History of Northampton, (Suffolk County) New York United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Northampton, (Suffolk County) New York, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

Biography of Sidney Dillon

Sidney Dillon, contractor, was born in Northampton, N.Y., May 7, 1812. His parents were poor and he earned his first money as water carrier to men working on the Albany & Schenectady and the Rensselaer & Saratoga railroads. He later purchased a horse and cart and continued in the employ of the contractor, adding to his equipment for hauling wood and earth. He became overseer of a section of the Boston & Providence railroad, and finally a contractor on his own account on various railroads then in course of construction. He built for Cornelius Vanderbilt the tunnel from the Grand Central depot at 42d street, New York city, to the Harlem river at a cost of $7,000,000. He then contracted to build the Union Pacific railroad. He broke the ground with his own hands in 1865 and drove the silver spike completing the work in the spring of 1869. He was a director of the road, 1864-92, and its president, 1874-84 and 1890-92. He died in New York city, June 9, 1892.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor