Elias Hill (1819-1872) was born enslaved at Hill's Ironworks on Allison Creek and, with his parents, was emancipated prior to 1860. Though physically paralyzed at an early age, he was well educated and became a Baptist minister, a school teacher, and a Union League leader. In 1869 he purchased 40 acres from J.M. Ross on Allison Creek east of here. During Reconstruction (1865-1877), the Ku Klux Klan persecuted Hill and other freedmen in York County. In 1871, 166 free blacks from Clay Hill emigrated to Liberia, West Africa, led by Elias Hill, Solomon Hill, June Moore, and Madison, Harriet, and George Simril. Arriving in Liberia in December, they began new lives at Arthington as planters and political leaders.