Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan The Western Historical Company, Chicago - 1883 Page 340 SAMUEL W. HILL, P.O. Marshall, Mich., one of the most experienced and respected of the few remaining pioneer mining men of the copper region of Lake Superior. At this writing he is prospecting on the scenes of his early explorations and surveys of nearly forty years ago. Mr. HILL was born November 6, 1815, in Starksboro, Vt.; was educated for a civil engineer and survey- or. He started out to seek his fortune in the spring of 1839, sup- plied with limited means, but with a good set of instruments, and plenty of energy and pluck. His first work was done in Albion, N.Y., where he secured the job of surveying a township. From New York he came to Milwaukee in 1840, with the expectation of getting land surveying to do. Failing to find any opening for work in his profession, he went to Racine and engaged as school teacher. The following year, he secured a place with a party of Government Surveyors, under Capt. CRAM, who were starting from Milwaukee on an expedition to make a survey of the bounary line between Michigan and Wisconsin. He assisted in this survey, and for the first time beheld Lake Superior (in the year 1841). For some reasons (not known to the writer) he meandered the Ontonagon River at that time. He was soon afterward employed on the Gov- ernment surveys of the Upper Peninsula, and in discharge of his duties ran the section lines of a large portion of what is now Ke- weenaw County. About 1845, he was associated with Dr. DOUGLASS HOUGHTON in the geological surveys of that region, and it was from his camp that the Doctor departed on his last cruise, on that fatal October 13, 1845. Mr. HILL was subsequently associated with Foster & Whitney in their geological surveys of the copper region of Michigan, and received very flattering mention in their reports. He was among the first to make discoveries of value in the copper region; helped to organize mining companies, and was employed as Superintendent at the opening and developing of several of the richest mines on the Peninsula. He was agent of the Quincy Mine at its inception, and was in charge of it for some years. He platted and laid out the village of Hancock, and was prominently identified with the early growth and development of the mining region. As an experienced explorer, no man stands higher in gen- eral report than S. W. HILL. A long, practical experience, and a thorough scientific knowledge of the subject of copper mining on Lake Superior, entitles Mr. HILL'S opinion to respect and confidence. For many years past he has made his home at Marshall, Mich. These meager details of the life of one of the most prominent his- toric characters of Lake Superior have been obtained without the assistance or consent of the gentlemen himself, in fact against his express wishes. The excuse the writer can offer is that it is impos- sible to give the history of this region without some slight mention at least of one who has borne so conspicuous a part in the scenes described. ==========================================================================