Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-02-12

L WAS uTsI ldImeI, tHeH O mo1-
chants clerk, then farmer, labor
er, a clerk, builder of steamboats,, a
constructor of railroads as a sub-con-
tractor, and then stockholder and
owner. So, again, comes the question
of confidence in ones ability to dis
cern that which is best for him and to
strive for that regardless of opposition.
In other words, it is the confidence
that enables the young man to take
risks without which great things can
never be accomplished.
Perhaps you might accept these
outlines as the rules which l have OBJ
served through life. The young man
should not make the mistake today of
imagining that conditions are not as
favorable as at any time in the past
century for the poor boy to acquire
wealth.
"The world is in its infancy, espe-
cially the Western world. Industrial
development is just beginning. Agri-
culture, mining, contracting, shipping,
lailrosding, land specializing, mercan-
tile life and manufacturing offer ev-
cry inducement for the ambitious youth
today to become man Of millions.
money is SO plentiful that deter
mined boy Of worth can borrow all he
needs. Bankers except the element
of prospects in lending money as well
as ability to pay, and there is no more
promising prospect of a monetary val
ue than youth, ambition and grit,
backed by Western intelligence.
Therefore, the way is, if anything,
more easy, that is, the way to the top.
1.-THE real struggle is at the bottom.
There is where the ranks are crowded.
The fight is very fierce there. When
you begin to get away from the crowd
it is easier.
"You pass many commercial dere-
licts, failures and wrecks of men along
the way, but the great trouble is in
getting started up. Everything seems
to contribute to hold man down un-
til he starts; then everything turns
to boost him up after he has secured a
start. That is the way Of the world.
"My fathers farm was located four
miles south of lockwood, Ont, Cana
da. James Dunbar Hill, my father,
was not very prosperous. The farm
waa not very fertile and my early
experience was that Of very little
boy on a very big farm.
II recall that my father frequently
remarked that he could trace our fam
lily tree back l6 generations through
Scotland and Ireland. To this | at
tribute my mental and physical vigor.
II had to walk four miles to the
Quaker Academy at lockwood. The
average boy today would think this a
mighty hard way to get an education,
and it was.
Zone winter arrangements were
made by which l remained in Rock
wood. l paid part of my tuition by
doing chores around the little old
academy. l don't think l studied
any harder than any other l4-year-
old boy, but I had much work to do.
"Then the exigencies Of my family
required me to begin to make a re-
turn for my living. That was in the
spring Of 1858, and l began to clerk
in general store at the crossroads.
1 continued this employment, occa-
sionally varying it with a little work
on the farm, until l was l9 years old.
II was dissatisfied, and yet when l
look back to those days it was very
pleasant. Altogether life is always
pleasant in youth, little matter the
condition. But l had concluded to
go to the United States.
II made up my mind that would
hav. a better chance in the Western
States, which were then just beginning
to attract settlers. Perhaps l might
have done just as well in Canada, but
l did not think SO. Others remained
there and prospered. l have many
relations today around Guelph.
III had not saved sufficient money
to make the trip West, SO went over
10 Syracuse, N. Y, and worked few
months on a farm. That was the
spring of 1858. 1t was on July 4 Of
that year l started West. l can never
forget that day, for it was big day
in my life and also big day in the
life of the American Republic-their
Independence Day.
"When l reached st. Paul, a week
later, I practically had not dollar to
nv name and knew not a single indi-
II