The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-26

give him a wide berth. But whether he
succeed or fail in his present great plans
he has exerted too much influence in the
development of the Northwest TO permit
of any man or set Of men, Jew or gentle,
to admonish him at this late day to go way
back and sit down.
James j. Hill was born in Canada and is
of Scotch-English extraction. He lived in
country town and went through the usual
experiences of farm born youth until al
the age OF twenty-five he came to st. Paul
with the view of growing up with the
country" He was a sturdy, well-nurtured
young fellow of good habits and full of
energy and ambition. His education WIS
limited to the three RS, which all will UNI
derstand. He got employment as mud
clerk with the old Diamond Jo' line'of
steamers and had his office in one of the
old tumble-down sheds that graced and
still continues to grace the levee in that
vicinity. He must have been pretty good
mud clerk. as he held the position for sew
eral years and-Saved his money. And /
want to say right here that the whole thing
centers right in this proposition, for any
young man who starts out unaided and
without influence of any kind-and / know
it is a trite and well-worn admonition-
that the young man must save his money.
He can't make a dollar in billiard rooms
cafes or in following the races. If he
will fix upon a goal and try to reach 1t
he'll get there If he don't die. Hill was
secretive young man. He hXed upon
goal-or at least 1t now seems so. for there
are really few men who get rich through
luck He has given so many evidences
of his far-Sghted qualities in the past few
years that it seems now to people who have
known him long as IL he set the mark fully
forty years ago.
There was in 1857 not only hard times in
st. Paul, but there was a military Organi-
cation known as the st. Paul guards. Hill
had become naturaliZed and he imbibed the
patriotic spirit He became a member of
the guards, and l wish 1t were possible TO
give you picture of the redoubtable Jim
as he appeared in his old militia uniform,
head up and chin depressed and with his
eyes fixed upon an imaginary object exactly
fifteen PAGES in front. He carried an En-
field rifle, and was arrayed in one of those
now impossible uniforms peculiar to the
militia period just prior to the rebellion.
Some reproductions of the old St. Paul
guards were eXtant in 1889, but somehow
they have disappeared. Perhaps j. j. III. ="
could tell how it occurred, for they were
not very flattering.
SAVED WHEN YOUNG.
1 have said he saved his money when a
young man. In the sixties he lived at the
Merchants Hotel. He met there, wooed and
won his wife 1t is pretty hard to imagine
there was much romance or sentiment in
his wooing But you can't always tell He
furnished the means for the lady of his
choice to complete her education, and when
this was accomplished they were married.
Nine children are the result of this union.
This marriage occurred in 1871. Mr.. Hill
/ devout Catholic, and her children have been
/ raised in that faith. Jim believes in re-
/ ligion-for those who like it-and he has
never permitted his ideas on the subject TO
interfere with Mrs. Hills wishes in any re-
| spect. After he had got to the head OF the
/ procession, and anticipating a possible
rainy day he presented his wife with S.
/ UO,OOO per cent. registered government
| bonds. This was in 1888, and she Immediate
! ly established and endowed the St Thomas
! (Catholic) University to the extent of $780,
] nj nj &c ffafr tive
| Having acquired by dint of saving and
! through fortunate investments in Iowa
coal lands the sum total of $4,000, Mr.. Hill
decided in 1874 that st. Paul & Pacific
bonds. which had deprecated to per cent.
/ Of par and which were largely owned in
/ Holland, were good thing. He induced
/ Norman w KittsOn, a Red river steam
/ boatman and trader, and ]. w. Farley, a
/ railroad contractor residing at Dubuque. to
\ join him in a syndicate to purchase the
1 control of the property. The St Paul d
Pacific a road projected during the
/ war, and when Hill conceived the idea OF
/ securing control Of the property IL had
been built about 200 miles north and west
/ OF st. Paul, and rocky road II was at
best. Well. the syndicate got the control
/ and Jim Hill started on his career at last.
He was station agent, superintendent and
/ general manager in turn up TO 1880, when
| | first met him. Ii was in August or Sep
/ TENDER OF that year and strike was on
in the shops because Hill had refused 10
/ discharge an obnoxious foreman. Inc way
/ he handled these Infatuated strikers in a
mass meeting held at Knauft's Hall. on
| East Seventh street, the 'Jo!lies he gave
/ them. without for one moment committing
/ himself or the company 10 their demands.
/ and the way he induced them 70 return 10
their work under the obnoxious foreman
made an impression on at least one Of his
] hearers which has never been effaced 10
was the first bit OF diplomacy / have ever
personally witnessed.
James j. Hill began TO expand in the
early eighties. The organization Of the
/ old St Paul & Pacific had been merged
/ I'm a new title, the ST Paul. Minneapolis
/ q Manitoba Under Hills vigorous mat
/ agement the line had been eXtenhTl 10
| St Vincent. 429 miles north OF st Paul.
| and 10 Devils Lake, All miles, west An
| enormous emigration was pouring into the
| Northwest. and the Hill lines reaped a
| splendid harvest in all the ways that an
| influx of desirable settlers benefit a
| road. The cOmpany's stock appreciated
and Hill was recognized as vital product
OF the times. with something more than
| luck his sponsor. L think IL was his
gift of foresight and every subsequent steT