Contents

Foreword by Robin S. Lattimore            .           .           .           .             iv

Foreword by the Rev. Dr. Judith Davis   .           .           .              v

Preface             .           .           .           .           .           .           .           vi

1.    Born in a Log Cabin
Uncle and aunts • Out in the sticks • Learning to help at an early    age • Around the place • The family burial plot

2.    Home Life
Chores • Cutting firewood • Playing with my brothers and sisters         • When we got sick • Showing affection • Mama • Daddy’s love     and support • Gardening and gathering • Saving money •          Learning to farm • Daddy took us to the fields • Going to school, learning from Daddy

3.    Farm Animals
Chickens, cats, and dogs • Tending to the cow • Killing beef for        the winter • Rail fences for a pig pen • Hog killing

4.    Daddy’s Health Breaks Down
Having what food we needed • Going to town • Brushing teeth         and using tobacco • Shooting a gun • Daddy’s religion

5     Piedmont Baptist Church
People were very emotional in church • Long-winded preachers • Piedmont Church Cemetery

6.    Our Lives Change for the Better
Daddy starts selling Rawleigh products • Learning to drive • Moving to the big house

7.    Living at the Big House
Space to spare • Washing clothes in the backyard • Around the place • Chickens under the house • Saturdays and Sundays • Hawks • Storing food • Coping with flies • Christmas time • Aunts, uncles, and cousins • My aunts’ last year

8.    School and Town
Scrapes and threats • Slingshot • Driving to town • Trade day • County fair • Running the Rawleigh business

9.    Doing whatever it took
Helping out the best I could • Mules and horses • Daddy, the animal doctor • Growing peanuts

10. Growing Crops
Getting ready • Growing corn • Harvesting, fall and winter • Lost in the woods • Making fodder • Plucking and shucking corn • Rat killing • Growing wheat • Growing Cane • Building a cane mill

11. Building a Back Yard Sawmill
A circular saw run by a car • Sawmill accident • Growing trees • Daddy was one hard worker

12. Teenage Adventures
Trying to make money • Raising bees for honey • Possum dogs •    Killing chickens and stealing peanuts • First times • Singing and playing the mouth harp • A lesson about going barefooted • Pulling pranks • Romping in the creek • Games and exercise • One rough ride • My first job for pay • Quitting school • Working for my uncles • Going to the ocean • Sex and pregnancy • Daddy quit smoking

13. Moving Away from Home
Work and fun with Ray Hill • Going to work at the textile mill

14. The Best Decision of My Life
Meeting Thelma • Mama’s warning • Getting Mr. Cole’s blessing • Daddy’s support • Our wedding day

15. Root, Pig, or Die!
Having the fire scared out of me • Buying Barney Hill’s house •   History of this old house • Building a smokehouse • Riding to work in a car trunk • Carrying water • Running water • Cold bedrooms • Frostbite • Voting for Roosevelt

16. Having Five Children
Our firstborn, Joann • Jim • Living at Aunt Dora’s • Accidents • Fred • Helen • Joyce, our surprise child

17. Making Improvements
Electricity comes in • Running pipe underground • Indoor plumbing

18. Raising Our Kids
Thelma and housework • I’ve always been proud • Fred and Jim • Our kids playing • Vacations • Doctor house calls

19. Country Life
Thelma and the bumblebees • Chopping wood for the winter • Rabbit hunting • Possum hunting • Watch out for what you catch hold of

20. Hard Times are Good for You
Seeing New York City • Coming close to dying • Appendectomy • Racial segregation • Thelma’s wisdom • World War II ends • After the war • Grandma Cole

21. Working at the Mill
From weaving cloth to fixing looms • Pressure on the job • Back pain • Weaving mishaps • Getting a raise • Laid off but making do

22. Working Myself into the Ground
Working full time at the mill and farm • Custom baling • Snakes in the hay • Rebaling hay • Baling adventures • Fixing a baler and its innards

23. Making Ends Meet
Tending a herd of cows • A bull that gave me fits • Running a hammer mill • Raising other animals • My last horse • Gardening • Canning • Growing other crops • Farm accidents

24. Hill Hardware Store
Daddy’s character • Tractor dealership • Quitting the mill • Bulldozing

25. Our Kids Grow Up
Teenage mischief • Going to college and getting married • Grandkids

26. Jim and I Build a House
Designing our dream home • Hog processing • Taking a spill • Motorcycle riding • Bad teeth

27. Daddy and Mama’s Last Years
Taking care of Daddy and Mama • Losing Daddy • Losing Mama

28. My Final Years at the Mill
Thelma and my grand tour • Joann and David • Practical jokes • Friends

29. Restoring This House
Wanting to move back home • Fixing things • Mama’s family cemetery

30. Retirement is Good
Thinking about quitting • Looking back • Back to work • Projects • Fishing and hunting • Making deals

31. Thelma
Agreeable and funny • Giving land to our kids • Thelma’s brother, Charlie

32. Losing Thelma
Cancer • Grieving • Nova Scotia

33. A New Life
Marrying Sue • Christian Tours • Ocean cruises • Trips to Florida • Sue’s gifts • My best buddy • Watching nature • Heart surgery • Trapped in the well • More of my kids move back

34. Losing Sue
Breast cancer • A Trip to Japan

35. Needing a Companion
A Big Wedding • Married Life • CJ and Misono’s wedding

36. Recalling My Sisters and Brothers
Louise’s good will • Ellen’s determination • Beatie’s care • Martin’s big heart • Reid’s friendship • Sue’s success • Yates’s ideas • Charles’s generosity • Don’s gifts

37. Thoughts about My Family
Joann • Jim • Fred • Helen • Joyce • Mistakes • Losing Edith • My three wives

38. My Wonderful Life
Taking care of my health • Sunroom • Florida getaway

39. Being Blessed All My Life
Staying active • Witnessing change • Simplifying my life • Writing my story

40. My Life’s Most Important Lessons
Love God, and love one another • Help your neighbor • Be thankful • Choose the Lord • Do right • Let your word be your bond • Tithe • Worship wherever you are • Don’t worry • Choose happiness • Laugh a lot • Bear with hard work • Never give up • Don’t try to dodge death • Testify every chance you get

Acknowledgements . . . . . 305

Colophon . . . . . . 307

Quick Order Form . . . . . 308

About the Author . . . . . 309

The autobiography of James Hill is a detailed and engaging look at life
in western North Carolina from the early twentieth century to the present

A remarkable story of making the best of life's struggles and opportunities

Order your copies today!

The autobiography of James Hill is a detailed and engaging look at life in western North Carolina from the early twentieth century to the present

A remarkable story of making the best of life's struggles and opportunities

Order your copies today!

The autobiography of James Hill is a detailed and engaging look at life
in western North Carolina from the early twentieth century to the present