The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-06-16
THE MAN OF THE DAY.
n Brief story of the Life of James
}. Hill the Railroad Ma.
pOleon.
without Government Aid He Trayersed
the Continent with an
Iron Road.

JamesJ. Hill, was born in Upper Can
ada on the 10th of September. 1888. His
grandfather was one of the earliest set
tiers on What was known as the Canada
company's lands, for he settled with his
family in lS2C near Guelph, in what was
subsequently the county of Wellington.
Mr., Hill, when a boy, attended Rock
wood academy, a Quaker school, from
his seventh to his fifteenth year, ana
there acquired a good knowledge of
mathematics and a fair start in Latin.
He left school, however, upon his fathers
death, and was a clerk in the mercantile
business for two years.
He left Canada early in 1856, with a
light purse and a lighter heart, to make
his way in the world. After travelling
through the eastern states he came to
st. Paul in July, 1856, and engaged with
Bronson, Lewis & White, agents for the
Dubuque Packet company, as shipping
clerk. He remained three years with
that firm, one year with Temple e. Beau
pre-, and four years with Borup& Champ
lin, who were agents for the old Galena
racket company and the Davidson line.
In 1861, with Z. y. Shelley, he raised
a company of cavalry for the war of the
rebellion. The service Of the
was not received by the state of Mime.
sofa, but under Capt. Shelley the com
pany afterwards became a part Of an
Iowa cavalry regiment.
In lotJ ne took the agency of the
Northwestern Packet company, the sue
cessor OF the Galena Packet COMPANY.
and continued as agent of this companv
until the consolidation Of the Northwest.
ern and Davidson lines in 1867. From
ls6' to 1873 he was engaged in the gen.
eral transportation and fuel business.
From 1863 until 1~7j. as a member of
the firm Of Hlll, Griggs IL Co.. he carried
on a genera. transportation and fuel
business. and they were c~onsignees and
agents Of the st. Paul IL Pacific railroad.
In $50 lie established the Red River
transportation company. and opened up,
Tor the Ilrst time. regular aud direct com
between st. Paul and Fort
Garry. In the fall Of ISL he consoll-
dated the Red River Transportation com.
pany with kittson's line, Later this com
pany established a daily lire on the Red
river between MoOrhcad and WInniper.
and TINS association continued until the
Of the railway to st. Vincent.
Late in lo.3 and early in 1874. in con.
nectlon with q Donald \. Smith and
n. W. kittson, he took up the task of
acquiring defaulted bonds of the -.
Paul ~ Pacific railway. In 1870. in cor
nection with +. y. Saunders. Wv. Griprs.
aud William Rhodes, he established the
Fuel company, but most
IF his time was given to the business
the Red River Transportation COM
pany. In 1876. in connection with Don
Smith, George Stephen of Montreal.
\. W. kittson, be began active ne
,otlations with the Dutch committee in
Holland, which resulted in the purchase
,f the bonds Of the st. Paul X Pacific
tailroad company and the acquisition of
Us railroad, which was recognized a.
he st. Paul. Minneapolis ~ Manitoba
galway company.
In lS1s he sold the Northwestern Fuel
company to +. y. Saunders and the late
Ion. William L. Scott of Erie, Pa
from 1850 to ISL, in connection wifi
lessrs. George Stephen. Donald A.
,mith. Il. b. Angus, Morton. Rose AZ Co..
I London, and other capitalists. making
an In all, he engaged in the organization
building of the Canadian PacIfi,
way, In 1883 he sold out his interest
! the Canadian Pacific railway to his
mentioned above. and since
hat time has devoted his entire time t.
he business of the 81. Paul. MINNEAPOLIS
Manitoba railway lately
as the Great Northern lie was
encral manager of the Manitoba com
any and had charge OF its affairs from
S organization in 1879 until 1882: was
zee president from that time until lss3,
nd has been president from that wear to
lie present time.
MIR. Hill is a typical American citizen.
no has connected his name lndissolu-
y with the northwest, His life ought
he a lesson to American young men
e~mbodying in the highest degree what
N he accomplished by ability and in
In the finer elements that 90 t. build
the rounded character. Mr.. Hill is a
ader. lie is philanthropic not only in
cory, but in action. He is a keen
udent OF art as well as its patron. and
master of literature, In him side bv
lie are those traits developed by bust
SIS andcuIture which make the citizen
the northwest and 81 Paul. lis
numerical capital. delight to honor
Ouecr Press.