James J. Hill

Date of Birth: September 16, 1838

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: May 29, 1916

Biography

James Jerome Hill, born September 16, 1838, in Ontario, Canada, was a prominent American railroad executive known as the “Empire Builder.” Hill’s legacy primarily lies in his significant contributions to the expansion of the American rail network in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He moved to the United States in 1856, initially working in various jobs including as a clerk and bookkeeper. In the 1870s, Hill acquired the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, which was bankrupt at the time. Through his visionary leadership and strategic investments, he transformed it into the Great Northern Railway, which stretched from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Seattle, Washington. Hill was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to turn failing enterprises into profitable ventures. He emphasized efficiency and cost control, often reinvesting profits back into his railroads. His impact extended beyond railroads; he also invested in agriculture and mining, thereby fostering economic growth in the regions served by his railroads. James J. Hill married Mary Theresa Mehegan in 1867, and they had ten children together. Hill remained active in his business endeavors until his death on May 29, 1916, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

5 Interesting Facts about James J. Hill

1. James J. Hill was partially blind in one eye due to a childhood accident.

2. He used his own funds to build the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis, which is still in use today.

3. Hill’s Great Northern Railway was one of the few transcontinental railroads in the U.S. to be built without public money or land grants.

4. Hill was a key figure in the Panic of 1907, helping to stabilize the economy by facilitating a loan to the New York Stock Exchange.

5. He had a deep interest in agriculture and promoted scientific farming methods to increase productivity along his rail lines.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from James J. Hill

1. “Give me snuff, whiskey, and Swedes, and I will build a railroad to hell.”

2. “The wealth of the country, its capital, its labor, its business, its commerce, all its resources, its freedom and its future, are bound up in the development of its transportation.”

3. “People do not buy goods; they buy satisfaction.”

4. “Most men who have really lived have had, in some share, their great adventure. This railway is mine.”

5. “Work, hard work, intelligent work, and then more work.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, James J. Hill’s net worth was estimated to be around $63 million, equivalent to approximately $1.4 billion today when adjusted for inflation.

Children

James J. Hill and Mary Theresa Mehegan had ten children: 1. James Norman Hill 2. Louis Warren Hill 3. Clarence Hill 4. Samuel Hill 5. Charlotte Hill 6. Ruth Hill 7. Rachel Hill 8. Gertrude Hill 9. Walter Hill 10. Katharine Hill