS MISSIONARIES
GEORGE IN MISSOURI AGAIN
GEORGE MAKES A PROPHECY AND HOW IT WAS FULFILLED
A TRUE FISH STORY AS TOLD BY GEORGE WASHINGTON HILL
GEORGE LOSES A HORSE BUT GAINS GREATER FAITH IN GOD
CHIEF TARAKEE PAYS DEARLY FOR SOME CORN
BIRTH AND DEATH IN THE HILL FAMILY
GEORGE IS CALLED ON A MISSION TO THE LAMANITES
A STRANGE FISH STORY
INKA-POMPY AND HIS HARVEST OF SOULS
INKA-POMPY AND THE INDIAN BULL
THE INDIAN PROPHET WHO NEVER DIES
CYNTHIA, WIFE OF A MISSIONARY TO THE INDIANS
THE ARMY OF 1856 AND ITS EFFECT ON GEORGE W. HILL
GOD AND GEORGE’S COURAGE HELP THE FAMILY MOVE SOUTH
BISHOPS ARE MEN, TOO
GEORGE W. AND THE GANGSTERS
ANOTHER MISSION TO THE INDIANS
INKA-POMPY BECOMES "FATHER" TO HIS INDIAN CHILDREN
THE GLAD MESSAGE SPREADS
THE INDIAN MORMON LIKE HIS WHITE BROTHER IS DRIVEN FROM HOME
THE DEAD COME TO LIFE
EXCITEMENT AND ANXIETY IN THE HILL HOME
INDIAN JOHN’S STORY
OUR LAMANITE BROTHER - WHAT WAS GEORGE’S RESPONSIBILITY
NOW?
ANOTHER MISSION TO THE INDIANS AND HOW IT NEVER CAME TO PASS
LITTLE SOLDIER USES HIS PRIESTHOOD
GEORGE’S LAST MISSION
Top
INKA-POMPY AND HIS HARVEST OF SOULS
George had a red beard, so the Indians gave him the name which means
"red beard" in their language— "Inka-Pompy." It is a name
by which he is known today among even the descendants of his Indian friends,
Indians who have never seen his red beard, but who had been told by their
parents and grandparents about Inka-Pompy, their beloved friend and teacher.
That summer while the Bannocks were out hunting, another tribe of Indians who
had heard about them from the Shoshones came to visit the elder’s camp. They
were the Nez Perce tribe. They, like all the other Indians took a great liking
to our George. One Indian especially liked him. He had a thin skin and red hair
and blue eyes. He said that his father was Clark of the Lewis and Clark
expedition.
He called Inka-Pompy his brother because they both had red hair and the same
complexion. He was older than George so he called him, "Little
Brother." He came often to see George and would stay and teach George his
language. He was very patient and would teach as long as George would sit and
listen, even following him about as George cooked a meal or went out in search
of firewood for their fires.
In this way, George learned rapidly and was soon speaking the Nez Perce’s
language fluently.
The Indians have a childlike faith that white people have a much harder time
acquiring. There are so many more things they have to accept on faith. We folks
have the explanations of learned men to guide us. They therefore could and did
exercise the faith that made it possible for an answer to prayer. We who desire
that faith may not have it in times when we sorely need it.
That winter the Indians turning toward Fort Hall to spend the cold, cold
days, came instead to the Mormon fort to hear the wonderful stories of the Book
of Mormon. As George knew the several languages much better than his fellow
missionaries he was called upon to do the preaching to the audience.
The stories about Christ were the most popular, the power He held over the
elements, the wind and he rain, his power to heal the sick, the lame and the
blind. When George told them that same power had been given by this Great One to
Joseph Smith and Joseph had given it to other good men, and he and these other
elders also had it, their eyes glistened with excitement.
They told this story wherever they went until many Indians, who had never
seen or heard of Mormons or the Book of Mormon heard how they anointed
the sick with oil and talked to the great Spirit who then made the sick ones
well. On one occasion, there was a hunting party far out in the buffalo country
when one of their little girls took very ill and it looked as though the child
would surely die. The parents were frantic, the medicine man had given her up to
die. Then one of the party remembered hearing abut the Mormon story and told it
to the parents who quickly made the child as comfortable as they could and
started westward toward the place the Indian had said the Mormons were camped.
Those were long anxious miles for those poor Indian parents, for oh, how the
Indians love their children! They were afraid their little one would die before
they could get her to this white medicine man.
When they arrived, the child was near death’s door, for she had a raging
fever and was so weak that she had ceased to turn and toss. George told them,
"Yes, we do have the power of the Priesthood of the Great Spirit and those
who believe in the Great Spirit enough can be healed." They replied that
they did believe and if the elders had that power they wanted to be baptized and
belong to the Church of Christ too.
So Brother Moore and Cummings helped to administer to the little girl. Just
as soon as they removed their hands from her head the perspiration broke out all
over her face, the fever was gone and the child was well.
The following Sunday there was a huge crowd of Indians out to their meeting.
After the singing and prayer, the President of the mission asked George to do
the preaching. George said he did in his weak way. But it must have been
anything but weak, for it went straight to the hearts of those and every Indian
he ever preached to. He must have had a rich outpouring of the spirit which
directed him to say the words which would explain the Gospel so simply and yet
so forcefully that these people, childlike in their faith and way of looking at
life could understand it and accept it, and then as it proved later, live it.
For when he finished his talk that day, there were fifty-six who asked to be
baptized and made members of Christ’s Kingdom here on earth. When he finished
his talk he had said that all who believed and wanted to be baptism he would
baptize that day. There was a loud chorus, "I do, I do, I do."
When George had baptized all the men, which was the custom among the Indians,
he came out of the water and told them that the other elders would baptize the
rest. They refused to come and said they would wait until he could get warm, for
they wouldn’t be baptized unless Inka-Pompy baptized them.
Inka-Pompy warmed himself a bit then went again into the water and baptized
the rest, much to the jealousy, I am sorry to say, of the other elders. It was
natural that the Indians would feel closer to a man who had learned their
languages, could understand them because of this power of communication.
He had offered to teach the language to the other missionaries, but they had
laughingly said, "You can interpret for us, why bother?"
Like many folks, they wanted their cake and to eat it, too. They continued to
want what they had not earned.
Top
GEORGE’S LAST MISSION
Close to the warm springs where the water bubbled warm from the earth outside
the fort wall surrounding the dwellings of the first settlers of Salt Lake City,
at times in the years 1879 to 1886, one might have thought an Indian village had
been established.
You might have seen papooses playing about wickiups, or campfires burning and
smell meat cooking from the big kettles. Nearby in a fairly commodious adobe
dwelling some white children might come running and join in the Indian children’s
game of tag. These children with the white skin were the grandchildren of Inka-Pompy.
In the Indian house also built of adobe, old Margaret was queen. The children
ran to her if someone got hurt during play and she would always make things
right. If the brown playmate was too rough, she scolded him and gave a stick of
candy to the white boy. If the white boy hurt the feelings of the Indian, both
children were usually scolded.
There would be meetings for the tribe, some would be baptized, then the
wickiups would be rolled up. They would bid farewell and ride back to the
reservation, for the government never allowed long absences. But always old
Margaret and her son Tom stayed in the adobe house, and Zina and Charlie found
refuge from hurried mothers. They were always happy when their mothers went to
Relief Society or uptown and left them at the adobe house. They liked to play
with their brown-skinned friend, old Margaret.
They would laugh when she held the baby and said, "I feel warm coming
through," accompanying the remark by holding the baby away from her.
She taught them many useful Indian phrases as, "In hawka nanny,"
What is your name? which helped in their games with each new set of Indian
playmates who set up camp across the way. Or, "Ihawkifim," "Where
did you come from?" Then they could run quick and be the first to tell
Grandpa which Indians had come to see him.
But as the years went by, fewer and fewer Indians came to receive spiritual
food from the Church leaders. It was difficult, very difficult to get leave from
the reservation and for time strictly forbidden.
So along in the middle eighties, George was released as interpreter and he
purchased the adobe house they built for him.
It was in these years the Saints were sorely tried for they were between two
loyalties both of which were part of their religion. Many of the Saints were
practicing the law of plural marriage. In fact they were called to practice it
by the Lord. Then the Congress made a law making it a crime to be married to
more than one woman. What was the true Latter-Day-Saint to do? He believed in
honoring, obeying, and sustaining the laws of the land, but it was against the
laws of nature to drive away from one’s home beloved wives and children.
Therefore, many folks served their term in prison for the offence, but, of
course, no one wanted to go to prison so they used many devices to throw off
suspicion.
George had never been called to practice it, but three of his sons had, so he
invited his sons’ plural wives to come live at the adobe home. Whether the
marshals did not like to tackle a person whose perfect aim at shooting was
famous or not, we do not know, but none of his sons were ever arrested for
practicing plural marriage.
Of course you all know that the Church solved the problem of conflicting
loyalties by issuing the Manifesto in which we made it unlawful even in the
church to practice plural marriage.
As with all good Latter-Day-Saints, George and Cynthia were anxious to be
baptized, [to do] all the ordinance work of the Temples for their folks who had
never had the opportunity of hearing the Gospel, their parents, grandparents,
and great grandparents and so on back. But this work could not be done without
names, dates of birth and death, etc.
George and Cynthia talked over this problem real often, especially since the
Temple at Logan was finished and dedicated and work could now be done there.
One evening as George had been going over the list of cousins he knew often
only by nickname, uncles and aunts, he said, "Well Cynthia, the only way I
can get any of the work for these folks done is by going back on a visit. At
least some of my father’s brothers and sisters might be alive, Uncle William
or Aunt Nancy. But their children may have more data than I have for we moved
around so much. I think it is worth a try anyway. I can look on headstones and
hunt up family Bibles and talk to all the folks and get their families names
anyway.
As George hustled about getting ready for his trip, it seemed as if the year
slipped from his shoulders.
"Just to think of meeting some of my own people, Cynthia. I can hardly
wait. I was so small when we left Ohio, I hardly remember any of them. If I hadn’t
heard father speak of Aunt Polly and Aunt Jane, Uncle Jim, and Uncle Bill, I
wouldn’t know they existed. You know, I had two Uncle Bill Hills, for my Aunt
Elizabeth married a William Hill. Of course I remember Father’s brother
William, for he moved to Missouri too."
The trip was most successful, but like all research there was much to clear
up, through letters and letters again, but finally, the data was in shape on the
temple sheets, the temple clothes were ready and the family prepared for the
trip to Logan to do the saving work they had looked forward so long to do.
The trip by team must have taken a couple of days, so it was a real outing.
We who love Cache Valley so, can imagine the thrill they felt as they turned the
tip of the mountain down Wellsville Canyon and first as they glimpsed the towers
of the sacred building they would enter on the morrow.
How happy George must have been to go with his two boys and his wife to God’s
Holy House, to go down in the waters of baptism for his grandfather and perform
the holy ordinances that lead to eternal life and happiness.
I can imagine as he went through those saving ordinances for his father, he
could imagine that dear person sitting beside him, imagine joy and happiness shine
in that beloved one’s face. He had suffered so much here and had so wanted to
be baptized, but had to die without that ordinance and now was receiving the
higher ordinance on the upward journey toward celestial happiness.
How little did he know that within a few, very few short years, four to be
exact, George would be able to talk to his dear father and hear all the things
about his ancestors he would so like to know now. Yes, in the winter of 1890 and
1891, a severe epidemic of influenza struck the valley and many folks suffered
from it and many died from it.
George had been nursing the sick and the dying when he took ill. Cynthia had
a dream just shortly before, dreaming that two Indians of a tribe whom George
had worked with came asking him as of old to come and baptize them.
George was only sick a few days before death came and just as death was
coming on, he had a wonderful vision of some kind, for he said, "I am
coming, my children, I am coming to teach you and help you." He had always
called the Indians his children.
Soon after his death, Cynthia had a dream in which she was told that George
was now fulfilling the mission to Joseph and his tribe which President Young had
called him to before his death.
In my mind’s eye I can see this great leader, our George Washington Hill,
among his dark-skinned children, rejoicing in the reception given him, and the
truths of the everlasting way to life eternal, that he taught them.
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