Puxico Press, Wed. Jan. 31, 2001
Clara Hill Will Celebrate 100th Birthday Feb. 5
by Misty Dejournet, Puxico Press Staff Writer

As one of six children born to Edgar and Adie Chasteen, Clara Hill learned the hardships of life at an early age having lost both of her parents when she was only 4 years old.

Both were ill with the flu and expecting their seventh child. Her father died the day before the birth of this child, mother and child died during the birth. The three were buried together leaving behind six orphaned children.

Burto and Martha Chasteen, grandparents of the children, opened their hearts and home to the six children after raising five of their own, one of which still lived at home. Hill and her siblings spent the rest of their childhood on their grandparent's prosperous farm just west of Bloomfield.

The children attended Lick Creek School, a one room country school four miles from their home, where they walked every morning. Hill said she can remember wading in snow to her knees to get there during the winter months.

Hill completed her schooling at the eighth grade because she had no transportation.

She lated moved to Oklahoma with her uncle and Aunt Keefer where she got a job waitressing in a restaurant near a glass factory. She stayed in Oklahoma for four years then returned to her grandather's farm in 1921.

Soon after her return home she met a young man by the name of Ben Hill in Bloomfield, and after much enticement on his part she accepted his marriage proposal.

The couple later opened a grocery store, B.F. Hills Grocery, four miles west of Aid, which had living quarters inside which they called home.

"I liked the country life very much," said Clara Hill.

They ran the store for more than 20 years and together had two daughters and one son.

Sadly, Ben Hill passed away in 1971. Soon after his death Clara Hill moved to Dexter and began going to the senior citizen's center to socialize and volunteer. She has now volunteered her time there for more than 20 years.

"I go everyday to the center, it's my second home," she said.

Clara Hill will be celebrating her 100th birthday on Feb. 5. Family and friends are planning a party on Feb. 3 at the community building in Dexter.

When asked what she attributes her long life to, she said, "I think it's having something to do to keep your mind busy. I've been busy the biggest part of my life."

Clara Hill also said she intends to visit the center as long as she can, "I feel like at my age you've got to do something to make it through."

Clara and Bill

---