l62 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



never turned a furrow on the old farm or in later life without at the 

 same time turning in his mind some stanza he had learned or im- 

 provising some happy rhyme, and this verse-making and diary- 

 keeping habit continued to the end. Many of his poems have found 

 their way into print, which many his friends recall and treasure. 



His self-wrought education in the years of his minority furnish- 

 ed him funds with which to carry out the advice of the great editor 

 of the New York Tribune (one of the family papers) "Go west, 

 young man, go west !" 



From Waukon and Decorah, from time to time, letters reached 

 home, one enclosing an eight-shelled rattle. When at length from 

 Minnesota letters reached the home-folks, they felt he had become 

 a pioneer indeed, for stories of Indian massacre had reached them, 

 and the mother breathed a genuine sigh of apprehension for the 

 safety of her far-away boy — the Indians of Minnesota were more 

 sincerely dreaded than the rattlesnakes of Iowa. 



In 1875 he located in Rochester, Minn., and became part owner 

 of the "Record and Union," an influential newspaper, which for 

 several A-ears he assisted in editing and managing. 



In 1873 h^ reported an important law suit at Rochester. 



In the winter of 1874-5, while acting as enrolling clerk of the 

 House, he prepared and secured the passage of a general law 

 authorizing the employment of shorthand reporters in the district 

 courts of the state. Under this law he served in the Rochester 

 district as official reporter for about sixteen years. 



In 1882 he removed to Minneapolis, and for several years was 

 on the report'orial stafif of his brother George, at St. Paul, later 

 serving for twelve years as the official reporter for Judge Chas. M. 

 Pond, of Minneapolis. For five years (1885 to 1889) he also acted 

 as secretary of the State Horticultural Society, and reported its 

 annual conventions, performing with fidelity all the other varied 

 duties of the office. 



Mr. Hillman's life and character were an open book. Modest, 

 unassuming, enjoying quiet humor, generous, seeing the best in 

 every one ; loving and tender in his home ; kind to all, especially 

 those in need ; honest, unostentatious in his piety, a faithful friend, 

 a Christian gentleman. 



June 2, 1870, he was happily married to Miss Marilla J. Somer- 

 ville, of A^iola, who survives him, as do also two sons, Lloyd L. 

 Hillman of Seattle, Wash., and Walter S. Hillman of Kramer, N. 

 D. ; a daughter, Miss Ada B. Hillman, Wisconsin state secretary 

 of the Y. W. C. A., and two brothers, George N. and William Hill- 

 man of St. Paul. 



