Below was compiled by Deb for David's memorial page.

David Hill: was born in Connecticut in 1809. During the 1800's in most cases the only records of most young men and families who went on to Oregon Territory there is no records other than family bible records.

Some records show David Hill born in Virginia or Ohio. There is one account describes that Hill abandoning his wife and children in Ohio before traveling west. At this time no one really knows. Hopefully we will find out for sure.

David Hill was one of the earlier settlers of a little town called Hillsboro.

David came by wagon train over the Oregon Trail to the new Oregon Territory. Traveling with David's party was Isaiah Kesley, Ralph Wilcox, Richard Williams and Michael Moore. David Hill believed to arrive in Oregon on October 1841 and then wintered with Joseph L. Meek, who he would later serve with in the legislature. Joseph Meek's farm was north of Hillsboro. Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church (Old Scotch Church) is on what was Meek's farm.

David Hill required a land claim for 640 acres in the Tualatin Valley (Washington County) on June 1842. County Records show the date of the claim July 4 1847.

In 1847 the government was trying to get more settlers in the territory by handing out free land claims. On his land claim and built a cabin that was used for a time as the county courthouse.

David Hill's first farm was what is now down town Hillsboro. In 1850, Hill sold part of his land to the county for the site of the first Washington County Courthouse. This quarter section of his land claim was to be sold off as a town site. $200 of the proceeds of the sale of the land was to be paid to Hill, with the rest being kept by the county. The town site was to be named Hillsboro per the court's order on February 2, 1850, several months before Hill died.

Records also show he had a farm west of town along Dairy Creek and Pioneer Cemetery. Part of the cemetery is on what was once Mr. Hill's farm.

In 1846 David Hill married Lucinda Wilson in the Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church. Records show that in February 1850 David and Lucinda were appointed guardian of five children of the Dunlap family.

(offered by contributor J Edwards #47249869: Hi-- he and wife Lucinda were not married at Old Scotch Church, which wasn't constructed until 1878. Confusion exists because the location of their marriage was "Tuality Plains" which was what the Hillsboro area was known at that time (1846).
It has gotten confused with the Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church, aka Old Scotch Church.
They were married by justice of the peace, as there was no county government either in 1846.)


Hillsboro is named in honor of David Hill, one of its earliest residents and a leader in the Oregon Territory. Township of Hillsboro post office was established in 1850.

(This part was contributed by: Dee Williams #48831268.
Thought you would like to know that my great great grandfather lost to a coin toss to Mr Hill for the right to name the town.
Richard Williams lived in Hillsboro where the Hillsboro Airport is today. He had Oak trees of which one or two still stand. Richard left OR and went to CA where he died in 1870. His son, Samuel, took over the home.)

David served in the Provisional Government of Oregon in both the executive and legislative branches, and later as a legislator in the first Oregon Territorial Legislature.
Mr. Hill became active in Oregon politics in 1842. He was one of few who was active in Wolf meetings in Champoeg. The meetings were called wolf meetings to hide from the British and Hudson's Bay Company what the meetings were really held for. The British at this time did not want American's settling in the area. These meetings at Champoeg culminated in a vote on May 2, 1843, with a vote of 52-50 in favor of forming what became the Provisional Government of Oregon.

With the creation of this new government Hill then served as one of three members of the First Executive Committee that acted in place of a single governor. David Hill was elected to the provisional legislature, and later in 1849 as a member of the territorial legislature after Oregon became a territory in 1848. David Hill disliked and opposed the Hudson's Bay Company and its representatives in his official capacity.

David Hill died at home on May 9, 1850. He died of unknown causes, before collecting the proceeds from Hillsboro. His widow was paid by the probate court.

There are no known pictures or portraits of Hill. He was six feet one inch tall with black hair. Slim, with a sallow complexion. At the time he was still a member of the legislature and they issued a death resolution that resolved that both houses would be in recess for one day in his honor. Hill died without a will and his wife was appointed as administrator.