The Hill Heir Not So Apparent - James N. Hill
James J. Hill was a force to be reckoned with. Not only in Minnesota or United States’ history, but worldwide. He was also a father. He and his wife, Mary, had 9 children that grew to adulthood. Their eldest child, Mary Frances (“Mamie”), was sharp, smart and independent, but a girl. James Norman Hill was the oldest son and the presumptive heir to the Great Northern Railway Empire, but in the end lost the throne to his younger brother, Louis.
Born just under two years apart, James Norman and Louis were raised side by side. Their mother was very hands on, but they had servants and a private tutor. However, they were NOT raised in the mansion on Summit Avenue. They grew up in a (still quite large) home in today’s Lowertown neighborhood.
Unfortunately, their private tutor was too soft on the boys and they were falling behind. Reluctantly, the Hills sent their sons to Exeter Academy in New Hampshire to catch up and prepare for university. At this point, James Norman was still in first place for the prize. He was admitted to Yale University, while Louis, no slouch but more mechanically inclined, studied at Yale’s Sheffield Scientific School.
After graduation, James Norman and Louis took on various roles at the railroads owned by their father. They didn’t get a salary, but they did get what would be about $2000 in living expenses each month (which was an enormous amount of money at the time) and a chunk of stock in the company. This sounds like a nice cushion, but their father worked them HARD. James Norman was sent farther afield, while Louis stayed close by their father’s side. They hit the ground running, just in time for a financial crisis, battles with the workers’ union, and their father’s continued expansion of his railroad empire.
James Norman had always had health troubles that held him back. Rheumatoid arthritis and various eye troubles were ongoing concerns. By 1902, the hectic pace of the railroads was already wearing on him and he took a temporary leave. After an extended vacation he was back at his desk, but he didn’t last long. In 1905, he was sent to New York to be the head of marketing. James Norman set up a bachelor pad at the University Club. The papers started spreading rumors about who would inherit the Hill businesses and even pitting James Norman and Louis against each other. More than one newspaper even got confused about who was the eldest son. Louis was taking the lead and gaining his father’s trust.
In 1907, James Norman and his father were in a train wreck while traveling with other railroad dignitaries. 1911 was a hectic year of travel, defending the railroads against another anti-trust suit, and facing public scrutiny. At the age of 32, he “retired” to take a rest and recuperate. His parents became concerned, but not about his health. Rumors were spreading that Jimmy was involved with a married woman. The rumors were true.
Mary Theresa Hill was a staunch Catholic and this was NOT ok. James Norman and his girlfriend, Margaret Sawyer Fahnestock, holed up at Louis’ home in Pebble Beach, awaiting her divorce finalization. When the news broke of their “secret wedding” in London, some papers described his new bride as widowed. Others claimed she had been “divorced for some time” but in fact, the ink was barely dry on her divorce papers.
Either way, James Norman’s parents did not approve and Margaret was never welcomed into the Hill home on Summit Avenue.
In a draft of his will, James J. completely left him out of any inheritance. Lucky for James Norman, the will was never signed before James J. died in 1916. Mary passed in 1921 - also without a will - and the fight among the 9 living siblings over the estate was epic.
It was clear pretty early on that Louis would in fact be the heir to the Great Northern Empire and because of that many people, then and now, mix up the order and think of James Norman as the “second son”.
Even if he hadn’t inherited a large portion of the estate, James Norman would have been just fine. He had invested early on in the Texas oil fields and later became an executive for a little company then called the Texas Company, but now known as Texaco.
James Norman and Margaret had a very happy marriage and built a beautiful estate on Long Island called Big Tree Farm. They were both horticulturists and planted hundreds of varieties of trees on their land. James Norman and Margaret never had any children.
