The Dillon tribune., 1884-05-24
Ghe AMon G rij"''f,
ISSUED EVERY SATURDAY Nor Ming
SIDNEY DILLON
An Interesting sketch Of the Life Of the
Union Pacific President.

The New York journal gives the follow
ing sketch Of President Dillon, of the In
ion Pacific:
Sidney Dillon was born seventy-one
wears ago in = little village in the northern
part of this State. His parents, who be-
longed to the poorest class of Irish peasan-
try, emig, ated to this country many years
before his birth. His father was small
farmer, who had mere than enough to do
to make both ends meet and out OF his
scantv earnings he found it no easy task to
give his children the advantage OF even a
country school education.
Recognizing the almost destitute condl-
ton of his fathers finances, young Dillon,
at the early age Of seven, determined that
he would BE- burden to his progenitor no
longer, as he has since expressed it: II
wanted to strike out for nyself.'
Leaving the parental roof he sought and
obtained work on an eastern railroad then
being built on the Mohawk and Hudson
rivers, between Albany and Schenectady,
now known as the New York Central and
Hudson River.
His first duties was to carry water to the
laborers building the road, and for his SER
vices he received the munifcent sum of ST.
Der week and his meals. Frugalit; being
the chief part of mis- inheritance he laid by
the most of his earnings, for the purpose
of carrying out the compact made with him
self that lone day will start for myself,
and then | will become richer than any
Squire | know
After a few years he had managed 10 ac-
cumulate enough money to buy horse
and cart. Then he bethcught himself OF
al; fD
a large scale for the corporation he had
previously served as a dav laborer. Hav-
ir,y successfully carried out his contracts,
and finding himself the po>Sessor OF few
hundred dollars, he hired a number of carts
and horses, and undertook heavier tasks,
all Of which, by indo,nitable energy, he
completed to the satisfaction of his employ
erS and benefit to himself
About forty years ago he concluded to
marry. and on a visit to Amherst, Massa-
chusetts, he met young and brilliant 'aoy
a member of one Of the villages most re-
spccted families, and who was described bv
every one as "a most charming lady, OF
great culture uneXcelled strength OF CHAR
acter and wide benevolence.'
TO his wife Mr.. Dillon owes the greater
part of his success. She did not come t.
MIN win any large uoNIN out p''t's,''] '''''
a fond wifc's love and encouragement
Their relations throughout their welded
life were of the most beautiful character
ard the heaviest loss that ever Mr. Dillon
sustained was in December last, when ne
buried her who had been his LIES tondts'
and dearest companion and1rieDd.
When quite a young man MIR. p''ior
came to this city. He still devoted hi
time to carving out railroad contracts. l.
can be safely said that few men in tbs
country have undertaken larger contracts
1t was he who built the Fourth Avenue
improvement tunnel from the Grand Cen
trail hotel to Harlem. This enterprise was
completed at cost Of $7,ooo,ooo.
When the Union Pacific Railroad was
contemplated, some twenty years ago. h*
gave the greater part of his time to the per
sopal superintendent of the work. H<
hurried on to Omaha and was continually
travelling between that city and Ogden.
At the small village Of Pron.ontory
se>enty-fve miles west Of Ogden, Mr.. Dill
Ion, in 1869, assisted in laying the last raj
of that road. From its ircipiency down Il
the present day. he has been PROMINENT,
connected with the company and he is nov
its president. When Horace F. Clark diet
Mr.. Dillon was unanimously electe! thu
executive chief Of the road he was instru
mental in building.