Notes:

WILLIS C. HILLS. Willis C. Hills, owner and publisher of the Oakland Acorn, was born in Maquoketa, Iowa, in 1858. His father was Amos C. Hills, a native of Rumney, New Hampshire, and of English ancestry. The first representative of the family in America was Joseph Hills, who came from England in 1638 and settled at Malden, Massachusetts, near Boston. Amos C. Hills was a farmer by occupation and continued his residence in the east until 1855, when he came to Iowa, settling in Maquoketa. Later, however, he returned to the east, where he remained for about eight years and then again came to Iowa in 1866. He is now living retired at Oto, Woodbury county, Iowa, at the age of eighty years. He was an industrious farmer, whose life of activity and intelligently applied effort brought to him a very goodly competence. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as an officer, and in the work of the church he is much interested, while to its support he contributes generously. His political allegiance is given the republican party. He married Elizabeth S. Wilcox, who was born in Orleans county, Vermont, and is now living at the age of eighty-two years. She is of Scotch-Welsh ancestry and, like her husband, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Throughout their entire lives this worthy couple have commanded the esteem and good will of those with whom they have come in contact in the different communities in which they have lived. Their family numbers three children, of whom Willis C. is the youngest. The sister, Jennie E., is the widow of the Rev. George R. Oake, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, who in early life had been a circuit rider and who died in Council Bluffs in 1906. Frank L. Hills is a newspaper man of Sioux City, Iowa, and is now serving as county recorder of Woodbury county.

Willis C. Hills was a pupil in the country schools in his early boyhood and afterward attended the normal school at Cedar Falls. A few years were devoted to teaching and in 1887 he established the Smithland Exponent at Smithland, Iowa, where he remained until the fall of 1894. At that time he was elected county recorder of Woodbury county on the republican ticket and his capability and trustworthiness in office led to his selection for a second term. Upon his retirement from this political position he conducted a printing plant at Sioux City and for one year was proprietor of a general store at Kirkman, Iowa. In January, 1901, he came to Oakland and purchased the Oakland Acorn of M: F.. Morton, since which time he has been engaged in the publication of this paper. The Acorn was founded in 1881 and is a seven column quarto, neat and attractive in appearance. It has a good advertising patronage and liberal subscription list and is a clean, newsy paper which would be a credit to any community. It is independent in politics and devoted to the best interests of the town and county, championing every measure for the public good.

M r. Hills was married in 1894 to Paulina Gambs, who was born in Monroe county, Ohio, in 1860, and they have one child, Vida. Mrs. Hills belongs to the Congregational church. Mr. Hills gives his support to the republican party. He served as postmaster at Smithland and, as stated, was twice recorder of Woodbury county. His interest in political questions is that of a public-spirited American citizen and in all community affairs he manifests an activity which indicates; his loyalty to the best interests of Oakland. His fraternal relations are with the Masons.Source: History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa Vol. 2 by Homer Howard Field, Joseph Rea Reed; 1907; pages 1123-1124 WILLIS C. HILLS. Willis C. Hills, owner and publisher of the Oakland Acorn, was born in Maquoketa, Iowa, in 1858. His father was Amos C. Hills, a native of Rumney, New Hampshire, and of English ancestry. The first representative of the family in America was Joseph Hills, who came from England in 1638 and settled at Malden, Massachusetts, near Boston. Amos C. Hills was a farmer by occupation and continued his residence in the east until 1855, when he came to Iowa, settling in Maquoketa. Later, however, he returned to the east, where he remained for about eight years and then again came to Iowa in 1866. He is now living retired at Oto, Woodbury county, Iowa, at the age of eighty years. He was an industrious farmer, whose life of activity and intelligently applied effort brought to him a very goodly competence. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as an officer, and in the work of the church he is much interested, while to its support he contributes generously. His political allegiance is given the republican party. He married Elizabeth S. Wilcox, who was born in Orleans county, Vermont, and is now living at the age of eighty-two years. She is of Scotch-Welsh ancestry and, like her husband, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Throughout their entire lives this worthy couple have commanded the esteem and good will of those with whom they have come in contact in the different communities in which they have lived. Their family numbers three children, of whom Willis C. is the youngest. The sister, Jennie E., is the widow of the Rev. George R. Oake, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, who in early life had been a circuit rider and who died in Council Bluffs in 1906. Frank L. Hills is a newspaper man of Sioux City, Iowa, and is now serving as county recorder of Woodbury county.

Willis C. Hills was a pupil in the country schools in his early boyhood and afterward attended the normal school at Cedar Falls. A few years were devoted to teaching and in 1887 he established the Smithland Exponent at Smithland, Iowa, where he remained until the fall of 1894. At that time he was elected county recorder of Woodbury county on the republican ticket and his capability and trustworthiness in office led to his selection for a second term. Upon his retirement from this political position he conducted a printing plant at Sioux City and for one year was proprietor of a general store at Kirkman, Iowa. In January, 1901, he came to Oakland and purchased the Oakland Acorn of M: F.. Morton, since which time he has been engaged in the publication of this paper. The Acorn was founded in 1881 and is a seven column quarto, neat and attractive in appearance. It has a good advertising patronage and liberal subscription list and is a clean, newsy paper which would be a credit to any community. It is independent in politics and devoted to the best interests of the town and county, championing every measure for the public good.

M r. Hills was married in 1894 to Paulina Gambs, who was born in Monroe county, Ohio, in 1860, and they have one child, Vida. Mrs. Hills belongs to the Congregational church. Mr. Hills gives his support to the republican party. He served as postmaster at Smithland and, as stated, was twice recorder of Woodbury county. His interest in political questions is that of a public-spirited American citizen and in all community affairs he manifests an activity which indicates; his loyalty to the best interests of Oakland. His fraternal relations are with the Masons.Source: History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa Vol. 2 by Homer Howard Field, Joseph Rea Reed; 1907; pages 1123-1124
lfmwvuadded this on 12 Feb 2011

Willis married Paulina Gambs on 14 Jan 1894 in Iowa, USA. Paulina (daughter of Johannes Wilhelm Gambs and Charlotte Yockey) was born on 13 Dec 1860 in Monroe County, Ohio, USA; died on 11 Dec 1949 in Chico, Butte County, California, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Manfred York Shepard. Manfred was born on 22 Jan 1894 in Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa, USA; died in in Chico, Butte County, California, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]