{"product_id":"james-j-hill-empire-builder-of-the-northwest-oklahoma-western-biographies-9780806127934","title":"James J. Hill: Empire Builder of the Northwest (Oklahoma Western Biographies)","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this volume  Michael P. Malone provides a succinct interpretive biography of James J. Hill  the \"Empire Builder\" - so called for his work in developing the region of the United States between the Great Lakes and the Pacific Northwest. Hill was born near Rockwood  Ontario  in 1838. At age sixteen  following his fathers death  he left home for St. Paul  Minnesota Territory. There he found work in the steam boating trade along the Mississippi River. By 1865 he was a freight agent  by 1877 a major coal dealer  and soon thereafter he owned a lucrative steamboat service along the Red River. From these beginnings in transportation  Hill eventually realized his dream of building a transcontinental railroad to the Pacific Ocean. Taking over the bankrupt Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad  which ran between St. Paul and Winnipeg  Hill spent fifteen years constructing what would become the Great Northern Railway. Nor did he stop then. Until his death  in 1916  he continued building and directing his ever-growing business empire. Like most other leaders in the history of American industry  Hill gained loyal partners and avid critics. He was a man of remarkable abilities  determination  and drive  but he could be equally ruthless  overbearing  and politically domineering. The Hill story touches every aspect of the regional economy: transportation  agriculture  mining  lumbering  maritime trade  and town building. Malone explores Hills complex life and personality  his activities and interests  and recreates both the story of the railroad race to the Pacific and the complex interactions involved in the development of the region.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45665867759669,"sku":"ByrdShop_0806127937","price":582.14,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780806127934.jpg?v=1782411302","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/james-j-hill-empire-builder-of-the-northwest-oklahoma-western-biographies-9780806127934","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}