William C. Van Horne

We pass far beyond the limits of our town to note the great career of William Cornelius Van Horne. Born near Joliet, Illinois, in 1843, educated at the common schools, he became a telegraph operator on the Illinois Central in 1857. In various capacities he worked on, from 1858 to 1864 with the Michigan Central; then train despatcher, superintendent of the telegraph, and division superintendent of the Chicago & Alton; general superintendent of the St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern Railway from 1872 to 1874; general manager of the Southern Minnesota Railway from 1874 to 1877, and continued as President to 1879. From 1880 to 1881 he was General Superintendent of the Chicago & Alton Railway and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. From 1882 to 1884 he was General Manager of the Canadian Pacific, then both General Manager and Vice-President, and its President from 1888 to 1899, and for eleven years more Chairman of its Board of Directors. He was also President of the Cuba Company that built a railroad across Cuba, an enterprise of which he was the source and energy, as he had become the life and strength of the Canadian Pacific.

Comment would belittle this record of capacity and energy. The man had the strength of ten, and the intelligence. Moreover—what concerns us more intimately— during this active life he developed the finer interests of the human spirit, and acquired the knowledge through which to justify and enjoy them. He became not only a great collector, but a great connoisseur of works of art. His knowledge of Japanese pottery was extraordinary; and he made the catalogue for his own unequalled collection, drawing each object—there were between two and three thousand—in line and color. This builder of railroads was himself no mean artist, as the many pictures testify, in oil and water-color from his hand. He had also a sound knowledge of physical science, including geology and botany. To such astonishing faculties and acquirements he joined surprising tact in the attainment of his ends, and a friendliness which delighted in good cheer and fellowship with men of kindred tastes and tempers. A veritable modern superman was this American who became a Canadian of Canadians, the spokesman of Canadian views, and the leader of Canadian development.

Henry Osborn Taylor
1916 Century Association Yearbook