James J. Hill, the "Empire Builder," dies in St. Paul. A man of enormous influence, he moved to St. Paul in 1856 from his native Ontario, began work in the shipping business, and became owner of the Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railroad Companies. His interests were widespread: he helped develop the Iron Range, had a fleet of ships on the Pacific Ocean, pushed for modern farming techniques in the Northwest, and helped float the bonds that supported the democracies of Europe against the Central Powers in World War I.