Captain Wallace E Hill, 77, who operated the Hill Steamboat Line out of Kenosha Harbor for many years, died at his home in Grand Marais, MI, last Sunday following a lingering illness.
He was born on Drummond Island, MI, on Nov 28, 1882, and was a Great Lakes Captain most of his life. His parents were Leonidas Ludlow Hill and Flora Aldridge Hill. Captain Hill, with his father and brother, who were both later killed in a ship explosion near Manistique, operated the steamboat line here until 1924 when trucking lines became heavy competition. The firm operated seven ships at one time, carrying package freight to Great Lakes ports and making excursion and passenger trips.
Surviving are his wife Ella; two daughters, Gladys Renfro, Clarksdale, AZ and Mrs. Ray Jaster, Kenosha; three sons, Eugene L Grand Haven, MI, and Roy M and Wallace R both of Grand Marais; five sisters, Mrs. Mark Kindt, Kenosha, Mrs. Frank Rieder, San Jacinto, CA, Mrs. Harry Smith, Prescott, AZ, Mrs. Tony Wons, Eagle River, WI and Mrs. Alex West, Salem, OR; 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
- Kenosha News 8Jul1960
