I recently was given a copy of a biography that my gr Grandfather John Henry Hile started to write. It states a brief history of his immediate family. His father was James Hile b: abt 1829-1830 which married Eliza Jane Henry b: abt 1837-1838 and married abt 1854.
John Henry hile was born just outside Potts Grove, Northumberland Co., Pa on 20 Nov. 1855. As john puts it he was born in his mother's 17th year and his father was 8 yrs her senior. James lived an extremely short life, dying in the winter of 1858. He was a wheel wright by trade and had gone into the woods to fell a tree for wheel spokes. The tree being to large to handle was left and froze to the ground. James returns a few days later with two men and a cart to bring the tree back. The two men using long poles and James using his shoulder against the tree give heave and break the tree free. But upon standing James collapses. They take him back to town and he recovers that evening, but he starts coughing up blood. James Hile dies five days later from loss of blood. Jane and John are forced to move back to Janes parents home because she is pregnant with William Franklin Hile born in 1858. They live with her family betweent the years of 1858-1861 according to his bio. At which time their uncle William has also lost his wife. William remarries and the boys go to live with William H. Henry on his farm. Jane leaves to earn wages for 3 years and then remarries, leaving the boys with their uncle William. I have the info on Jane Henry but no other info on James Hile. John says his father was born in Pa but have not located a single census with James Hile at correct age. He should have appeared on atleast the 1850 census. I have been told that our Hile family line came fron Germany and the name was changed once in America. German was the household language up to 1920's. Any insight anyone can give me would be greatly apprciated.