Schrikkel, Louis, 1902-1995

The third of James J. and Mary Mehegan Hill’s ten children, Louis Warren Hill was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1872. He, along with his older brother James, was schooled at home before attending Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and Yale University.

He began working for his father at the Great Northern Railway Company immediately after graduation and began pursuit of his own ultimately extremely successful investments in iron mining in northeastern Minnesota. While the eldest Hill son James had been groomed as their father’s successor, Louis’s capable management of a Great Northern extension over the Rockies in 1901 moved him into position as heir to the Hill business empire.

Also in 1901 Louis married Maud Van Cortlandt Taylor, child of a well-known New York family. The couple moved into a large home next door to James J. and Mary Hill on Summit Avenue in St. Paul and together had four children: Louis Warren Jr., James Jerome II (always called Jerome), Maud Van Cortlandt and Cortlandt Taylor. The family traveled the United States and the world and spent much of their time at North Oaks Farm, just north of St. Paul, where Louis built a chalet-style retreat.

In the mid ‘00s Louis began to take over management of the Great Northern Railway. He was named president in 1907 and board chairman in 1912, although his father James continued to retain much control until his death in 1916. Louis expanded his interests far beyond railroads: he was at the forefront of the oil and auto transport industries and was a major player in land development in Montana and California, in finance, and in copper mining.

One of Louis’ greatest legacies was his enthusiastic promotion of U.S. tourism and the national park system. He was a major force in the creation, promotion, and development of Glacier National Park in Montana, where he built several resorts. He also maintained an interest in the American Indian tribes of Montana and became a collector of Blackfoot material, now housed in the Science Museum of Minnesota. Louis W. Hill died in St. Paul in 1948 at the age of 75.

• 1872: Born May 19 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• 1887: Began attending school at Philips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.
• 1890: Began studies at Yale's Sheffield Scientific School.
• 1893: Graduated from Yale with three-year degree.
• 1893: Began to work for the Great Northern Railway.
• 1901: Led massive improvement project on the Great Northern line between Minot and the Rockies.
• 1901: Engagement to Maud Van Cortlandt Hill announced April 10.
• 1901: Married Maud Van Cortlandt Taylor June 6 in New York, New York.
• 1901: Returned to St. Paul after wedding trip to Europe in September.
• 1901: Moved from father's home into rented house at 217 Summit Avenue, St. Paul.
• 1902: Birth of first child, Louis W. Hill, Jr., May 19.
• 1903: Birth of second child, Maud Van Cortlandt Hill, June 1.
• 1903: Moved into new home at 260 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, in December.
• 1904: Began taking over management of Great Northern Railway.
• 1905: Birth of third child, James Jerome Hill II, March 2.
• 1906: Birth of fourth child, Cortlandt Taylor Hill, March 31.
• 1907: Succeeded James J. Hill as president of Great Northern Railway.
• 1908: Purchased property in Pebble Beach, California.
• 1912: Succeeded James J. Hill as chairman of Great Northern Railway.
• 1919: Retired as president of Great Northern Railway.
• 1929: Retired as chairman of Great Northern Railway.
• 1934: Separated from wife, Maud Van Cortlandt Taylor Hill.
• 1948: Died April 27 in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the age of 75.

From the guide to the Louis W. Hill papers., 1739-1995 (Bulk 1887-1950)., (Minnesota Historical Society)