John M. Hill. 385
lication of Hill's New Hampshire Patriot. He continued in this relation until 1846, when the paper was merged in the New Hampshire Patriot, which his father had previously for many years owned and edited. From this time until 1853 he was associated with the late Honorable William Butterfield in the proprietorship and management of the paper. In the latter year, his health having failed in a measure, from close confinement to office labor, he withdrew from the connection. Two years later he accepted the treasuryship of the Concord Gas Light Company, and to the active management of the affairs of that corporation he has mainly and successfully devoted his energies up to the present time.
In 1868 he again secured an interest in the Patriot, and his name was associated with that of Mr. Butterfield as publisher until the sale of the paper to Colonel E. C. Bailey in 1873. This connection, however, was mainly in the interest of his son, and he was not, himself, personally engaged in the office.
Mr. Hill has ever been deeply interested in all enterprises tending to promote the prosperity of Concord, and in many such has been actively and efficiently engaged. He was, for six years, from its inception in 1872, a member of the City Board of Water Commissioners, and for a long series of years a member of the Board of Engineers of the Concord Fire Department, holding the position of Chief Engineer, at various times, and now occupying the same. No man living, indeed, has taken greater in-terest in this important branch of the municipal service, and no one has done more to bring it to the high state of efficiency which it now holds. He was also chiefly instrumental in the organization of the Concord Firemen's Relief Association, of which he is President.
During the late war Mr. Hill was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Concord Ladies' Soldier's Aid Association, an organization which contributed largely to the relief and comfort of sick and wounded soldiers in the Union army. He was, in fact, the working member of the Board, and gave much time and energy to carrying forward its operations, raising and dispensing large amounts of money and other contributions. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mechanic's National Bank of Concord, and Clerk of the Board. He retains, unabated, his interest in the cause of journalism, and was the first President of the New Hampshire Press Association, holding the office four years, from the organization in 1868, and is still actively identified with the Association.
He has, several times, held the position of Auditor of Printers' Accounts, and in March last was selected by the Justices of the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy on the State Board of Equalization occasioned by the death of Mr. Butterfield, and was chosen Secretary of the Board, a position which the latter had previously filled.
Schooled in the principles and traditions of the Democratic party from earliest childhood, by both paternal and maternal teaching, Mr. Hill has been, all his life, an earnest working Democrat, laboring zealously for the success of his party, because conscientiously believing that such success was essential to the fullest measure of public prosperity and progress. He has been actively identified with the party organization in various capacities, on ward, city and State committees, having been, at different times, Secretary, Chairman and Treasurer of the State Committee, hold-
