suddenly called out of a life of usefulness by a railroad accident, in 1864, and Mrs. Payne, the estimable wife of Senator Henry B. Payne of this city.

Mr. Perry's later years were passed in the ease and comfort which his industry of early life made possible, and in the enjoyment of the wealth which the rapid growth of Cleveland developed from his large landed possessions. His death occurred, on June 24, 1865, in this city, after an illness of only five weeks' duration. Paralysis set in, attacking the lower limbs and gradually working its way to his heart. In his death the community felt that an honored and useful man had passed away, and that a real pioneer had departed from the scene of many struggles and a triumph over them all.

RICHARD HILLIARD.

One cannot long investigate the mercantile history of Cleveland without learning something of Richard Hilliard, and becoming impressed with the fact that he was a moving spirit in his day, and gave to the young and embarrassed city a service in various ways, the value of which can never be measured. Men who knew him well and met him as business rivals or associates speak of him in such terms that one sees at a glance they are uttering no mere compliment to the memory of one who has assed away, but speaking truths from the heart and out of their own knowledge. He came to Cleveland in 1826, and cast his fortunes in with hers, and from that time until his death in the latter days of 1856 he was a busy and

useful man.

He was born in Chatham, New York, on July 4, 1800, and on the death of his father when he was but fourteen years of age, went to Skanetelles, New York, where he entered a store. A portion of his time before he reached his eighteenth year was given. to school teaching, as he had been well educated and had a natural gift in that direction. direction. On reaching the age above mentioned he went to Black Rock, in western New York, and took the position of clerk in the general store of John Daly. In this place he showed such industry, honesty and native mercantile ability that he was admitted to partnership without being required to furnish any capital. In 1824, fulfilling a desire for a more extended field of operations, the firm removed to Cleveland, locating on the corner of Superior and Water streets, where the old Atwater building used to stand. In 1827 Mr. Hilliard purchased the interest of Mr. Daly and carried on the business alone. By unwearied labor, close attention to affairs and a natural genius for his task, Mr. Hilliard soon built up an immense dry goods and grocery trade, and he was not long a resident of Cleveland before every one looked upon him as one of the live and moving commercial forces of the place. He soon saw the necessity of a better connection with New York where most of his purchases were made, and to strengthen himself in that direction formed a partnership with William Hayes, of that city, and for some years the firm of Hilliard & Hayes carried on an extensive and profitable business.

Feeling the need of better accommodations, Mr. Hilliard built the brick block standing on Water street at the corner of Frankfort, and now known as the coal and iron exchange. He moved into it and extended his operations still farther. The close care and attention that he gave to his great mercantile house did not measure all his business operations. In company with Courtland Palmer of New York, and Mr. Edwin Clark of Cleveland, he purchased a large tract of land on the flats, and aided in opening up that part of the city to manufacturing uses. He gave a great service to the public in connection with the opening and extension of the present system of water works. The first water works commission consisted of Henry B. Payne, Richard Hilliard and Basil L. Spangler, and they worked with a rare wisdom, energy and far-sighted vision that have had full justification in the success of the scheme they inaugurated. Mr. Hilliard's financial skill and acquaintance in the east were put to good use in disposing of the first water works bonds at a figure far beyond expectation. He was elected in 1836 to the position of alderman in the first council under the incorporation of Cleveland as a city, among his associates being such men as Sherlock J. Andrews and Nicholas Dockstader. He was chosen to a similar position in 1839, in a council of which Harvey Rice, John A. Foot, Thomas Bolton and John A. Vincent were members. Previous to this, in 1830 and 1831, he had served as president of the incorporated village of

Cleveland. It is neediess to say to such as knew him that in all these positions he showed the energy, calm good sense and ability which he so well displayed in the other walks of life.

Mention has been made in divers ways and various places of the work done by Richard Hilliard and Henry B. Payne, in saving the pioneer railroad of Cleveland from utter collapse and abandonment at a critical period of its history, but the full story has never heretofore been told. In 1845 the lapsed charter of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad company was revived, and a new company organized, with John W. Allen as president, and Messrs. Hilliard and Payne among its directors. A strong effort was made to raise enough money to make the enterprise possible, but, after a thorough canvass of the city, it was found that not more than twentyfive thousand dollars could be obtained. Things looked desperate, and some of the best friends of the scheme began to grow hopeless and to lose courage. At this trying moment Mr. Hilliard made up his mind to see what could be done. One day he went to Mr. Henry B. Payne and proposed that the two devote three months of their time to a final desperate attempt. Mr. Payne agreed, and the first thing decided on was to lay such siege to the senior Leonard Case as would compel him to surrender. Mr. Case had refused to do a thing for the road, and his refusal had influenced other large holders of real estate. The newspapers of the city had criticised Mr. Case's course rather freely, and he

had grown all the more decided in his opposition. It was decided that on the first bright, pleasant day, when the old gentleman should be feeling well, they would make their call. They did so, and taking with them all the plans and estimates of the proposed road, asked him to look them over and then give his candid opinion whether the scheme should be pushed forward or not. He agreed to do so, and before leaving they intimated that in case of a favorable decision they should expect a subscription from him. A few days later Mr. Payne was sent for to go across to Mr. Hilliard's store, and on doing so discovered Mr. Case sitting on the counter with a rather troubled look. He announced his decision, which was that he did not want to take the responsibility of advising that the road should be abandoned, and he would, therefore, head a subscription list with five thousand dollars; but before doing so he compelled Messrs. Hilliard and Payne to pledge themselves to oppose any extension of the city limits that would take in his farm to the east of Cleveland. They readily agreed, as they had no idea that such growth could occur in their time. That farm is now all in the city limits and covered over with buildings.

'With Mr. Case on the list, the two gentlemen went earnestly to work, and before long eighty thousand dollars were pledged. The next thing Mr. Hilliard proposed was to get Mr. Case intc the board of directors, which was looked upon as an almost hopeless task. They called upon him and he refused point blank. They at last told him why they

were so anxious. With him in the directory they thought they could persuade Alfred Kelley of Columbus to accept the position of president, and then the road would go through. "But what will you do with Mr. Allen ?" asked Mr. Case. They responded that, on receiving Mr. Case's consent to act, they would go to Mr. Allen, tell him the whole thing, and leave it to him to decide whether they should see Mr. Kelley or not. Mr. Case said the plan was honorable and straightforward, and before they left agreed to go into the board, provided that was needed to obtain Mr. Kelley's cooperation. Mr. Hilliard went straight to Columbus and laid the matter before Mr. Kelley, and his first reply was a square refusal. With infinite tact and good judgment the ambassador pleaded his cause, but could not change the decision. Just as he was leaving, he planted one seed of thought that bore good fruit. He told Mr. Kelley that his refusal to take hold of the road would be its death blow, and then asked him if it would not be a cause of life-long regret to him that he had failed to crown his useful career by this act of service to the people and the state. Mr. Kelley saw the matter in a new light, and when he called on Mr. Hilliard at his hotel on the following morning he confessed that the thought had troubled him all night long, and that he was willing to take hold and do what he could. The result is known. The labor he gave to the road, and the manner in which he worked for its interests have been long ere this a part of our railroad history.