Dr. James H. Hills
Dr. James H. Hills. One of the most widely known physicians in the county was Dr. James Harvey Hills, who was born at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut, in 1782, and died in Delaware in 1830. After a course at Yale College he read medicine with his brother-in-law, the celebrated Dr. Eli Tod. After his medical course he began the practice at Farmington. He soon grew restless and sought the western field. His first place was Worthington, Franklin County, Ohio. He arrived there in 1808, and began his work. After ten years he moved to Darby Plains, and in 1822 came to Delaware, a more rapidly growing town, where he remained until his death at the age of forty-nine years. He was one of the most highly educated physicians in the county. He was an original thinker, and possessed strong perceptive faculties and sound judgment. He was a successful surgeon and physician, yet though he never liked the former work, he never refused to operate, and when he did it was always in a commendable manner. Those who knew him well and intimately said to the writer "Dr. Hills was a grand physician, and was highly serviceable to suffering humanity. His early taking off was a great loss to the community. In 1801 he married Miss Beulah Andrews, who died in 1866. It was in 1812 that the doctor was taken very sick at Defiance, Ohio, while he was with the army at Fort Defiance. The courier brought the news of the danger to the faithful wife. She soon had the family mare ready for the long and dangerous trip. Through the trackless forest, crossing swollen streams, braving the threatening of the wild beasts, and the treacherous Indians, she traveled, until she reached the bedside of the loving husband. Here she remained nursing him until they could return to Delaware with an escort of soldiers for protection. Dr. Hills was the father of eleven children, some of whom became the foremost professional and business men in the county and State. All of the children have joined the great majority, and it is left to the grand-children to take up the burdens with the same energy, integrity and power. The impress made upon the community by Dr. James H. Hills and his children and grandchildren will last for ages.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908