St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-01

company and was director with
MI. Saunders, and 1 think is
now. About this time, or somewhere in
1869, he formed connection with Mr..
Kittson to run steamboats, on the Red
River of the North, and after making a
success of this, he no doubt then first con-
ceived the idea of purchasing the stock of
the old St. Paul & Pacific Railroad COM
pany, which was held, at that time, at
about II cents per share. and probably
most of the stock was finally procured at
less than 10 cents per share.
HIS RAILROAD SERVICE.
I find that he entered the railroad service
in 1875 as the local agent of the St. Paul
81 Pacific company, and he continued in
this capacity for several years. His pur-
chase of the old stock, in connection with
Kittson and Stevens, gave him power in
the new organization, and he was general
manager of that from 1879 to 1881, when
he became the vice president and general
manager of the ST.. Paul, Minneapolis g.
Manitoba road from 1881 to 1888, and from
that date to the present time ne has been
president of the same and is now.
WHY HE DID 1T.
It is probable that Mr.. HIPS large ex-
perience in the Northwest, and knowing it's
capacity for development, led him to seri-
ously entertain the idea of purchasing the
stock OF the old Pacific road, and especially
in view of the fact that the company was
losing money and the Dutch stockholders
were disguised with their investments, and
with the additional fact that under proper
management and the growth of the country
he could make the road pay and advance
the price of the stock, so, for compare
lively small consideration, three parties pur-
chased the stock, and Hill came to the
front as the leading genius of our
local railroad interests. Concentrating all
his energy in this especial direction, he has
succeeded in building up powerful rail-
road interest, which is not only advancing
the welfare of the two great cities of ST.
Paul and Minneapolis, but of the state at
large, and in this he is doing noble work
for himself and the people.
FROM $4,000, 600 TO SIS, 900, 900.
Of course MI. Hill is well off. and his
fortune will rank from $40, 900, 900 to SIS,
900, 900. He gave his wife 81, 900 in
government bonds some time ago, the in
terest on which affords her some ready pin
money. He is quite liberal in his gifts,
contributing 100000 towards the bonus for
the Ryan hotel and 5000 for the Medical
college, while he is constantly aiding other
enterprises, both by his railroad and his
means. He is modest and retiring in his
disposition, yet bold and aggressive in his
plans, and is one of ST. PauPs foremost
citizens, honored for his ability and re-
spected for his worth.
HARVEY OFFICER.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1884; Mr.. Of
fcer was educated at NatcheZ, Miss, where
he studied law and was admitted to practice
in the supreme court of Mississippi. coming
to ST. Paul in 1856, and here he acted as clerk
for Ames & Van Etten, and remained with
them until 1857, when he went into part
nership with them and continued one of the
firm until 1864 when he entered the army
as captain of Company D, heavy artillery,
and served on the staff of Brig. Gen. Judah
until July, 1865 when he returned to St.
Paul and became assistant mastering officer
under Gen. Averill; was mustered out of
service that year and resumed the practice
of law. Was city attorney in 1S68-7O;
county attorney in 1S70-72; reporter of the
supreme court in 1858 to 1864; married in
1878 Miss Sarah NJ. Gordon of New York.
He is now attorney for the ST. Paul Trust
company of this city.
PERSONAL.
OMr. Officer is quick, energetic man of
medium size, and moves with celebrity along
the sidewalk as well as in his Office. He is
a good sound, careful, prudent lawyer. and is
in what he does. He is es-
teemed among his fellow citizens as an up
right, worthy gentleman, and as an old
settler there are very few who are more
as a man and as citizen than
Harry Officer.
GUSTAV WILLIUS.
Mr.. Willius is a brother of Ferdinand,
and was born in Germany in 1882; educated
in the old country and came to America in
1856, and the same year to st. Paul. He
was bo0kkeeper at one time for Ambs &