Arthur G. Hill, born on December 7, 1863, in Warwickshire, England, was the son of Thomas and Harriet L. (Briant) Hill. After receiving his education in Coventry and Northampton College, he moved to Dakota Territory in 1884. Settling in Buffalo County, he initially engaged in ranching, acquiring a 320-acre farm. In 1897, Hill co-founded Dye & Hill, a real estate and abstract firm, and purchased the Dakota Chief newspaper. He also established the Bank of Buffalo County in 1898. A committed Republican, Hill served as county auditor and register of deeds. He was married to Mary M. Stroud in 1890, with whom he had two daughters, Olive L. and Florence C.
Arthur G. Hill is a native of Warwickshire, England, where he was born on the 7th of December, 1863, being a son of Thomas and Harriet L. (Briant) Hill, of whose five children four are living. The father of the subject was a watch manufacturer and he died in his native land at the age of fifty-seven years, while his wife recently passed away at the age of seventy-two years. Arthur G. Hill received his early educational training in the common schools of his native county, completing a course in the high school at Coventry and thereafter continuing his studies in Northampton College, where he remained four years. He passed the examination for matriculation in Cambridge University, but instead of entering this world-famed institution, he turned his attention to business affairs. He was employed for six years in the office of a prominent business concern in the city of Liverpool, and at the expiration of this period, in 1884, he severed the home ties and set forth to seek his fortunes in the New World. He landed in the city of New York and shortly afterward started for the territory of Dakota, here to establish a home amid scenes and conditions radically different from those which he had previously known. He located in Buffalo County in April, 1884, and was here engaged in ranching for six years, his energy and discrimination enabling him to attain success in connection with his new industrial venture, while he became the owner of a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres. In the spring of 1897, he took up his residence in Gann Valley, where he became associated with Ellsworth E. Dye in the real-estate business, under the firm name of Dye & Hill. They also purchased the Dakota Chief, a weekly paper, of which they have since continued as editors and publishers, the paper being an effective representative of local interests and of the principles of the Republican Party. The firm still continues their real-estate enterprise, which has become one of no inconsiderable scope and importance, and they have the only set of abstracts of titles in the county. In November, 1898, Messrs. Hill and Dye gave a further exemplification of their enterprising spirit by establishing the Bank of Buffalo County, which they still conduct, the institution being one of the solid monetary concerns of the state and securing a representative support.
Mr. Hill is a staunch advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican Party and is a zealous worker in its cause, being at the present time a member of the state central committee, as a representative of this county. In 1890, he was elected county auditor, in which capacity he served four years, while in 1894 he was elected register of deeds, a position he held for two years. He is well known throughout the county and both he and his coadjutor, Mr. Dye, are held in the highest esteem as careful, reliable, and progressive businessmen and public-spirited citizens. Mr. Hill is also one of the stockholders in the cooperative creamery, a prosperous enterprise in Gann Valley, and is at the present time treasurer of the company controlling and operating the same. Fraternally, he is identified with the Masonic order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is one of the trustees of the Gann Valley Congregational Church.
On the 18th of March, 1890, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Stroud, a daughter of John Stroud, a prominent resident of Buffalo County, and of this union have been born two children, Olive L. and Florence C. Mrs. Hill was born and reared in Polk County, Iowa, and is prominent in the social life of her home city.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.