The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-25

rare success: Industriou and perseyer-
ing he maintained at all times, a high
business standard. His charities ana
benefacticns,5 although unobtrusive, were
large. Intimately connected with the I
early commerciaF and railroad growth of
thesWest, he was a powerful factor IN It's
progress. He was a pioneer, in the de-
velopment of trade, finance and transpor-
tatiUn. 81 f5R.st y Is
At an early age, having observed that
good habits were as essential to success
as industry, he resolved never to use to-
zbacco or intoxica ting liquors, and later,
owing to peculiar circumstance attending
his early career, he tabooed coffee. He
was connected with no fraternal orders
and was member Of no, church, but fire.
uuently attended the Church of the Re-
I OF English stock.
Henry Hill was born May 10, 1928, in Stoke
clemson, Devonshire, England His ancestors
were yoemen of that country. His father,
John Hill, a carpenter by trade, came to
America in 1882, with his wife, six sons and
a daughter. 80;
!. After a year in philadelphia John Hill came
west with a party intending to found a city
on the Mississippi. He first lived in Illinois.
Henry, when only 70, was placed in charge
| Of the farm near Warsaw. At Is he Joined
his father in working, the, "Big Stone mill,
and. next year was placed in charge Of the
machinery Of the Spencer mill: In 184e he
entered the employ Of the blacksmith, j. II
Wood. from whose shop, with the. aid OF his
apprentice, was turned the first diamond plow
that would scour itself-the precursor of the
modern pillow. At IL he made all the wrought
/ iron for his fathers mill 80. 49,
Soon Henry Joined two brothers., engineers
Of the tsPrairie Bird a steamer running be-
tween St. Louis and Chicago. by way OF the
Illinois. l4,S:
/ in the winter of. r1s4S-a,s when he: attended
school two months. At 81. he acquired the
| interest Of his fathers partners and thence
/ forth conducted the -four and saw mill bust
! ness.
"A Pioneer Packet Promoter.
In 1854 Mr.. Hill visited ST. Anthony to get
i logs. Observing the need Of facilities for
/ commercial intercourse. Mr.. Hill, his brothers
and associates organized the Northern Line
Packet company, whose boats piled between
ST. Paul and ST. Louis, the sole means. OF Conn
i munication James ]. Hill was one of the
4 .companys clerks. s:.
Later with three brothers and j.. w. and g.
4 A. Knox, a company was formed, to build and
/ Operate large distillery. The work was com
4 menced when the panic Of 1857 came but the
i firm paid in full: In 1854 the distillery was
4 burned without insurance, and the firm went
4 into tn ewoolen mill business and built the
i most complete mill in the west at: 3Varsaw:
) In 1876. Mr.. Hill engaged in the business Of
81 railroad building. He was president Of the
4 company which, built the Toledo, Peoria &
Western and later was president of the road
He was present at Ogden at the completion
Of the Union & Central p acifcsroad and made
4 adverse report to j. E, Thompson, president
. Of the Pennsylvania, as to the probability Of
: the Pacific railroads beingrable at that tim.
s to earn operating expenses and fixed charges
i "A Vigorous Railroad Builder.
AT this time, with Andrew Carnegie, Mr.
Thompson, the SecoFs and others, sMr. Hill
Organized the company which built the NJ,
i & N road and was later made vice presiden
of the road. He helped build the INDIAN,
! Pacific and sold the road to the Chicago
Burlington & Quincy. q
In 1873 Mr.. Hill was one OLA committee o
sdthree to ireorganize ! the Toledo, Peoria 1
j Western road. At this. time he became an in
r innate friend Of Robert G. Ingersoll. Il
t building a road of twenty six miles in low
: lin 1879 Mr.. Hill broke the record IN .raiIroa
=construction by completing and selling IT II
: 100 days In 1881 Mr.. Fiji and his associate
i sold the NJ I. Is N and the Tt, P.s e W. It
= the Wabash, closing his railroad enterprises.
: After q. year in California Mr.. Hill brough
z his family to Minneapolis. He was connscte
"A with the banking firm Of Hill lodge 81 Co
\ at Warsaw, and with the Flour City Nations
: bank Of Minneapolis. In 1891, with his son
/. and Wallace Campbell, he established til
e bank. Of Hill, Sons Gee, of whichshe wa
president at death. 3 sss%@
~ u = . - - !. = 80