The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-24
WAS AN OLD TIMER.
James II. Guild, nj Aged Telegrapher,
Dies at Portland.

James III. Guild, an Aged Telegrapher,
Dies at Portland.
The Portland Oregonian has the fol-
lowing concerning the death of a man
who was probably the most widely
known telegrapher in the West. Every
operator in Montana knows him. either
personally or by reputation. He was
for a number of years superintendent
of telegraph of the O.. r. & N, and had
an extensive experience. He was one
of the few who are known as ""49ers of
the telegraph"
AT an early hour yesterday morn
ing James H. Guild, superintendent of
telegraph Of the O. r. & N, died at
his home. $40 Hoyt street. after an ILL
ness of many months. He had not
been to the office since early last Sep
TENDER, and for a year prior to that
time he had been a sufferer from the
ailment that finally caused death-bone
disease of the sacrum.
Mr.. Guild was one Of the early
telegraph operators and nag of
Portland. being transferred here from
Carson City in 1865, and succeeding DIR.
o. p. s. as manage of the
Portland Office of the Western Union.
1t was only a short time before That
the Western Union company had bought
the line from Portland to San Francis
CO, which had been completed in Febru-
airy, 1854, by the State Telegraph COM
pany of California. Mr.. Guild was the
second of the Portland tele-
graph Office, which position he held
held with credit to himself n salts
faction to his company and the public
for more than 10 years.
Mr.. Guild was born in Williamsburg,
Long Island, December 2, 1888, and be-
gan his career as a telegrapher by en-
tering the service of the Shows Tele-
H. H~A.s
ger boy, at the age of 16. For several
years after 1850 he was operator at va
rious points in Michigan for III lines
built by Josiah Snow. In 1859 he was
operator in Chicago for the Michigan
Southern railroad, and was o those
who struck when the company reduced
wages. With an OK team he started
for Pixies Peak. but he did not re-
main long in Colorado. He vent
through to California, and In 1860 was
appointed manager at Placerville for
the State Telegraph company. Three
years later he was transferred to Car
son City, New, and when the overland
line was completed he had the relay
ing of overland business. In 1866 he
came to Portland and spent the re-
mainder of his life in the telegraph
intendent Of telegraph. first OF the Ore
gon Steam Navigation company. and
then of its successor. the o. r. & N.
May "a, 1866. Mr.. Guild married Miss
Emma Richards. who, with Ave chill
dren. survive him. The children, all
residing in Portland. are: Leona (Mrs.
r. w. Gage), James r.. Simon H..
George d. and Walter H. The second
daughter, Gertrude. died many years
& Mr.. Guild was q member Of the
st. John's Presbyterian church. serving
to the last as deacon. trustee and treas
urer. He was always an un~ostenta-
tious, conscientious nan kindly. atten-
tive and efficient In all the duties of
life. Those whose business brought
them into contact with him as a tele-
graph operator and manager, testify to
his accommodating spirit and the ac-
curacy and vigilance of his service.
Those qualities chung to him after he
had released the key for greater re-
sponsibilities. and his death comes to
his associates in every station in the
sense of a personal loss"