The medical fraternity of Haskell finds a prominent representative in Dr. Chester Lee Hill, who is an exponent of all that is highest, best and most advanced in the, practice of medicine and surgery, and of all that is most worthy and honorable in his relations toward his fellowmen.
He was born in Canton, Cherokee county, Georgia, May 1, 1876, and is a son of Andrew H. and Maria (Phillips) Hill, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of South Carolina. The father was one of the early planters of Georgia, becoming the owner of fourteen hundred acres of land, and he also operated saw and flour mills, a cotton gin and a wool carder.
He was a veteran of the Civil war, serving throughout the entire period of hostilities as a first lieutenant in the Confederate army. He participated in many heavy engagements, being present at the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge and being wounded in action. His business interests were wisely and successfully managed and he passed away in August, 1912, at the age of seventy-nine, while the mother’s demise had occurred in November, 1907, when she was seventy-four years of age.
In the acquirement of an education Dr. Hill attended the grammar and high schools of Ball Ground, Georgia, and Emory College at Oxford, that state, after which he devoted two years to teaching, becoming principal of the Sharpe Mountain high school. He then entered the old University of Nashville, Tennessee, where he spent two terms as a medical student, completing his professional course in Grant University at Chattanooga, Tennessee, from which he was graduated with the class of 1900.
He opened an office at Hill City, Georgia, which was named in honor of his father, and there followed his profession for eighteen months, after which he went to Lamkin, Texas, but after eight months left that place and in 1904 came to Oklahoma. He first located at Chelsea, where he was identified with professional work for seven years, and in 1912 he came to Haskell, where he has since resided, with the exception of four months which were spent in Muskogee. He does everything to perfect himself in his chosen vocation, and his pronounced ability has won for him a large practice, while he also has served as city physician of Haskell and of Chelsea. He was formerly actively identified with the oil industry, drilling a number of dry holes in this locality, but has disposed of all of his holdings along that line.
On the 26th of February, 1919, Dr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Pauline Kennedy, who was graduated as a nurse from the Oklahoma Baptist Hospital. He gives his political allegiance to the Democratic Party because he believes that its principles will best conserve the interests of good government, and his religious faith is that of the Missionary Baptist church. He keeps in touch with the onward march of the profession through his membership in the Muskogee County and Oklahoma State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association, and his fraternal connections are with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In his chosen field of activity, he has made continuous progress, gleaning from comprehensive study and research and from practical experience valuable truths in connection with the science of medicine, and he enjoys the respect, goodwill and confidence of his fellow practitioners and also of the general public.
