Hill, James JP

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Hill, James JP

Watercolour portrait of James Hill JP

From John Sowden's notebooks:

"Mr James Hill is a very prominent citizen of Bradford in the industrial and political life of the city.
He was born at Harden near Bingley in 1849 and, coming to Bradford when quite a boy, worked as a woolsorter until he was 18 years old. He served as an apprentice with Mr J Walker of Cheapside. While engaged as a starter he was making himself conversant with other processes in connection with the worsted industry. He afterwards commenced as well merchant with a capital of £50. In a couple of years he formed an alliance with Mr John Riddiough as a percentage partnership which continued for 16 years.
In 1891 he commenced business on his own account and in addition to his wool merchanting adding that of combing industry. His success was great and in neither of his concerns have his workpeople known bad times but regular and steady employment.
He is said to have been a friend of many firms who in time of financial trouble have had recourse to his helping hand. As his affairs succeeded he took into partnership his two sons who have assisted him and his various enterprises.
As time passed on he was able to devote his attention and talents to matters of public interest, with honour to himself and to the city.
A happy trait of his character is his full sense of the benefits he obtained from Sunday School associations in his youth, an appreciation which he practically demonstrated by seeking to repay his indebtedness to that source in 25 years service on the teaching staff.
Mr Hill was made a Justice of the Peace in 1905.
He was elected to the City Council as a Liberal for the Exchange Ward in 1898 at a by-election and in 1902 was returned with an increased majority. At the end of his term of office he retired from the Council for a time, but in 1907 he was returned unopposed for the Allerton Ward and throughout his chairmanship of the Tramways Committee he conducted the affair is with great ability and he can look back with pride to those years of progress and development in connection with the Bradford Tramways. He was the third Lord Mayor of Bradford, being elected in 1908. He has always been a generous contributor to the philanthropic monuments in Bradford and the neighbourhood.
He was one of the company of Liberals who secured for the party the Bradford Daily Telegraph and was chairman of the Board of Directors. In 1908 Mr James Hill along with Sir James Roberts and Mr WA Whitehead became owners of the Yorkshire Observer with the express purpose of free trade influence. He was president of the Bradford Free Church Council when the National Free Church Council visited Bradford in 1904. Mr Hill married in 1875 the eldest daughter of Mr Joshua Knight of Allerton. There are three children of the marriage, two sons and one daughter. He is interested in farming and golf and chess and is one of the best travelled men in the city."

Year

1899

Creator

John Sowden

Image filename

sowden-53