William Hill was born October 18, 1831, in Greenock, a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, and was brought to the United States when he was 11.   The family first settled in Ohio for two years, and then moved to Sauk County, Wisconsin.   Here, William Hill apprenticed in the printing trade.   He also became a correspondent for the Chicago Tribune and a paper in Nashville.
 
Hill was in St. Louis when the Civil War broke out, and enlisted in the 8th MO Volunteer Infantry (US).   He was the Captain of Company B.   Hill also served on the staff of Gen. Giles Smith.
 
After the war, he returned to Wisconsin.   There he became editor of the Baraboo Republic newspaper.   He married Ellen Clark Maxwell, and the couple had a total of five children: four sons and one daughter.

The Hill family moved to Neodesha, Kansas, around 1870.   William Hill was involved in the founding of the Neodesha Savings Bank - organized in 1872 and chartered in 1873.
 
In 1883, William G. Cutler's 'History of the State of Kansas' stated that "The Neodesha Savings Bank was organized in 1872 and reorganized and chartered on April 1, 1873.   The last statement of resources shows a capital of $16,591.70, surplus of $3,000 and net undivided earnings of $1,260.   The bank is officered by Douglas Stewart, president, and William Hill, cashier."   The bank was later renamed the First National Bank of Neodesha, and Hill served as president.
 
Hill was also interested in 1,900 acres of farm lands in Wilson County and had various other holdings.   He was an independent in politics, and was a member of the Kansas State Bankers Association and the National Bankers Association.   The Hill family residence was at at 416 North Eighth Street.