"Sam Hill" took the place of "hell" if a man felt the need to cuss in front of ladies. I don't know what happened if ladies felt like cussing; surely at some point, the desire arose. There doesn't seem to be any one Sam Hill to whom the phrase refers.
From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997):
SAM HILL - "If someone could locate any historical record of a Col. Samuel Hill of Guilford, Connecticut, we might find the origin of the phrase 'go like Sam Hill' or 'run like Sam Hill.'
Edwin V. Mitchell makes mention of the man in the 'Encyclopedia of American Politics' (1946). It seems that Colonel Hill perpetually ran for office - but no other evidence of his existence can be found. Since no one knows 'who in the Sam Hill' he was, Sam Hill must remain 'a personified euphemism our puritan ancestors used for Hell'."
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From "Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins" by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins, New York, 1977, 1988):
"Sam Hill" is one of many euphemisms for hell. Others include blazes, Halifax, heck,and Hoboken and many more. 'Sam Hill' was very popular with frontiersmen, especially when they needed to clean up their language in the presence of ladies."
My (J44) thoughts: That's a good one. Like ladies living on the frontier needed protection from WORDS. Didn't the Wild West have other, more dangerous goings on? Weren't there a few sociopathic gunslingers here and there? Getting kicked by one of those big, smelly horses, or stepping out of the stagecoach into an ankle-deep mud puddle sound like bigger threats to a civilized and happy life than curse words falling on delicate ears. But, then I have the luxury of misreading the situation from 150 or so years after it ended. Seems like people, male or female, with the guts to go live in Bonanza-land or Gunsmoke-ville, probably had enough resilience to get past the horrific shock of a few four-letter words. But WTF do I know? Maybe it served the greater good as a quick reminder for the gents to check the free flow of testosterone from time to time.
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From the Morris Dictionary: Will James records the comment of a cowboy who felt he had been insulted by an Eastern dude: "What the Sam Hill do you think we are out here, servants?"
"The first record appearance in print of 'Sam Hill' was in 1839. Elmer Roessner, an editor friend, reported that turn-of-the-century Seattle newspapers made regular use of this expression. Jim Hill, the legendary 'empire builder,' whose railroads, including the Great Northern, remained his last monument, was a man given to notable rages when anyone dared to oppose one of his grandiose schemes. So frequent were these tirades, according to Roessner, that the papers carried as a standing head: 'Jim Hill is as mad as Sam Hill.'"
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From The Word Detective:
"Sam Hill," for example, is simply an early 19th century euphemism for "hell" (and while there have been many people named Sam Hill throughout history, the expression does not come from the name of any particular Sam Hill)."
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To me, "Where in Sam Hill?" sounds like one of those catchy phrases that some creative person uttered without giving it much thought. Someone heard it, thought it had a good sound, said it to a few other people, and before you could say, "What in the Sam Hill is going on?", the euphemism "Sam Hill" showed up in various questions and spread. There must be a few of the real Sam Hills, somewhere, with t-shirts reading:
My name is Sam Hill.
Where in the hell am I?
Meanwhile, I have to wonder. If I start using the phrase because it's stuck in my mind, what in the Sam Hill should I do about it?
Note to Alonzo: Unbelievably, the seed of suggestion blossomed. Once I realized "hell" was easier, though, SH quickly withered and died. Thanks for your offer. I may take you up on it sometime.
Comments
I know a good hypnotist who can help you break the habit. Sam Hill.
by Alonzo Garbonzo on September 30th, 2005
There is an actual hardware store in Tyler, Tx. named Sam R. Hill lumber. My grandmother's father, my great grandfather was there most mornings to purchace material to build furniture. He said, Sam Hill would come in every morning and say,"What in Sam Hill is going on in here?" The place was very old when grandma was a young girl and is still there on Erwin St. today. Everyone wonders where the saying comes from. According to my grandma, it comes from a hardware store in Tyler, Tx. (Sam R. Hill Lumber) I beleive her. God rest her soul.
by bobbywales on January 8th, 2010
We use to live on a Farm, Cows, Hogs, Chickens, And I remember Dad going out in the Pasture looking for the Cows, and He would come back in the house saying,?? Where in the Sam-Hill are those Cows at, I can't find them No Where,!!! and this was back around 1942 to 45,
by John_W7795 on November 25th, 2011
We use to live on a Farm, Cows, Hog, Chickens, and I remember my Dad going out in the Pasture looking for the Milk Cows, and He would come back in the house saying to Us,?? Where in the Sam-Hill could those Cows have went, and this was probably 1942 to 45,
by John_W7795 on November 25th, 2011