The Monroe Hill Family

Facts by Monroe Hill, III

In 1905, Monroe Hill, II, and Martie Clemons were married in Jacksonville. Martie had accompanied her parents, Abe Clemons and Caroline Finch Clemons here from Nacogdoches County. The family arrived November 18, 1904, with Martie, Joe, Patrick, Effie and Sarah, and settled on the Otto Pressley farm, north of Jacksonville. The Clemons family joined the Benson Chapel C.M.E. Church.

Joe Clemons grew to manhood and was owner of demon's Grocery Store, 604 Elberta Street; Sarah was a teacher in the public school, retiring in 1964; Effie moved to Tyler to reside. Patrick Clemons lived only one year after moving here.

Monroe Hill, III, was born September 24, 1906. He was one of twelve students graduating from high school during the time that J. H. Howard, a pioneer educator, was principal; later he attended Texas College. On May 28, 1939, he and Bernice Adams were married. They are parents of two daughters: Lolita, who is married to Billy Newsome and lives in Baltimore, Maryland, and Kathleen, a sophomore at Jacksonville High School. AH members of the family still are members of the Methodist Church.

Monroe and Bernice Hill, with Kathleen and Sarah Clemons Allen, have made their home for many years at 602 Pierce Lane.

Monroe Hill, III, in a pensive pose, at age 3, in 1909.