James J. Hill was a railroad tycoon responsible for greatly expanding railways in the country’s northwest. He was the chief executive officer of a family of lines headed by the Great Northern Railway, which served a substantial area of the Upper Midwest, the northern Great Plains, and the Pacific Northwest. Born in 1838 in Ontario, Canada, Hill first worked in the steamboat company in St. Paul before moving into the railroad business, eventually becoming “The Empire Builder” by the 1890s. In 1893, the Great Northern Railway, running from St. Paul to Seattle, WA was completed. The James J. Hill House in St. Paul, operated by the Minnesota Historical Society, is a National Historic Landmark open to tourists.

In 1909, James J. Hill accepted an invitation to visit Marshall and address citizens at the county fair. The county fair was held in October that year, and Hill would come on Oct. 1. In the Oct.8 issue of the News-Messenger, the headline reads, “Jas. J. Hill in Marshall: Talks to 3,000 People at the Fair.” According to the article, Hill made his first visit to Marshall since a brief stop 21 years ago when the Great Northern railroad was being projected. Hill arrived by train in his own private car at 12:20 and left at 3:30 that afternoon. He was accompanied by general superintendent W.D. Scott, division superintendent R.L. Kneble, and his private secretary Mr. Brown. The party was met by president Gislason and secretary Daniel of the Lyon County fair society. At the fairgrounds, Hill examined the livestock and agricultural products. At 2:00, he was introduced to an audience of three thousand people by president Gislason, and spoke to the audience for an hour.

The editorial published on Oct. 8 in the News-Messenger, sums up Hill’s speech at the county fair and gives a good review of his speech. “James J. Hill addressed the farmers and others of Lyon County at Marshall last Friday afternoon, and whatever views or opinions they previously held regarding the distinguished man, it is evident that his three thousand listeners were impressed otherwise than that his life and efforts are confined to the empire-building, railroad promotion and financial achievements, however notable has been his success and peerless his reputation therein. Disregarding these features that have won for him national fame, that have called him to the counsels of federal and state governments and made him a factor in the financial affairs of this and other countries, his Marshall audience was chiefly impressed with his sincerity of purpose in promoting the agricultural interests of the country and thereby sustaining and enhancing the commercial and economic conditions of the nation.”

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection is a real photo postcard of the Lyon County Fairgrounds showing the grandstand and track. The photograph was taken in the early 1900s.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 West Lyon Street in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.