Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-14
HENRY WILLARD.
President of the Northern Pa
cile Railroad.

Hundreds OF invitations were issued
for tho months pleasure trip, now
taking place on the Northern Pacific
Railroad and its branches, and every
thing possible for the comforts of the
distinguished guests has been provided
at an enormous expense. Esrls and
e0Untesses from abroad are among the
number whose pleasure is being ca
tered to, even their passage 10 and
from this country being betrayed by
the great railroad company. Mr..
Henry Willard is the master mind and
President Of the Northern Pacific
Railroad, and to his untiring efforts
can be attributed the final accomplish
ment Of the union between the trans
portation lines in the valley east Of the
Columbia river and the great trans
continental trunk line, under a com,
mon management.
Mr.. Willard was born in Speyer,
Germany, in 1885, in which kingdom
his father was first a Bavarian Judge
and afterwards occupied seat upon
the Supreme Bench.
He was educated at the University,
and at the age Of eighteen came to
America to make a career for
himself. He studied law, but
soon learned that his tastes were
better suited to the atmosphere Of
journalism. After thorouehly mas
tering the English language, he OBJ.
taiued an engagement, in 1851, 10
report the Lincoln Douglass campaign
for an Eastern paper In 1859, be
went to Colorado, for the purpose Of
writing up the gold discoveries, andin
1860 did political correspondence fol-
the New York Herald.
During the war he did sctive and
hazardous service as correspondent ioI
the New York Tribune, New York
Herald, Chicago Tribune and Oincin.
natl Commercial Gazette winning the
reputation Of an enterprisihg and reli.
able correspondent. From 1868 IA
1870 he was Secretary Of heAmerican
Sofia Science Association.
While ia Germany, in 1874, the
German bondholders Of certain Amer.
lean railroad companies, which had
deiaulted during the panic Of 1873
sent him as their representative tC
report the condition Of the Kansa.
Pacific and Oregon and Caliiorni;
railroads
In 1875, upon his return from Eu.
rope, he became President OF the Ore
gon and Pacido railroad and the Ore,
gon Steamship Company, and from
1876 to 1873 wa Receiver for til,
Kansas Pacific.
Ia 1879, he organized the 0reeor
Railway and Navigation Company
which wss the first move towards III,
union Of the wheat and pasture coun
try east Of the Cascade mouutains,w with
the great transcontinal railroad. II
1881, he formed what is known OF
Wall street as the Blind Pool
About ten millions Of money wer,
placed in his hands By leading bank
ers, without security save his persona
receipt, and without definite knowl
edge as to his purposes. With thiI
capital and biz own he quietly Dough.
a controlling interest in the Northern
Pacific stock, and 10 the fall Of 1888
was chosen President Of the company
His entire system OF roads has beer
rapidly pushed forward 10 completion
and Mr. Willard may we'll congratulate,
himself upon the success which ha.
attended bis efforts.
10 personal appearance he is tall ant
robust, With blue eyes and brown hair
His manner is frank and cordial. HI
lives on Madison avenue N. Y, AM
has a country house at Dobb's Ferry
His wife is a daughter Of the late Wm
Lloyd Garrison His Wall street Cd
erations are bold and gigantic, bu
almost always are confined TO the pro
lection Of the stock md interests Q
the companies over which he preside.
Draw poker, from the scientific