The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-06-02

Loeal Notices 10 cents per lire.
zette. After attaining his majority
he was taken as partner into the
concern.
In 1927 the Gazette Company issued
the paper as a daily. and Mr.. i Hon.
medieu remained with the concern
until 184e, when he retired. with the
intention of leading the life Of conn
try gentleman, but being of active
business habits, and largely identified
with the activities of the growing city.
he was soon induced by his friends to
identity himself with the construction
Of the Cincinnati. Hamilton and Day
ton Railroad. which was chartered in
1876. with capital of only $500 0G0.
He was elected President of the road
July 3 1S4S, and by dint of personal
effort and untiriDg energy of eharae
ter. raised nearly million Of dollars
in subscription for the complexion of
the road. There was great deal Of
trouble about the right of way, but
the uutirinE President worked with
an eafnestnepss aud energy which
oyerc:lme all difficulties, and the road
was finally thrown open to the public
on the 22d of September, 1851. The
first years earning amounted to abous
$4,000
In 1868 the Dayton and Michigan
road, extending from Dayton to To-
letlo. was leased perpetually by the
Cincinnati. Hamilton aud Dayton
Railroad Company. and the company
has also controlling interest in the
Cincinnati. Richmond and Chicago
road, extending from Hamilton to
Richmond
Mr.. L'Homme.lieu was Presidcn.
OF the company twenty two years,
which cover the entire period of its
practical history. lie finally resigned
the position in 1871 and took an ex-
tensive tour OF the Old World. en-
bracing Egypt and the Holy Land
As IL newspaper man Mr.. i HON.
nedieu avoided politics. but his pa
triotism was Jealous and steady. He
was, as party man, Wing. and as
such became delegate to the Wing
Convention al Philadelphia In 1884.
where General Taylor was nominated
for the Presidency instead OF Henry
Clay, who was our delegates 1avorite
and choice. In speaking of this cir
cumstance in sketch of his career. a
gen,lemaa we'll acquainted with him
writes as follows:
His ambition since has been TO
contribute his time and talents 10 the
building up OF our goodiy city. es
pecially that portion of it which in
carly times seemed to have no adyo-
cates-west Of Main street.
Through the management and in-
f1ueuce OF wealthy citizens in the cas-
tern portion of the city, the Miami
Canal was mislocated, carried down
Deer Greek Valley when il should
have been located west of Freeman
street. The first railroad, by the
same management, was located in the
Little when it should have been in
the Great Miami Valley. The City
Council, controlled in great degree
by the same influence about. thirty
three years ago, was not willing IN
his judgment, TO do justice 10 tle
western portion OF the city. lie was
a member of the Council at the time
referred to. and fought hard against
such neglect. it not injustice. hut
without much effect This prompted
him afterwaId TO seek other ways for
building the city westward, although
at the time his most valuab Bile property
was Ou ~s1aIu stTctt. Nose WHO HIVE
lived here for quarter of a century
know how effective his efforts In this
direction have been
Mr.. L'Hommedieu led an active
and useful life He was a prominent
figure in the history of the city during
Que of its most interesting periods.
and has lived to see changes and i'm
provements which converted the In
dian-haunted forests into peaceful
gardens. aud the streets of great
city adorned with the residences Of
her opulent citizens. He was man
Of cordial manners and happy dispo-
sition. A constant humor played
about his mouth and lent his lips the
charm of many a jest. He could tell
a story we'll. and was very felicitious
in assemblies of old people whose ex-
perienee enabled them to appreciate
the point to his stories of early times
This faculty impaired glowing in
terest to his Presidency and member
ship of the Pioneers Association
which little thought at its last meet
ing that the sturdy, fresh-lookipg S.
s. L'Hommedieu would be among the
very first for whom they will be called
upon to pay the last tribute of re-
srect.