John is a son of Richard and Jane (Nesbit) Hillis. He married Hetty Davis on September 2, 1894 in Burlington, Coffey County, Kansas. They have three sons, Gordon, Richard, and Walter. Family Records

He appears on the 1870 and 1880 Censuses with his parents, Richard and Jane.

1900/ Kansas/ Wyandotte
h/ John N Hillis, 36y, b.Sep 1863 PA, M/5, occupation: Farmer
w/ Henrietta E, 27y, b.Aug 1872 KS, mother of 2/1 living
s/ Gordon N, 3y, b.Jun 1896 KS

1910/ Kansas/ Wyandotte
h/ John N Hillis, 45y, b.PA, M1/15, occupation: Sampler/Board of Trade
w/ Henrietta E, 37y, b.KS, mother of 3/2 living
s/ Gordon N, 13y, b.KS
s/ Walter S, 9y, b.KS
residence: 1409 N 32nd, KCK

1920/ Kansas/ Wyandotte
h/ John M Hillis, 57y, b.PA, occupation: Inspector/Grain ? Office
w/ Henrietta, 47y, b.KS
s/ Gordon, 23y, b.KS, occupation: Switch Tender, Steam RR
dil/ Bessie, 21y, b.KS
s/ Walter, 19y, b.KS, occupation: Bookeeper/Milling Co
mil/ Harriett Davis, 74y, b.ENG, Wd
niece/ Ruth Webb, 18y, b.KS, occupation: Auditor/Cloak Co
residence: 1347 N 32nd Street, KCK

1930/ Kansas/ Wyandotte
h/ John M Hillis, 66y b.PA, occ: Weigh Master/State Grain, * Veteran-No *
w/ Henrietta E, 57y b.KS
s/ Gordon N, 33y b.KS, Wd, occ: Switch Tender/Railroad, * Veteran-Yes-WW *
gs/ Jack N, 8y b.KS
gd/ Doris J, 7y b.KS
residence: 1347 N 32nd Street, KCK

Published obituary
HILLIS – John N Hillis, 81 years old, died today at his home, 3212 Everett avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. He had been a resident of Kansas City, Kansas fifty-two years and was a retired grain inspector at the Rock Island elevator. He leaves his wife, Mrs Henrietta E Hillis of the home; two sons, Gordon N Hillis, 1908 North Fourteenth street, Kansas City, Kansas, and Walter Hillis, 5603 Park avenue [KC, Missouri]; a sister, Miss Anna Hillis, Towanda, Pennsylvania, and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Monday at the Long chapel, Tenth street and Barnett avenue, Kansas City, Kansas.
The Kansas City Star
20 October 1944