James married Clara Douglass May 3, 1905, in Sumner County. Clara was born in 1878, the daughter of Wylie J. Douglass and Helen Doubleday. Clara’s mother died when she was a young girl. James and Clara had two daughters.

     After his marriage to Clara, the families of James and his father Robert purchased a 115-acre farm on the Long Hollow Pike. James and his father worked together in the nursery business until Robert’s death in 1911. After his mother’s death in 1914, James’ paternal maiden aunt, Dealia Hill, lived with James and Clara’s family until her death in 1923.

     The Hill family farm is now the Long Hollow Pike Golf Course and James’ old home is the course’s Clubhouse. The Frakes’ family graveyard was already on this land when James and his father bought the property. (Andrew Frakes, 1822-1863, and his wife Elizabeth J. Frakes, 1826-1891, are buried there.)      James’s 1917 World War I Draft Registration Card describes him as of medium height and build, with blue eyes and dark hair. His occupation at that date was Circuit Court Clerk of Sumner County.

      In 1914, and again in 1918, James was elected Circuit Court Clerk of Sumner County, a position he filled until 1919. On March 1, 1919, James became the Chief Clerk of the State Treasurer’s Office in Nashville, a position he held for eight years. He then served as Journal Clerk for the State Senate until his death. He was also a member of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. While maintaining his farm on Long Hollow Pike, James rode the train into Nashville every day to his jobs in the State government. He also remained active in Sumner County public affairs as a member of the Community Club of Gallatin.

      A brief biography of James appeared in a book titled, "Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923", volume IV, page 276, published in 1923, by the S. J. Clarke Publishing Company of Chicago and Nashville. It stated, in part, that James was, "fraternally, a Consistory Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine", and that, "he has always voted with the Democratic party and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which indicates the principles that have guided him in the active affairs and relations of life, making him a man worthy of the confidence and high esteem accorded him".

     The older daughter of James and Clara was Bernice H., born March 28, 1907. Bernice married Norvel Sanders Douglass June 8, 1931, in Sumner County. Bernice and Norvel had two daughters, Dorothy Ann and Elise. Norvel had been born in Sumner County October 20, 1903, the son of Cullen E. Douglass and Elsie S. Saunders. He was the grandson of CSA veteran Norvell Douglass Saunders and Emily Cantrell. Norvel preceded his wife Bernice in death in December 1969. Bernice died in Gallatin in September 9, 1982. Norvel and Bernice are buried in the Hill family plot at Gallatin Cemetery.

     The younger daughter of James and Clara was Elizabeth, born December 31, 1911. Elizabeth married Thomas Oliver Barnett September 10, 1938, in Sumner County. Thomas was born October 12, 1898, in Hardin County, TN. His boyhood home was on the edge of the Battlefield of Shiloh. Elizabeth and Thomas had two children, Thomas, Jr. and Betty. Elizabeth died February 3, 2002, in North Carolina and Thomas died January 23, 1979. They are buried together at the Shiloh Methodist Church Cemetery in Shiloh National Park, TN.      James died May 10, 1929, at the age of 59, after surgery at Barr Hospital in Nashville. Clara died in 1959. In 1911, James had purchased the Hill family plot at Gallatin Cemetery. James and Clara are buried there along with James’ parents, sister, brother, sister-in-law, son-in-law, and his two maiden aunts.

     James William Hill, prominent and popular citizen of the ninth civil district, died at 8 o'clock p. m. Friday, May 10th, 1929, at Barr's Infirmary in Nashville. He underwent an operation at the infirmary on Thursday, May 2nd, and was thought by physicians to be improving. However, on Thursday, May 9th, his condition became critical and he sank rapidly to his death.

     Mr. Hill was born and reared in the tenth civil district of this county, the son of Mr. And Mrs. Robert G. Hill. He was 53 years of age. He had long been prominent in public affairs of the county and state. He was twice elected circuit court clerk of Sumner County by large majorities. Near the close of his second term in this office he resigned to accept the position of chief clerk in the office of State Treasurer under Hill McAlister in Nashville. This position he held for eight years. He served as journal clerk of the state senate during the last term of the legislature. In all of his official positions he was efficient and attentive to duty and won for himself many friends throughout the state. His untimely death is the occasion of universal sorrow and regret.

     Mr. Hill married Miss Clara Douglass, daughter of the late Mr. Wylie J. Douglass, also of the 9th district. Mrs. Hill and two daughters, Misses Bernice and Elizabeth Hill, survive. He is survived, also, by one brother, Dr. John L. Hill, of New York. The deceased was a member of the Gallatin Methodist Church and of King Solomon Lodge No. 94, F. & A. M.

     Funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. W. Cherry of Nashville at the Gallatin Methodist Church at 3 o'clock p. m. Sunday, May 12th. The burial followed at the Gallatin Cemetery. The burial was with Masonic honors. The large concourse of friends attending the funeral exercises and many beautiful floral tributes attested the high esteem in which the deceased was held by the public.