Abstract:

    Lon C. (Leonidas Carrington) Hill, Jr. was born in Manor, Texas, March 14, 1889. He was the son of Lon C. Hill, Sr. and Eustacia Dabney Hill. His father Lon C. Hill, Sr. is best remembered for his extensive involvement in all aspects of development of the lands in the lower Rio Grande valley, including the founding of the town of Harlingen, Texas. He married Georgiana Owsley on July 29, 1918. Lon C. Hill, Jr. worked on the railroad, served as a flight instructor in the Army Air Corps during World War I, was involved with land development in the Rio Grande valley, investment banking in Chicago and then citrus and farming in Bayview, Texas. In 1939 Lon C. Hill, Jr. moved to Corpus Christi, Texas as the president of Central Power and Light Company. He was involved with the support and running of many civic, education and business endeavors. Lon C. Hill, Jr. died at the age of 94 years old in November of 1983.

    The records of the Lon C. Hill, Jr. Collection span from a 1895 photograph of Lon C. Hill, Sr. to newspaper clippings about the memorial service of Lon C. Hill, Jr. in 1983. The records total approximatly one cubic foot. The photographs and the maps each comprise about a quarter of the collection. Of the remaining half cubic foot, the genealogical materials span the greatest time period, c.1905 to 1969. The other series, military records, correspondence, newspaper clippings and printed material expose select times in the life of Lon C. Hill, Jr.

Creator Sketch

    Lon C. (Leonidas Carrington) Hill, Jr. was born in Manor, Texas, March 14, 1889. He was the son of Lon C. Hill, Sr. and Eustacia Dabney Hill. His father Lon C. Hill, Sr. is best remembered for his extensive involvement in all aspects of development of the lands in the lower Rio Grande valley, including the founding of the town of Harlingen, Texas.

    Lon C. Hill, Jr. worked on the railroad as a young man. He served as a flight instructor in the Army Air Corps during World War I at the rank of captain at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California. During the war he married Georgiana Owsley on July 29, 1918. After the war Lon C. Hill, Jr. was involved with land development in the Rio Grande valley, investment banking in Chicago and then citrus and farming in Bayview, Texas.

    In 1939 Lon C. Hill, Jr. moved to Corpus Christi, Texas as the president of Central Power and Light Company. He led the company through twenty years of its greatest growth and expansion. And in 1954 he had a power generating station in Corpus Christi named in his honor. As a leading resident of Corpus Christi he was involved with the support and running of many civic, education and business endeavors; tourism and water conservation, helped establish Texas A&I Citrus Center in Weslaco and served on its board of regents, and participated in many other projects and activities. Lon C. Hill, Jr. died at the age of 94 years old in November of 1983.

The materials in this collection (A1989-006) were donated by Mrs. M. U. (Sunshine Hill) Caul, 6/28/1989.

Access Restrictions

All materials are accessible in this fonds, subject to a reference interview.

Use Restrictions

Unrestricted use for scholarly research with proper citation.

Preferred Citation

Box 426A

.001 Lon C. Hill, Jr. copy of birth certificate, early history of Hill Family since 1756, newspaper clipping of obituary and memorial service for Lon C. Hill, Jr. (1961-83)
.004 Biography of E. Cameron and eulogy of Miss. Paul Hill. (1957-1972)
.016 Genealogy and brief history of Hill family, coat of arms and its meaning, brand and ear mark of Lon C. Hill, Sr. in 1905, article about Rio Grande Railroad and information on business and social positions and achievements of Lon C. Hill, Jr.
.021Hill family history, family related stories, obituaries for Lon C. Hill, Sr., Lon C. Hill, Jr., and Mac U. Caul, stories of Harlingen history and surrounding areas, including an article written by Paul Hill about the Norias Fight (8/8/1915).

Descriptive Identification

Series II

Box 426A

.005 Military records of Lon C. Hill, Jr. and Lon C. Hill, III, clipping of "Mose" Hill, A Valley Product by J. H. Welch in Texas Farming and Citriculture, 6/1940 and typewritten draft. (1918-1940)
.018 Military records, discharge papers, (copies).

Box 426B--------------------------------------------------

.024 Military records, commissioning of Lon C. Hill, Jr. as an officer. (3 copies)

Descriptive Identification

Series III

Box 426A

.002 Correspondence, personal. (1915-1969)
.003 Correspondence, personal. (1949-1960)
.020 Correspondence, includes personal letters from J. L. Allhands (6/22/1971, 2/11/1972), a diploma from St. Mary Hall for Eustacia Dabney Caul (4/12/1947) and an article about the restoration of the Hill Home in Harlingen in Tip-O-Texas (3/1972).

Descriptive Identification

Series IV