Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-06-10

Mr.. Dillon has ever since his youth been
known by railroad men and in railroad
affairs. While still comparatively
young man he was railroed contractor
in New England and more especially in
Connecticut. His first official connection
with "A railroad of any prominence was
when he was elected a director OF the
Union Pacific Railway company on Oct. 3,
1866, and he has served In that capacity
continuously since. On March IL. 1874. he
was elected president OF the Union Pacific
and served until June IS, 1884. His second
election rs president was on Nov. 20, 1890,
and he served until April "a OF this year.
On that day he was elected chairman of
the board of the road, being the first to
fill that Office. lie was also n director Of
the Missouri Pacific, of the Western
Union Telegraph company and Of the
Manhattan Elevated road.
OF Irish Parentage.
Mr. Dillon was born May Z. 1912, in
Northampton, little village in the
northern part of New York His parents.
who belonged to the poor class of Irish
peasantry, emigFated TO this country
many years previous to his birth. His
father was small farmer, and out Of his
scanty earnings found 1t no easy task to
give his children the advantages of even
country school education. Recognizing
the almost destitute condition OF his par
ents, young Dillon at the age of deter
mined that he would be burden no
longer; as he afterward expressed it: ~
wanted TO strike out for myself"
Leaving his fathers home he obtained
work on a railroad then being built on the
Mohawk and Hudson road, between AL
bany and Schenectady this road is now
known as the New York CentraD His
first duties were to carry water to the
laborers building the road and for his
services he received the muniflcent
sum OF
One Dollar a Week and His Meals.
After a few years he had managed to ac-
cumulate sufficient funds to buy horse
and cart Then he bethought himself of
taking contracts of carrying sand and
water on n larger scale for the corporation
which he had previously served as a day
laborer. Having successively carried out
his contracts and finding himself the pos
SCISSOR of few hundred dollars. he hired
number of horses and carts and undertook
heavier tasks, all Of which by indomitable
energy he completed to the satisfaction of
his employers and to his own pecuniary
benefit.
Soon he was employed by the firm of
Jonathan Crane q John L. Clark as fore
man, or overseer, npon contract which
they had taken at Sharon on the
Boston and Providence railroad. He re-
mained upon this road about two years.
until it was finished. He was then en-
ployed by the firm of Carmichael, Fair
banks g. Otis as foreman and manager
upon the Stonington railroad, where he re-
mained until the work was completed, af-
ter which he was employed by the same
contractors to take charge Of some heavy
rock work, near Charlton on the Western
railroad of Massachusetts
His Tact and judgment
in the management of work attracted the
attention of Captain W. II. Swift, the en-
gineer in charge, and he invited him to at
tend the next letting upon the road and
put in proposition for work on his own
account, promising him that his bid
would be considered as favorably as those
of the best contractors on the line. Mr..
Dillon attended the next letting. as re-
quested, but, having only limited
amount Of capital, and feeling somewhat
timid, put in a proposition for only a sim
gle section, which was afterward allotted
to him at hinsdale, upon the western end
OF tne rOau, between w dSnlnBtOu anu Jne
state line of New York.
This wns the commencement Of Mr.. Dill
Ions career rs contractor. Then came
contracts on other roads, including part
OF the Cheshire railroad Of Vermont, the
Vermont and Massachusetts, railroad and
the Rutland and Burlington and several
New York roads. New Jersey, Virginia,
Iowa nni Louisiana roads before long
were l. Ing built by Mr.. Dillon, and few
years 40 u was estimated that he had
been cn."grd on about thirty public
works j. iiIcrent parts OF the United
States I'D C,tnadas; that the different
works I...de up nm aggregate Of at least
$500 nj In length, and that the differ
ent contract Is ia which he had been inter-
ested amounted in the aggregate to about
s75,0OO,OO0.
In appearance Mr.. Dillon was a finely
built man, standing 8 feet 8 inches In
height and weighing about 220 pounds;
his hair and side whiskers were snow
white. his complexion ruddy, and al
though maa OF many years, he retained
his en- srgot and cheerful temperament.
Mr.. Dillon had the reputation Of being Of
n truly sympathetic nature. He gave
largely OF his means for all deserving
charities, and he counted among his
friends some of the most illustrious men
and women.
Mr. Dillon married, la lS4l, lady Of
Amherst, Mass; she died In December
lsS3 Two OF his children. daughters, are
living