The Washington times., 1916-05-29
Family Surrounds Bedside in
Death Hour Of Famous Rail-
road Builder. H
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90 - r. J.
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New York. Although. It was said yes
terday, Blggs was being rushed here
by special train, II became known
today he has been In the Hill man
sign %r, since e H. fI sesyd. Of New York. and
Mrs. Samuel Hill. Of Washinton, ID. g,
daughters, arrived today, by special
train. James II. Hill, a son from
New York. sccompanisd them p.,,
Beechmsnn, Mrs. Michael Gavin, Miss
the bedside. Walter mi arose from
a sick bed at Hollock, Mimi. to come
has kept a faithful vigil at his bed
side. refusing to leave.
Born In Backwoods.
James ]. Hill. one of the greatest and
most succersful railway builders ana
orsanisers and one OF the most remark
able financisl geniuses OF bis time. was
born on q ,backwoods farm In tho vicin-
ity of lockwood. Wellington county.
Ontario. on September I6. 1895.
His father was one of the early set-
tiers Of that region. coming from the
north Of Ireland; His mother WIS q
Scotch family Of that name. who trace
their Lineage to the Stuarts In direct
line. The Dunbars. however. were
driven from their native country by the
Catholics, and were compelled to seek
refuge In the New World.
1t Is somewhat remarkable that in
spite Of the fact that his father was
an Orangeman and his mother victim
Of old-time Catholic intolerance. Mr..
gave convincing evidence Of that fact
by donating In all nearly n,0Oo.0o0 for
founding and endowing Roman Cath
Ollie institution. the e. Thomas Sem
Although descended from a long line
Of hard-working tillers OF the soil and
In spite of the example set to him by
his thrifty father. young Hill never
liked mahrai work of any kind. Par
Neither threats nor persuasio could In
duce him to turn from his beloved books
to tho necessary work In the fields.
Every moment of his spare time he de-
From his books he not only gained
an invaluable education. but habits OF
industry and application as well, and
as his reading was selected judlciously
with view TO ultimate benefit. It be-
which might have been impossible with
out II.
Studies for Ministry.
When his father, after many abortive
attempts Mt persuasion and coercion
came to the conclusion that Jim could
not be induced to do farm work, he de.
cided to send him to school and make
Of him Presbyterian minister. Younp
Hill was sent to the lockwood Acad.
envy, where he devoted himself to hii
task OF acquiring d classical education
Tor ten years. When the boy had
reached his eighteenth year he came &c
nnnnInStnn n hA
for the pulpit He abandoned his studio,
and obtained q position as clerk in 3
local general store.
Young HUI performed his duties sc
ployer soon placed him in sole charg,
OF a branch establishment In the neigh.
boring city OF Guelph. His ambition
however, was too great to be satisfied
with success In such small way Soor
he gave up his position and started or
a trip OF observation through the
country. First he travelled through the
Eastern States OF the Union, but later
he turned toward the West. and in due
time reached st. Paul at that time a
town Of only about 5000 inhabitants.
At that time St. Paul had no railroad
but II was. nevertheless, full OF life and
activity, being the terminal Of number
Of steamship lines. connecting the head
and districts on the middle and lower
Mississippi Young Hill soon found
employment as a levee clerk with j. w
Bass & Co., agents Of the Dubuque and
BIT. Paul Packet Company, at salar,
Of so cents a day. A year later hi
transferred his services to the firm OF
Brownson. Lewis & White, with whom
he remained about three years. Mex,
in turn he worked one year for Tempt,
e. Beaupre, and still later four year,
for Borup a Champlin, agents OF tn,
Galepa Packet Company. and the David.
son line of steamers.
Offers to Enlist.
When the civil war broke out. Hill be.
came infected with the excitement then 8,
prevalent. and. together with z. Y
Shelley, organized a. company O,
cavalry. which he offered to the State
Minnesota did not want any cavalry a,
the time, however. and Captain Shell.
ley. with the majority Of the command
crossed the line into Iowa. and entered
the service OF that State. Hill returned
to his regular employment and made nc
further effort of warlike nature.
During the many years spent In the
employ of river transportation com.
panies Hill thoroughly mastered every
detail Of the important business, which
enabled him to advance a step. He OBJ.
tained the st. Paul agency of the Moth.
western Packet Company and retained
II until the line was consolidated witt
the Davidson line OF river steamers II
1867. In the same year he became the