JAMES NAPOLEON 'PONY' HILL

James Napoleon Hill "Pony Hill" was one of the most notorious Civil War Bushwhackers (Confederate) of this area. This website lists several references to him and his activities as well as giving some information on his family. If you are researching this family and have additional information to share, we would appreciate hearing from you.

James N. Hill married Elizabeth Jane Doke on December 30, 1857 in Little Osage, Vernon County, Missouri.  (Vernon County Missouri Marriage Record Book A, page 25.) 

Married on Wednesday the 30th day of December A.D. 1857 at the residence of the brides mother Little Osage Vernon County Missouri, by the Reverend Christopher C. Bradshaw, D.D. Mr. Napoleon Hill to Miss Elizabeth Doke all of said county and state.

          Christopher C. Bradshaw, D.D.

Recorded Feb 15th, 1858

          DeWitt C. Hunter Recorded

James and Elizabeth Hill had one child who lived to adulthood and he was named James Napoleon Hill.  He was born Feb 10, 1860 in Vernon County, Missouri, and died July 18, 1933 in Oklahoma.  He married Anna May Wilmouth on February 15, 1883 in Vernon County, Missouri (Vernon County Missouri Marriage Record Book C, page 187). 

1860 Vernon County, Missouri Federal Census, Little Osage Township, Dwelling 778.

HILL, James N., 25 year old male, farmer, value of personal property $440, not known where born.

       E. J., 22 year old female, born Missouri.

       James N., 9/12 year old male, born Missouri.

1870 Vernon County, Missouri Federal Census, Osage Township, Dwelling 32. 

DOKE, Ann, 54 year old white female, keeps house, value of real estate $1,200, value of personal property $200, born Tennessee.

DOKE, Christopher C., 17 year old white male, farm hand, born Missouri.

VEST, Thos, 29 year old white male, farm hand, born Indiana.

VEST, Elizabeth J., 32 year old white female, born Missouri. [formerly Mrs. J. N. Hill.]

HILL, Jas. N., 10 year old white male, born Missouri, attended school within the year.

T. W. Stearns was appointed by the Probate Court of Vernon county, Missouri, Guardian of the person and Curator of the estate of James N. Hill of said County a Minor.  March 8, 1876.  [There is a reference to James N. Hill (jr), as Borgan Hill.]

1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri.  p. 311-313:

The Burning of Nevada City.

     On Tuesday, May 26, 1863, the town of Nevada City was burned by a company of Federal militia from St. Clair and Cedar counties under command of Capt. Anderson Morton.  The circumstances leading to this incident ought to be understood and may be readily related.

     In March of this year there was a meeting of the able-bodied male citizens of the county at Nevada City, for the purpose of organizing a company of Enrolled Militia, under the orders of the previous year, for service in the 60^th regiment, Col. Marvin’s.  The Enrolled Militia co-operated with the regular Federal troops, and were called into service when needed.  They were armed and equipped, and when in service, paid by the State.  The Vernon county company was expected to assist in keeping the peace at home, under direction of the Federal military authorities, and to protect the county as far as possible from the depredations of the lawless and unprincipled of both sides.

     About fifty members were enrolled in the militia company at the Nevada meeting, and when the enrollment was completed the election of officers began.  There was considerable interest taken in the selection of a captain, but finally Augustus Baker, a conservative Union man, who lived on the Missouri side of the Kansas line a few miles northeast of Ft. Scott, was chosen over John Frizzell, a citizen of this county and a resident of Clear Creek township.  Frizzell had served with the Cedar county militia and had been on a few raids with the Kansas troops and Frank Wyrick’s.  He worked hard for the captaincy of the company, but owing to his already bad reputation and the belief of many that he only wished to be commissioned in order that he might the better carry out a design of land piracy, he was defeated, and Baker, who was known to be an honest, safe man, was chosen instead.  Frizzell took his defeat in great ill humor, alleging that the “d___d rebels” had defeated him, and swearing to get even with them, etc., etc.

     A few evening afterwards Frizzell and a companion names John Upton, made their way to Baker’s residence, and putting on a smooth exterior and assuming extreme friendliness, were readily admitted to the house.  Suddenly Frizzell drew his revolver, and first making a demand on Capt. Baker for his money, fired upon him and shot him down.  Mrs. Baker, in whose immediate presence the infernal deed was done, caught her husband as he was falling and he received his death shot and died in her arms.  The assassins then mounted their horses and rode rapidly away.

     Gen. C. W. Blair was then in command at Fort Scott.  Being notified of the murder of Capt. Baker he at once sent out a detachment of Kansas troops to apprehend the murderers.  The detachment rode into Cedar County and arrested Frizzell at the house of a friend.  Upton, however, jumped from an upstairs window and escaped, and he is still a fugitive upon the earth to this day.  His family lived near Montevallo, and it is claimed that, being ardent Unionists, they were treated very harshly by the Secessionists when the latter had the power in this county, and that John Upton was forced to become an outlaw and a desperado.  Frizzell was taken to Ft. Scott, tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to death.  The finding and sentence were approved by Gen. Blunt, commanding the department, and he was hung at Ft. Scott some time in the latter part of the month of May.

     The only defense attempted by Frizzell was the common one of criminals in perilous situations, that of an alibi.  He claimed that Mrs. Baker was mistaken in her alleged identification of him, and asserted that at the time of the murder he was in Cedar county.  He was in that county such a short time previous to the murder and so soon afterward, that a number of persons were persuaded that they had seen him forty miles from Capt. Baker’s house about the time the tragedy was perpetrated.  Maj. A. J. Pugh, of Marvin’s regiment of militia, under whom Frizzell had served, was induced to take half a dozen men from Cedar county to Ft. Scott and let the general in command hear their testimony in order that a stay of execution might be had, and if possible a reversal of the sentence obtained.

     Maj. Pugh led these men through Nevada, taking the main road to Ft. Scott.  Some of them were private citizens and had never been in the military service.  Their mission was unsuccessful.  Their testimony was not positive, or at all exculpatory.  They thought they had seen Frizzell at such a time, but were not certain, as the man they saw was at some distance, etc.  Maj. Pugh urged Frizzell’s bravery and general good conduct while under him as a reason for a postponement of a commutation of his sentence, but in vain.  The major and his little party then started for their homes.

     At this time Capt. Wm. Marchbanks, with 19 of his best men, was on the south side of the Marmaton, and one of his scouts brought him word that a squad of “Feds.,” which he had ascertained was composed of Cedar county “milish,” was coming down the road from Ft. Scott towards Nevada.  Learning their number and condition, Marchbanks determined to attack and either “take in” or destroy these Feds., he was not particular which.  He had with him a desperate character called “Pony” Hill, who had lived on the Osage, near the Timbered Hill, and had been a guerrilla nearly ever since the war broke out, and a hard case since boyhood.  He had also other men who were as reckless fighters as “Pony” Hill.  At this time, it is said, Hill’s mother lived in Nevada, the Federals having previously burned her house, alleging that it was a rendezvous for bushwhackers.

     Marchbanks meant to attack Pugh and his squad at the crossing of Drywood, but hastening to that point, he saw that they had passed.  Setting out in pursuit, he sought to intercept them at some point west of Nevada, but they had too much the start of him, and conjecturing that they would stop when they reached the town, he determined to attack them there.

     Nearing the town, Marchbanks drew his men into the timber on the south side of the road, and lying down on their horses half the time, to avoid the overhanging black-jack brush, the guerrillas made their way rapidly to a point a little southwest of that corner of the square, where they halted a moment to catch breath and then dashed into the town.  Hill and Marchbanks led, riding in a swift gallop and shouting and firing. 

     The militiamen scattered and Marchbanks and his men chased them as hunters chase a quarry.  All but two escaped.  An old man named Shuey, dismounted, unarmed, and terror-stricken, sought to hide in a dwelling house which stood near where the Presbyterian church now stands, but was overtaken and shot to death in the dooryard, although he begged hard for his life and a number of ladies, who witnessed the scene, added their piteous appeals for mercy to his.  Northwest of the town, as it was then, a militiaman named Whitley, one of the old settlers of Whitley’s prairie, was overtaken by Marchbanks and shot out of his saddle.

     In a communication to the compiler, Capt. Marchbanks says:

     The Federals scattered; some got in a brick hotel, and part of them started north.  I left part of my men to guard those at the hotel, and I kept on with the remainder, and near where the old jail stood we overhauled them.  One took shelter in a house; “Pony” Hill and Oliver Birch killed him.  I ran one in a lane, the north end of which was closed.  As soon as he saw he was trapped he commenced using his revolver on me, and shot five times at me.  I shot three times at another Fed. off to my left, when Oliver Birch began firing at him, and I turned on the man in the lane.  I shot twice at him; the last shot took effect in his neck and felled him to the ground.  During this time the Feds. in the hotel forced their way out and escaped.  Jim Guess killed a horse from under one as they retreated.  Our loss was one horse killed.

     As soon as his men had returned from the chase Marchbanks collected them and led them back to the old camp on the Marmaton.  The next day he moved up into Bates county.  Not long afterward, while in camp on the Marais des Cygnes, he was himself surprised by a detachment of the 1^st Missouri State militia cavalry, under Maj. A. W. Mullins, of Linn county, and routed with the loss of nearly all of his horses, arms and camp equipage, but with no men killed. 

     It was on the 24^th of May when Marchbanks and Hill made their raid into Nevada City.  When they had left, the citizens gathered up the dead bodies of Whitley and Shuey and laid them out in the old court house, all gory and ghastly.  It was believed that their friends would come for them, but by the evening of the next day they had changed so much and were becoming so loathsome every hour, that it was decided to bury them.  A large box was made, both bodies placed in it, and buried in the old cemetery.  Messrs. Thos. H. Austin and James H. Moore took an active part in decently caring for the remains.

1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 331:

      In September, 1863, [William H.] Taylor went to Ft. Scott and was declared exchanged by the terms of a cartel agreed upon the previous 6th of May.  Returning home he went at once upon the war path.  Reporting to Capt. Marchbanks, at the Cephas ford, in the Marmaton timber, he was given Pony Hill and five other bushwhackers, and made another foray towards Ft. Scott.  At the Widow Beale's, a mile across the Kansas line, he surprised and captured Tom Whitesides, a noted Federal scout, and six Kansas men.  The latter were paroled, but Whitesides was wanted very badly.  He was a noted jayhawker, and not long previously he had boasted to Taylor that he had killed 52 "rebels" since the war opened.  Taylor meant to take Whitesides to camp and hold him as a hostage, but when the party reached a point northeast of the Col. Douglas farm Pony Hill shot him, and he was left dead on the ground.

1887 History of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 353: 

     Regarding the murder of General Joseph Bailey, sheriff of Vernon County:  Thomas Ingram was the husband of the woman, formerly the wife of the notorious “Pony” Hill, the well known outlaw and bushwhacker during the war.  After Ingram’s incarceration he refused to state anything further; at this own request he was permitted to see his wife.  The same night he was taken out of the hands of the guards by a posse of men, supposed to be the vigilance committee.  The next morning his body was found hanging to a tree in the edge of the timber skirting the town; a coffin was provided by the citizens, a large number of men went to town from the country, and after the body had been placed in the coffin it was carried off and buried. 

Knights of the Bush and Others {Rebels and Yankees} of Vernon County, Missouri.  Edited by Patrick Brophy.

p. 8:  Hill, James Napoleon “Pony.” 

p. 23:  Hill, James Napoleon “Pony.”  Bushwhacker and outlaw, lived near Balltown.

The Nevada Daily Mail, Nevada, Missouri,  1892.

A Sad Anniversary.  Twenty-Nine Years Ago Nevada Was Burned.

The Acts of Blood Which Led to the Conflagration.

… There is a story of some length attached to that dark period in the history of Nevada.  During the previous winter, Sandy Whitley, of St. Clair county, had burned the home of Pony Hill and turned his old mother out into the snow.  Pony was known throughout this section of the state as a man of action, and there were not many people who would have enjoyed the job of standing in Whitley’s shoes. 

     Some time after the destruction of the Hill home, Whitley and five companions who had been to Ft. Scott, returned through Nevada.  Whitley started around town in search of something to drink and left his comrades on their horses near the southwest corner of the square.

     While they were waiting there Marchbanks and sixteen of his men dashed into town.  The Federals attempted to make their escape.  The confederate soldier who led the assault, shot a horse ridden by one of the fugitives.  As the animal fell the rider nimbly released himself and seizing another horse hitched to the rack made his escape.

     Old man Duey, one of the Union soldiers, started north and was closely followed by Marchbanks.  He was cornered in a lane which had a fence across it, not far from the present location of Dr. Atkinson’s home.  When escape proved hopeless he gave himself up to his pursuer.  Marchbanks led him to Washington street not far from the place now occupied by Creel and Atkinson’s bank and there shot him.

     Pony Hill was in search of his man and seeing a horse hitched at a house a few yards north of the present site of the jail, he dismounted and went in.  Whitley was there attempting to induce a couple of ladies to give him a jug of whiskey which he supposed was in the house.  When he saw Hill he gave his pistols to the ladies and asked that they be hidden and that they represent him as a non-combatant.

     The ladies did as they were requested.  The pistols were thrown under the bed, but the ruse would not work.  Hill knew this man and marched him out the back door.  The poor fellow begged, but Hill reminded him of the treatment of his mother and with a double-barreled shot-gun loaded with buck-shot, he took his revenge.  The upper part of the head was completely shot away.

     When Captain Morton who was then stationed in Cedar county heard of the killing he took 250 men and started in quest of Marchbanks.  He failed to find him, but left the town of Nevada in ashes.  He burned about thirty houses, and left only about a half-dozen standing.

     There were several store buildings, but no stocks of goods, as it was impossible at that day to do business in this section of the country.  The soldiers did no damage further than to burn the homes and household goods of the citizens.

     Pony Hill was killed after the war in Arkansas.

The War of the Rebellion:  A compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.  1888  Series I, Volume XXII, Part I – Reports.  Page 442:

July 7, 1863 – Skirmish near Drywood, Mo.

Report of Maj. Elias A. Calkins, Third Wisconsin Cavalry.

Camp on Drywood, Mo., July 11, 1863.

Major:  In compliance with orders received by your hands, on the 7^th instant, I detailed, under the command of Capt. [Alexander] M. Pratt, Company E, the following companies, of this regiment, for an attack upon the guerrillas, whose rendezvous was supposed to be near the junction of the Marmiton and Osage Rivers, some 28 miles north of this camp:  Company D, Lieutenant [John] Crites; Company E, Lieutenant [William] Culbertson, and Company K, Lieutenant [John P.] McDowell.

     The command left this camp at 10 p.m. that day, and, by a circuitous march of about 40 miles, reached their destination at 10 a.m. on the following day, where the advance came upon the pickets of the enemy, who were followed into the principal guerrilla camp, a high piece of ground, surrounded by swamps and stagnant water.  Our force boldly dashed through the marsh and a thick growth of underbrush, where a sharp engagement ensued, lasting about an hour and a half.  The enemy were well protected by the timber, but were at length obliged to give way, and fled in all directions.  They were closely pursued by the three columns into which Captain Pratt divided his command, the pursuit lasting until near dark.  Five of the enemy are supposed to be killed and 3 severely wounded.  Among the wounded was the noted guerrilla Pony Hill.  Captain Taylor is also reported wounded.  Our loss was 1 killed – John H. Robinson, Company E.  His body was stripped of the clothing worth carrying away, and his pockets were rifled by the enemy.  Their camp was totally broken up and the guerrillas scattered in all directions.  The intended raid into Kansas was thereby prevented, at least for the present. 

     The command returned to this camp at 3 p.m. yesterday, greatly fatigued, but in good health and spirits.  The citizen guides who accompanied the expedition, I am sorry to say, knew nothing of the roads or country; led the command a roundabout, unnecessary, and fatiguing march; refused to communicate with the commanding officer, and are totally untrustworthy.

     Great credit is due Captain [Alexander M.] Pratt for the energy and daring which characterized his action, and also to Lieutenant McDowell, Lieutenant Culbertson, and Lieutenant Crites, with the gallant men of their respective commands. 

     Inclosed please see invoice of contraband property taken and delivered to Capt. J. G. Haskell, assistant quartermaster.

     Very respectfully,

     E. A. Calkins, Major, Commanding Third Wisconsin Cavalry.

Maj. H. Z. Curtis, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Found No Bushwhackers - The 1864 Diary of Sgt. James P. Mallery.  Text Courtesy of John R. Schantz.  Edited by Patrick Brophy.  Sgt. Mallery was a member of Company A, 3^rd Wisconsin Cavalry Vols.  The below excerpts are from his 1864 diary during the time his company was stationed at Balltown.

     Page 22:  Monday, March 28, 1864.  Cold and wind blew and snow flew al Day.  Raind and snowed through the day.  In camp al day.  Sergent & 20 men started for Fort Gibson.  Lieut. Ellis and twelve men detailed to Scout & look for Ponny Hill, he being Reported clost by.  Rote a letter of Bill.  snowing at 9 P.M., about ½ inch on the ground.

     Page 22:  Thursday, March 31, 1864.  Clouday and raind sum.  Last night we had a nice shower.  Corpl of the guard upt the foor part of the night.  rote a letter to my father.  Scout went out Last night of 12 men after we came in to look for Pony Hill & gang.  Expect to be gon two Days.  Charley Tharp Returned from furlow.

     Page 28:  Monday, May 23, 1864.  Warm & hot.  had a nice shower in the after noon.  In camp al day.  Nothing of note going on in camp.  onely Pony Hill is reported to be over to Mrs. Smith.  Rote a letter to my sister.

     Page 29:  Friday, May 27, 1864.  Warm & pleasant.  In camp al day.  Relived from guard at 9 A.M.  Scout went out of 8 men.  The scout that went out Chased Pony Hil across the Maria Des Cygnes.  The first scout returned, saw nothing of Notice.  Rote a letter for Ad.

In the Devil’s Dominions.  A Union Soldier’s Adventures in “Bushwhacker Country.”  The Journal of Charles W. Porter, Lieutenant, Afterwards Captain, Company F, 3^rd Wisconsin Cavalry, Stationed in Southwest Missouri 1862-1865.  Edited and annotated by Patrick Brophy.

     Page 97-98:  Wednesday, August 19, 1863.  Lieut. Ellis and command came in the morning, brought two young men who gave their names as Duncan & Newman they was supposed to be Knights of the brush and was accordingly sent to Fort Scott for imprisonment and trial.  We gained secret information today, that a party of guerrillas lead by one Pony Hill would camp to night at a spot near the Marais des Cygnes river.  As we delight to make the abode of these spirits of the damned very uncomfortable, Lieut. Ellis and myself with about 20 men obtained orders to proceed to the place and if possible annihilate them.  We got possession of the signals of this band, which they used when about to camp, that others of their party in the woods might know of their coming.  After dark we left camp and hastened to the spot, arriving in time as the party we was after arrived soon after, and before camping they gave three whoops imitating the Owl which we answered by the Whippoorwill.  They came on and camped a quarter of mile from us.  We decided to keep quiet and not make attack until a late hour.  About midnight we left a sufficient guard with our horses while we proceeded on foot through a dense undergrowth of vines and brush to attack the enemy.  Lieut. Ellis and myself took the lead while our men camp up in rear of us.  We came upon the camp and discovered the leader Pony Hill standing by his horse, when the Lieut. and myself each fired at him, but he escaped in the brush.  His party being asleep then awoke and followed their leaders example, but two of their number was soon sleeping their last sleep while their more fortunate comrades escaped.  We captured 9 horses and equipments, some guns and Revolvers, besides Pony Hills Sharps rifle, fine boots, and horse.  The night being very dark we deemed farther search unnecessary and returned to our horses, where we remained until morning light.  The day was very warm.  Night cool. 

     Page 100:  Monday, August 24, 1863.  I slept very cold last night, there was some frost visible this morning, fire was a comfortable luxury today as the day was cloudy and cold.  Capt. Carpenter and some of the boys went to Fort Scott this morning.  I stayed in camp nearly all day, but I took a respite of two hours in visiting my Lady friends on the hill, where as usual I found all at peace with man, and they claim to be with their Maker.  I consider this household worthy all the respect due all amiable and Christian ladies.  Some of the boys went out to Pony Hills house this evening to capture him if there, but had no success.

     Page 133:  Tuesday, March 29, 1864.  We learned this morning that notorious Bushwhacker Pony Hill and command had again arrived in our neighborhood.  So I took 20 men and went in hunt of him, and five miles east of Nevada I discovered 4 men of guerrillas stripe when we gave them a lively run for a half mile keeping up a lively fire upon them when one of their horses and rider fell dead and was knocked off his horse by a limb and with revolver in each hand fought us until fifteen shots had took effect, ending the life worthy a better cause than the one he was engaged in.  After securing his horse we returned to camp.  Day cold & rainy.

     Page 134:  Wednesday, March 30, 1864.  I went to Fort Scott this morning and attended to some necessary business and returned this evening.  I learned that Capt. Carpenter succeed last night with his men in surprising Pony Hills camp and capturing all but the men who escaped.  Six horses and some guns was captured.  Today pleasant.

3- Mile Square.  By Mildred (Steuck) Marquardt.  Printed by the Mining Review Printing Co., Inc., February 1970.  [Copy in the Nevada Library Genealogy Department.]

     Page 7-8:  "This is taken from a letter after the burning of Papinville.  Quote: "Papinville was burned, not a building left except two at some distance away.  The town is in ruins.  It was a post town on the mail route to Ft. Scott, Kansas, regular reception and delivery of mail.  It was also the county seat with a good brick courthouse used also as a meeting house, two large hotels and six stores.  A population of 400.  A center of trade and business for a large surrounding territory of fertile country.  The corners of the courthouse still stand, but the walls have fallen.  The troops burned the bridge as they left."

     Evidently one of the buildings spoken of in the fore paragraph was the Barrows home.  Mrs. Bradley told me her grandmother and children left the home under Order No. 11.  The farm home was on the main road and many troops passed by her home crossing the river at Callies Ford, south of her house.  The troops used the farm yard as a stopping place and that is probably why it wasn't burned. 

     Mrs. J. Hirni, Mrs. Bradley's mother, told me about bullet holes in the weatherboards of the house, and them leaving by wagon.  As I was young at the time, I wasn't too sure about this story so I asked Mrs. Bradley about it.  This is the way she told it to me.  "Grandmother moved somewhere near Balltown when she had to leave her farm under Order No. 11.  It was called Balls Mill at that time.  Sometime during the time she was away from the farm, she decided she would go back and see how things looked.  Grandmother and Mother (my mother born in 1858 was five or six years old) and Uncle Willie Barrows (about 16 years old) went across the prairie to the Barrows homestead.

     "As they were crossing the pasture just east of Papinville, two soldiers stopped them and asked grandmother to come with them and identify two outlaws they had killed.  They thought they had killed Pony Hill.  Grandmother and Uncle Willie went with one soldier.  The other stayed with my mother and the team and wagon.  Grandmother had fixed a lunch for they would stay overnight.  While grandmother was gone the soldier who stayed with mother got into the lunch box and ate all of the cinnamon pies, (small).  These were mother's favorites and we always remembered the story.  The next day grandmother had Uncle Willie bury these two men.  Pony Hill was not one of them.

     I remember Mrs. Hirni telling me how angry she was at the soldier for eating all her favorite pie, but I wasn't sure how everything lead up to the pie.

     After the Civil War people began to return to their land and start anew."

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