There is a deed in the Oktibbeha County courthouse that shows ownership of seven acres of land in the community known as Black Jack. My dad remembers visiting his Uncle John in a house that used to sit back up in these woods. This is where his father, L C Hill, grew up and spent his childhood.
L C Hill was a stern disciplinarian, a hard worker, a hard drinker and could tell a man’s character by the state of his shoes – L C’s were always well polished. L C Hill would preach tirelessly to his children about the importance of your family — that they were your refuge in this world. Yet he rarely spoke of his father or his mother saying only that his father’s name was John Lacy Hill and his mother was Rosie Sampson. Over the years his two sisters and two brothers would move from Oktibbeha, but would return to see their brother frequently.
And then there is this deed to a childhood home purchased by Rosie Radcliff.
The Federal Census of 1900, showing John Lacy Hill as the Head of his household with his wife Ellen and his daughter. They have a boarder, Rosia Sampson.
The Federal Census of 1910, showing John Lacy Hill as the Head of his household with his wife Ellen and three children. Roscia Sampson is shown living a few houses away with a son L C Sampson.
While searching through records in the Mississippi Archives this weekend my aunt said, “No wonder he didn’t talk about these people. Daddy wouldn’t have approved of this.” But I think he would have approved of the relationships among his 6 surviving children because they visit each other often and love each other fiercely.
