In 1840, he went into business for himself, forming his own construction company, and obtaining the construction contract for the Boston and Albany Railroad.
He was actively involved in the construction of numerous roads, his largest being the Union Pacific Railroad, with which he became actively involved in 1865 through an equity exchange with the Crédit Mobilier of America corporation.
Crédit Mobilier of America was a company set up by the Union Pacific to defraud United States taxpayers in the construction of the First transcontinental railroad. The result was the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal, which exposed an over-invoicing and a stock and bond share-pricing scheme, whereby Union Pacific officers and directors, including Dillon, profited by manipulating the share price of Crédit Mobilier of America's stock shares and bonds, padding invoices to the U.S. Government, and bribing congressmen with shares in Crédit Mobilier of America, cash and other perks.
As one of the principal contractors for the Union Pacific, Dillon's vast experience in the construction of railroads proved invaluable. He took part in the "golden spike" ceremony of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, receiving one of the ceremonial silver spikes used to complete the project. Following 1870, Dillon was primarily known as a financier, becoming involved with Jay Gould in numerous ventures as well as serving on the board of directors of the Western Union Telegraph Company. He finally served as President of the Union Pacific Railroad from 1874 to 1884, and again from 1890 until his death in 1892.
Personal lifeedit
The monument of Sidney Dillon in Woodlawn Cemetery
In 1841, Dillon married Hannah Smith (1822–1884) of Amherst, Massachusetts. The couple had two daughters:.[2][3]
Cora A. Dillon, who married Dr. Peter B. Wyckoff in 1875.[4]
Julia E. ("Julie") Dillon, who married Josiah Dwight Ripley on May 28, 1862. After his death, she married Gilman Smith Moulton on March 1, 1894.[5]
Dillon died at his home at 23 West Fifty-Seventh Street in New York City, after a twelve-week illness, at the age of 80.[1] Funeral services were held at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church (55th Street and 5th Avenue) on June 13.[1] He is interred under a distinctive Celtic cross at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.
Descendantsedit
Through his daughter Julia, he was the grandfather of Sidney Dillon Ripley I (1863–1905) and Louis Arthur Dillon Ripley (1878–1958), himself the father of Dillon's great-grandson Sidney Dillon Ripley II (1913–2001), a noted ornithologist, conservationist and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for twenty years.[6]
Legacyedit
Dillon, Montana is named for him as it was an early terminus for the railroad.
^ abcIngham, John N. (1983). Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders. Vol. 1. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 272. ISBN978-0-313-23907-6.
^Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York. Vol. 16. New York (State). Legislature Assembly. 1895. p. 20.
^Miller, William Van Rensselaer (1896). Select Organizations in the United States. Knickerbocker Publishing Company. p. 49.
^Hiram Carleton, ed. (1903). Genealogical and family history of the state of Vermont. The Lewis Publishing Company. p. 39.
^Molotsky, Irvin (13 March 2001). "S. Dillon Ripley Dies at 87; Led the Smithsonian Institution During Its Greatest Growth". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
sidney, dillon, 1812, june, 1892, american, railroad, executive, premier, railroad, builders, born, 1812, 1812northampton, york, diedjune, 1892, 1892, aged, manhattan, york, occupationrailroad, builder, managerspousehannah, smith, 1841, died, 1884, children2, . Sidney Dillon May 7 1812 June 9 1892 1 was an American railroad executive and one of the US s premier railroad builders Sidney DillonBorn 1812 05 07 May 7 1812Northampton New York U S DiedJune 9 1892 1892 06 09 aged 80 Manhattan New York U S OccupationRailroad builder amp managerSpouseHannah Smith m 1841 died 1884 wbr Children2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 3 1 Descendants 4 Legacy 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editDillon was born in Northampton Fulton County New York 1 His father Timothy was a farmer 2 Career editSidney Dillon began his career in the industry working as a water boy on the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad one of America s earliest railroads for its construction from Albany to Schenectady New York 2 In 1840 he went into business for himself forming his own construction company and obtaining the construction contract for the Boston and Albany Railroad He was actively involved in the construction of numerous roads his largest being the Union Pacific Railroad with which he became actively involved in 1865 through an equity exchange with the Credit Mobilier of America corporation Credit Mobilier of America was a company set up by the Union Pacific to defraud United States taxpayers in the construction of the First transcontinental railroad The result was the Credit Mobilier of America scandal which exposed an over invoicing and a stock and bond share pricing scheme whereby Union Pacific officers and directors including Dillon profited by manipulating the share price of Credit Mobilier of America s stock shares and bonds padding invoices to the U S Government and bribing congressmen with shares in Credit Mobilier of America cash and other perks As one of the principal contractors for the Union Pacific Dillon s vast experience in the construction of railroads proved invaluable He took part in the golden spike ceremony of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 receiving one of the ceremonial silver spikes used to complete the project Following 1870 Dillon was primarily known as a financier becoming involved with Jay Gould in numerous ventures as well as serving on the board of directors of the Western Union Telegraph Company He finally served as President of the Union Pacific Railroad from 1874 to 1884 and again from 1890 until his death in 1892 Personal life edit nbsp The monument of Sidney Dillon in Woodlawn Cemetery In 1841 Dillon married Hannah Smith 1822 1884 of Amherst Massachusetts The couple had two daughters 2 3 Cora A Dillon who married Dr Peter B Wyckoff in 1875 4 Julia E Julie Dillon who married Josiah Dwight Ripley on May 28 1862 After his death she married Gilman Smith Moulton on March 1 1894 5 Dillon died at his home at 23 West Fifty Seventh Street in New York City after a twelve week illness at the age of 80 1 Funeral services were held at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church 55th Street and 5th Avenue on June 13 1 He is interred under a distinctive Celtic cross at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx New York Descendants edit Through his daughter Julia he was the grandfather of Sidney Dillon Ripley I 1863 1905 and Louis Arthur Dillon Ripley 1878 1958 himself the father of Dillon s great grandson Sidney Dillon Ripley II 1913 2001 a noted ornithologist conservationist and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for twenty years 6 Legacy editDillon Montana is named for him as it was an early terminus for the railroad Sidney Nebraska is also named for him See also editList of railroad executivesReferences edit a b c d Death of Sidney Dillion The New York Times June 10 1892 a b c Ingham John N 1983 Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders Vol 1 Greenwood Publishing Group p 272 ISBN 978 0 313 23907 6 Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York Vol 16 New York State Legislature Assembly 1895 p 20 Miller William Van Rensselaer 1896 Select Organizations in the United States Knickerbocker Publishing Company p 49 Hiram Carleton ed 1903 Genealogical and family history of the state of Vermont The Lewis Publishing Company p 39 Molotsky Irvin 13 March 2001 S Dillon Ripley Dies at 87 Led the Smithsonian Institution During Its Greatest Growth The New York Times Retrieved 21 January 2019 External links editPicture of Mr Dillon Sidney Dillon at Find a Grave Business positions Preceded byJohn Duff President of Union Pacific Railroad1874 1884 Succeeded byCharles F Adams Preceded byCharles F Adams President of Union Pacific Railroad1890 1892 Succeeded byS H H Clark Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sidney Dillon amp oldid 1121167525, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
