Hartman, John P. (John Peter), 1857-1945

In the letter of 1944, Mr. John P. Hartman states that a Mr. G.S. Costello was cleaning up the papers in Mr. C.B. Bagley's home. When he was cleaning up the papers, he "discovered an old Seattle Chronicle of 1883" (April 21, 1883). The article relates the story of Mr. Villard's address when he appeared before the Seattle people concerning the extension of the Northern Pacific Railroad. This appears to be the transmittal letter for the donation of the article.

Mr. Henry Villard was born in 1835 in Bavaria. He grew up and was educated in German schools. In 1853, he had a disagreement with his father and immigrated to the United States without his parents' knowledge. Upon arrival, he worked as a newspaper reporter and various other jobs as he made his way westward. He was a field reporter during the Civil War. He married in 1866. During the Panic of 1873 he was an agent for railroad securities and turned to railroad financing as the economy recovered. He gained controlling interest of the Northern Pacific Railroad and became the president in 1881. He bought the New York Post and merged several small companies to form the Edison General Electric Company. In 1900, he passed away.

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