Arthur L. Hill, vice-president of the First National Bank of Neodesha, Kan., has been connected with that institution for over thirty years and, like his father, Capt. William Hill, whose service in that bank has exceeded that of his son by ten years, is recognized as one of the leading business men of Wilson county. Mr. Hill is a native of Wisconsin, born May 25, 1866, and is descended from sturdy Scotch ancestors. Capt. William Hill, his father, was born in Scotland and, in 1839, came to the United States with his parents, who first located in Southern Ohio, but later removed to Wisconsin. He learned the printer's trade and accompanied his parents to Wisconsin, where he later married Ellen Maxwell, and where his son, Arthur L., was born. From there he came to Kansas, in 1873, and entered the Neodesha Savings Bank as cashier, which responsible position he has continued to fill for nearly forty years. It was made the First National Bank of Neodesha in 1903 and is one of the oldest banks in Wilson county. It is capitalized at $30,000 and has a surplus and profits of $30,000. Captain Hill is a veteran of the Civil war and served four years during that conflict, first as a member and later as captain of Company B, Eighth Missouri infantry. This regiment was organized in June and July, 1861, and in September had arrived at Paducah, Ky., where it remained until the following February, when it joined the forces moving against Forts Henry and Donelson. Fort Henry had surrendered before the regiment arrived, but at Donelson it proved its fighting qualities, assisting the command of Gen. Lew Wallace in repulsing the enemy's attempt to cut a way out. On the second day at Shiloh it was again under Wallace and was in some of the heaviest fighting of that battle. This regiment had acquitted itself with credit in numerous engagements up to the advance on Vicksburg, in which it was the first regiment to encounter and drive in the enemy's pickets. It took part in the assaults of the Vicksburg works and after the fall of that city was in the movement to drive General Johnston from Jackson. In November the Eighth Missouri accompanied Sherman to Chattanooga and was in the advance of the first assault on Missionary Ridge. After Bragg's defeat at Chattanooga it marched to the relief of General Burnside at Knoxville. In the spring of 1864 it joined Sherman's army for the advance upon Atlanta, taking part in all the principal engagements of that historic campaign, until July, 1864, when it was ordered to St. Louis and there mustered out. Matthew Hill, the father of William and the grandfather of Arthur L., also was a native of Scotland and a miller by trade, and removed from Ohio to Wisconsin, where he died.

Arthur L. Hill completed his education in Neodesha, Kan., where he graduated in the high school in 1883. At the early age of fourteen he began to be employed at the bank, and through his business ability and devotion to the interests of that institution has steadily advanced in his standing and is now its vice-president. He is also a member of the firm of Alfred & Hill, lumber merchants of Neodesha, which firm does a very successful and profitable business.

In 1896 Mr. Hill married Miss Hattie Cross. She is a daughter of Marion Cross, who was born in New York, but removed from that state to Illinois and from there to Kansas. Later, Mr. Cross took up his residence in California and died there. The most of his active business career was spent as a hardware merchant and he, too, was a soldier of the Civil war, his service having been in the Second Kansas cavalry, which saw as much hard service and did as much fighting as any cavalry organization west of the Mississippi. To Mr. and Mrs. Hill have been born three children—Roy, Dorothea and Marion—all of whom are in school. Mrs. Hill is a communicant of the Episcopal church. Mr. Hill is a Knight Templar and a Scottish Rite Mason, is also affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and has held all the "chairs" of the Blue Lodge and Chapter. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is an independent in political affairs and supports those men and measures which in his opinion will best conserve the public welfare. For twenty years he was clerk of Neodesha and as a citizen is held in the highest esteem.