John Hill (planter)

John Hill (March 12, 1824 – June 7, 1910) of Homestead Plantation was a wealthy industrialist, sugar planter, philanthropist, and benefactor of Louisiana State University.

John Hill was born in Old Monkland (now part of Coatbridge), Lanarkshire, Scotland, where his family operated coal mines and iron works, on March 12, 1824 to George Hill (b. January 1785, d. 1852.) and Isabella Christie (b. 1787, d. about 1837) (sister to coal mine owner Alexander Christie (b. 1789, d. 1859) of Milnd). Hill was baptized on March 28, 1824 at Old Monkland Parish Church. Hill was the second-born of six children. After the death of his mother and siblings, he was reared for part of his life in the Milnwood, (near Bellshill) Lanarkshire home of his uncle, coal and iron mine owner Alexander Christie, along with his cousin, Mr. John Christie (1822-1902).

Hill entered the iron foundry of his uncle, Alexander Christie, at an early age and acquired a knowledge of foundry work.

Hill was reared in the Presbyterian denomination and claimed descent from Scottish Covenanters and an ancestor who fought at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679.

John Hill came to the United States for a visit in 1844, by a voyage of seven weeks on a sailing ship, arriving in New York City on July 4, 1844 but never returned to Scotland. He travelled through the Northeastern states and Canada and then came to the South in 1845 by sailing ship. He also travelled around the South. Seeing opportunity in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he settled in Baton Rouge in 1846.

Hill started an iron foundry in partnership with Mr. J. William Markham at the foot of North Street in Baton Rouge at the age of twenty-four (1848).

Hill lived with John McKenzie, a thirty-five-year-old blacksmith and native of Scotland, and his family in Baton Rouge in 1850.

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