ANNA JOHNSTON HILL
From Unknown Newspaper
Indiana "Anna" Johnston Hill, eldest
daughter of Robert M. and Jennie Elizabeth Morton Johnston, was born Jan 4,
1891 on the family homestead four miles west of Oberlin in Decatur County,
Kan. She died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 1994 at the Cedar Living Center in Oberlin at
the age of 103.
When she was three years of age, her family moved to a school section 13 miles
northwest of Oberlin, where her father built their first sod house. In
1898, the family moved to Oberlin so the children would have an opportunity
for a better education. But in 1901, they returned to farm life, moving
to a farm 20 miles southwest of Oberlin in Cook Township. The family later
moved to a farm in Prairie Dog Township in 1907.
Anna attended rural Decatur County schools and
normal school in Oberlin to obtain a teaching certificate. She taught in
several rural schools in Decatur, Sheridan and Rawlins Counties. She
later became a telephone operator in Selden, Norton, Dodge City, Salina and Cimarron.
Anna returned to teaching in 1919 at Pleasant View Southwest of Achilles, Kan.
It was at this time she met Hervie Monroe Hill.
They were later married and spent their married life in the Achilles, Herndon
and Oberlin communities. Six children were born to their union. A
daughter, Lorraine, died in infancy. Her husband, Hervie, died April 17, 1958
and Anna moved to Oberlin in 1959.
She was active in church work, WWI Auxiliary,
Senior Citizens, Mental Health Program, Red Cross Volunteers and many other
activities.
A highlight of her life was when an article was written about her school days
titled "Pioneer School Teacher Celebrates 93rd Birthday" It
was published in several area newspapers and was used by the Kansas State
Historical Society at the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka.
Survivors include five children, Ivalee O'Grady of Cimarron, Kan., Hervie D.
Hill of Bull Shoals, Ark., Roberta Bartleson of Augusta, Kan., and Twila Blean
of Wichita, Kan., one sister, Josephine Bosler of Oberlin, Kan; 15
grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; five great great grandchildren; nephews
and nieces; and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband; infant daughter; parents; three
brothers, Marvin, Oren and Millard; a sister, Orpha Bosler; three sons-in-law,
Lary O'Grady, Ernest Bleam and Harold Bartelson; two daughters-in-law,
Beatrice Hill and Mrs. D.C. Hill; three sisters-in-law, Ada Johnston, Sally
Johnston and Iva Johnston; and two brothers-in-law Nick Bosler and Silverin
Bosler.
Services were held Dec. 16 at Paul's Funeral Home in Oberlin. Burial was in
Oberlin Cemetery. Arrangements were by Paul's Funeral Home of Oberlin-Selden.
Submitted by: Keith E. Johnston, 2602 31 Street, Lubbock, TX 79410,
E-mail: kjay6@webtv.net