by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Not far from the Whiting farm where he was raised, Lyman O. Hill’s descendents on Monday, Nov. 8, gathered with representatives from six law enforcement agencies and the state house to honor Hill and cousin Charles Niles, the first two Maine Game Wardens to die in the line of duty. Together with his parents, wife, and children, Hill is buried in his family cemetery, overlooking Gardner Lake.

Hill and Niles died by gunshot on Nov. 8, 1886, killed near First Machias Lake in the pursuit of two poachers who were illegally hunting deer with dogs. According to a family history compiled and documented by Hill’s great granddaughter Stephanie Larrabee, the shooting was witnessed by a 17-year-old cutting wood in the area. The shooter, Calvin Graves, was later extradited from California and sentenced to prison in Maine.

Last week’s memorial ceremony opened with a solemn procession by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard and Maine Game Warden Service Color Guard, both entering the Hill family cemetery under a row of historic maple trees, and passing lines of game wardens standing at attention in their signature red wool coats.  

Warden service Division C Lieutenant Aaron Cross welcomed three generations of Hill’s descendents in attendance.

“From all accounts, Lyman embodied our core values of honor, loyalty, compassion and trust. I want to welcome the family attending today,” said Cross. “You are part of our warden family forever.”

Cross thanked warden Joe McBrine for his “tireless work” in planning last week’s ceremony to honor Hill and Niles. Since the late 1990s, McBrine has been on a mission to ensure Hill and Niles’ sacrifices are remembered and honored.

“We always say, ‘Gone but not forgotten’, but for a while, they were forgotten,” said McBrine, who organized the first service in honor of Niles and Hill in 1999. At that time, no one knew where Niles was buried. Then, the Wesley Historical Society located his grave on Day Hill. It was marked only by a small stone that read “#14”. McBrine knew they needed to do better.

“We started passing the hat, people from around Machias and some retired game wardens pitched in,” said McBrine. “It didn’t take very long to come up with the money, it was impressive.” At last week’s ceremony, a large photograph of Niles’ Wesley  gravestone stood near the podium. 

Larrabee stood to share more details of Hill’s life, telling how he was still a very young man when he returned from the Civil War, in which he had fought and lost his arm. Coming home to East Machias, Hill took advantage of Washington Academy’s offer of free tuition for soldiers, attending and graduating from high school. Then, he took a job as an inspector at the customs house in Machias. In 1867, Hill was married to an acquaintance of his sister Henrietta, Nancy Holmes.

“She had designs on him for some time. She told [Henrietta] that she had set her cap for Lyman and asked...permission to follow up on her plans,” shared Larrabee, smiling. “Apparently nobody objected, including Lyman, and they were married the next year in Machiasport.”

The assembly of 60-plus people joined together to sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic, led by Lt. Jeff Currier of the Maine Forest Service on a drum, Terry Bellows on piccolo, and singer Jean Schors, a great granddaughter of Lyman Hill. Then, some of Hill's letters written home to his wife Nancy were read aloud, first by McBrine, who was impressed by Hill’s fortitude.

“This [letter] gives you a picture of Lyman as a real person, he wrote this March 9, 1884, when his wife was seven and a half months pregnant with their fifth child,” said McBrine, then quoting Hill.

“Dear Nan, I will try to write you a few lines to let you know where I am. I am up here stopping to a Mr. Balls, at what is called ‘The Lock,’” wrote Hill. “I arrived last Wednesday noon, and left Machias Monday noon, and walked all the way.”

“That was at least 80 miles in two days,” said McBrine, shaking his head in admiration.

As she learned more about her great grandfather’s life, Larrabee said she was also impressed by Hill. 

“I was struck by the personal qualities he had, as evidenced in his letters to his wife and by other records our family has,” said Larrabee. “He demonstrated respect for other people, kindness, loyalty and love.  It was obvious he felt a great responsibility to his work and to his family and he was continually torn between the two.” 

Former Machias Police Chief Steve Ramsay attended the ceremony dressed in a Civil War uniform, and near the close of the ceremony fired shots in honor of Hill and Niles’ military service. Also appearing in an antique uniform, retired game warden Dave Georgia played Taps.

The event concluded with Cross calling one of Hill’s great great great grandsons out of the crowd, Cam Calor, age 5.

“There’s one member of the family we’d like to recognize,” said Cross. “Cam’s already got his junior warden badge on. But here’s one of our 140th anniversary challenge coins we give out to people to remember the Maine Warden Service. Put it in your pocket, we’re glad to see you here today.”

McBrine anticipates he will be retired when the next memorial is held in honor of Hill and Niles, but was pleased with last week’s ceremony.

“The Hill family was delighted and that was our main goal,” said McBrine, “to make sure they aren’t forgotten and that they know they are part of the family.”

At a memorial service held Nov. 8, game warden Joseph McBrine is seen with fallen warden Lyman O. Hill’s great great great grandson Cam Calor, age 5. For more than 20 years, McBrine and the warden service have worked to ensure Hill and his cousin Charles Niles, the first two wardens killed in the line of duty, are not forgotten. Photo by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Three generations of Lyman O. Hill’s descendents stand behind his grave and the grave of his wife, Nancy Holmes Hill. The couple had five children, all of whom are buried in the family cemetery. Hill’s descendents who attended the ceremony from left to right: Hallie Downing, great granddaughter; Kelly Armstrong, great great granddaughter; Stephanie Larrabee, great granddaughter; Jean Schors, great granddaughter; Paris Calor, great great grandson; Cam Calor, great great grandson. Photo by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Lyman O. Hill wrote many letters home to his wife Nancy Holmes Hill of East Machias, several of which were read aloud at least week’s ceremony. Letter courtesy Stephanie Larrabee