Hill Williams Howse was born in North Carolina in 1828.  By 1854 Hill Howse had moved to Marion County Florida where on January 12, 1854 he purchased 40 acres from the State of Florida.  Howse's property is further described as being located in section 17, township 14, range 22.  Three months later on April 1, 1854 Hill Howse purchased 80 acres from the State of Florida, also located in Marion County.  Howse's additional 80 acres of property is further described as being in section 7, township 15, range 22, which was situated along Road No. 2 near the town of Ocala. Some time around 1861 Hill Howse moved to Hernando County where he settled in or near Brooksville.  At the start of the Civil War Hill Howse did not enlist for service right away.  As the war raged on several independent companies were formed in Hernando County for service with the Confederate States Army.  On September 25, 1862 Howse enlisted for service at Bayport, Florida with Capt. Samuel Hope's Independent Company who were mustered into service with Company C of the 6th Battalion of the 9th Florida Regt., Finnegan Brigade. On February 20, 1864 Howse, along with his company, engaged Union Troops coming from Jacksonville.  As a result the two forces met at Ocean Pond where the horrific Battle of Olustee would take place.  On February 22, 1864, two days into the Battle of Olustee, Hill W. Howse was shot in the left thigh about 3" below his hip, with a Union minnie ball.  The doctors on the battle field decided it was too risky to remove the minnie ball and as a result it remained lodge in Hill's hip for the remainder of his life.  After being wounded Hill Howse was given furlough home on account of his wounds, he then returned to Brooksville to recover from his wounds.   Upon returning to Brooksville on furlough from the war, only 8 months after returning from the battle field at Olustee, Hill W. Howse was married.  On October 24, 1864 Hill W. Howse was married to Rebecca Jane Hope at a ceremony performed in Brooksville.  By April of 1865 Confederate Troops had surrendered and the war was over.  Hill W. Howse was discharged from service on April 15, 1865 in Brooksville, while still on sick furlough. Hill and Rebecca continued to reside in Brooksville until sometime around 1869 when they moved to an area north-east of Port Richey.  By 1869 Hill Howse had purchase 119 acres of property that is further described as being located in section 26 & 32, township 25, range 16, located in Pasco County.  Here Hill Howse engaged in farming and is recorded as having 60 head of cattle and hogs, valued at $140.  In addition Hill owned 2 horses and a carriage, which he used for travel purposes.  The Hill Howse farm and property were located to the east of the Hopeville Post Office, which was established by pioneer resident and Confederate Veteran James Washington Clark in 1872. Between the years of 1881 and 1883 Hill W. Howse would purchase an additional 340 acres of property in Pasco County.  On September 6, 1881 Hill purchased 40 acres from the State of Florida, located in section 20, township 25, range 16, on November 23, 1882 he purchased 40 acres from Hamilton Disston, located in section 17, township 25, range 17 and on February 19, 1883 he purchased 160 acres from the State of Florida, located in section 13, township 25, range 16 and in sections 7 & 8, township 25, range 17.   Much of the property purchased by Hill between 1881 and 1883 was located along Bear Creek in Pasco County and by 1888 Hill Howse had built yet another home, situated along Bear Creek, where he and his family moved.  At the time the Howse's moved to the property along Bear Creek, the area was considered to be apart of Hudson.  Once again Hill engaged in farming and likely kept a large head of cattle and hogs.  The area of Bear Creek near to Hill Howse's property was often used as a fording place where the creek could be crossed.  On August 11, 1888 County Commission minutes reference "the ford of Bear Creek at H.W. Howse's." Hill W. Howse continued to engage in farming to support his family, however this wasn't an easy task for him since he still had a Union minnie ball lodged in his left hip.  As a result of his wound Hill Howse eventually contracted arthritis in his hip, which resulted in severe pains for the remainder of his life.  In June of 1896 Hill Howse consulted and was examined by doctors N.A. Williams, M.D. of Dade City and M.R. Gill, M.D. of Richland, the doctors confirmed that he still had a minnie ball in his hip, which effected full movement of his left leg and hip. Hill Howse died on February 19, 1899 while living in Pasco County, he was buried in the East Elfers Cemetery.  Today Hill Howse's grave lies unmarked in the East Elfers Cemetery, however its believed he was buried in the Howse Family plot where his children were buried. (Research by Jeff Cannon- Copyright © 2008)