Lemuel Serrell Hillman was born in Mount Vernon, New York, on August 28, 1886. His parents were William and Emma Louise (Bill) Hillman. Lemuel graduated from Colgate Academy and then Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. In September 1911, he came to Grand Rapids and worked as an investment banker with Kelsey, Brewer, and Co. He also worked for a time with Howe, Snow, Corrigan and Bertles. In June 1913, he became the head of the bond department at the Grand Rapids Trust Company.

Lemuel met Dorothy Woodruff at a party through mutual friends in Grand Rapids. In 1917, they were married in Dorothy’s hometown of Auburn, New York, and the couple later settled in Grand Rapids. They would have four children: Lemuel S., Jr (born 1918), Caroline B. (born 1920), Douglas W. (born 1922), and Hermione W. (born 1926).

During World War I, Lemuel enlisted in the US Naval Reserves. After the war, he became the manager of the bond department and later the vice president for the Old National Bank. Lemuel was the editor of the Old National Bank Bulletins which frequently featured informative opinion pieces by him. The bank consolidated with the Kent State Bank, becoming the Old Kent Corporation, and Lemuel became the bank’s president in January 1930.

Lemuel was active in many social, educational, and community welfare organizations. A few of the roles he held with various local organizations include: trustee of Butterworth Hospital, trustee and treasurer of the D. A. Blodgett Home for Children, director of the Grand Rapids Welfare Union, Chairman of the Board of Education Tax Advisory Committee, trustee of the Grand Rapids Art Association, and founding member of the University Club. He was active with Fountain Street Church as a trustee and Superintendent of the Bible School. From 1922-1924, Lemuel was an elected member of the Kent County Board of Supervisors, representing the Second Ward.

On the evening of February 21, 1930, Lemuel was hit by a car while walking down Fulton Street with his wife and died from his injuries. His funeral was held at Fountain Street Church and was said to have been attended by about 1,000 people. His death sparked mourning throughout the city and launched a campaign for sidewalks along major streets.

Most of the information in this section came from two sources: a biographical sketch done in 1930, located in the collection of Lemuel’s son Judge Douglas Woodruff Hillman (#486), and a transcript of an interview with Dorothy Hillman done in 1975 held in the Special Collections of Grand Valley State University.