Tag: Tim Piper

Meet Jay Cooke from Tim Piper’s The Northern Pacific Railroad

~ Cindy Thomson ~ 1 Comment

Welcome to Novel PASTimes! We are pleased you stopped by today.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thank you for inviting me. My name is Jay Cooke, and I was born in 1821, in Sandusky, Ohio, the son of a lawyer who served in Congress. As a young man, I entered the banking business as a clerk and found I had a talent for it. Shortly before the Civil War, I opened my own investment firm, and I was instrumental in selling Treasury notes to the public to finance the Union war effort. Currently, I am heavily committed—personally and through my investment firm—to financing and constructing the Northern Pacific Railroad, a second transcontinental railroad which will connect the Great Lakes at Duluth, Minnesota, with the Pacific Ocean at Puget Sound.

How did you become acquainted with Jubilee Walker?

Nathaniel Langford, a banker and businessman from Helena, Montana Territory, approached me about sponsoring an expedition to explore the uncharted area of the Yellowstone River during the summer of 1870. He believed, and rightly so, that if the expedition proved that the folktales about the region’s unique geography were true, many tourists would be attracted to the area, and they would be anxious to see my railroad completed to carry them there. One of the members of that Yellowstone expedition was Jubilee Walker. Mr. Langford spoke highly of his service and expertise.

When that expedition proved that the rumors about Yellowstone were, indeed, true, an official government survey was launched in the summer of 1871. Jubilee Walker was hired by General Sherman to guide the army engineering contingent sent on that survey.

Then in 1872, a bill was placed before Congress proposing that the Yellowstone region be designated as the nation’s first national park. Jubilee Walker came to Washington, DC, to help lobby for the passage of that bill. I heard great things about young Mr. Walker’s performance on these expeditions, and I thought he might be of further assistance to me. While he was in Washington, I arranged a meeting with my personal secretary, who invited him to come meet me at my home in Philadelphia. 

Mr. Walker graciously accepted my invitation, and, soon after the passage of the park bill, he came to Ogantz, my estate in Philadelphia, for our first meeting.

What is the nature of your business agreement with Mr. Walker?

There are many challenges we face in the construction of the railroad, primary among them funding the effort through to completion. The expense is too great for any single investor, so the project must be financed through the sale of bonds to the public. The public’s willingness to buy those bonds is heavily dependent on the faith they have that our efforts to build the railroad will succeed, and that their investment will bring the returns promised.

The faith those investors have in our success is based on information they read in the news and the credibility of those delivering the message. Though I enjoy a generally favorable public reputation, it is natural for people to look for recommendations from those with less personal interest in the railroad than myself.

This is the role that Jubilee Walker can fulfill for me—offering his personal opinion of the soundness of the idea to build the Northern Pacific Railroad and expressing his confidence that the project can be completed successfully.

I have agreed to make a substantial investment in Mr. Walker’s adventure tourism business upon successful completion of a railroad survey to finalize the railroad’s route. In return, Mr. Walker has agreed to join the survey as my personal representative. As such, he will publicly promote and support the railroad.

What is the greatest obstacle to the completion of the railroad?

The railroad’s exact route has yet to be established across the six hundred miles between Bismarck, Dakota Territory, and Bozeman, Montana Territory. Two surveys are planned for the summer of 1872: One crew will start in Bismarck and proceed west. The other will start in Bozeman and work their way east to meet the westbound crew. Mr. Walker will join the eastbound crew departing from Bozeman.

Unfortunately, the railroad’s route must pass through the traditional hunting grounds of the Sioux tribes. Their leaders have expressed their displeasure with this plan and threatened to retaliate. The army will protect the survey crews, and hopefully no serious incidents will occur. A long-term resolution must be reached, but negotiating with the tribes is the government’s business, not mine.

My concern is that public opinion may turn negative regarding the safety of traveling on a railroad which runs through hostile territory. If the public loses faith that the route can be made safe, they will no longer invest in the railroad’s completion, and the whole enterprise will fail. I am confident that, with Jubilee Walker championing our cause, we will enjoy widespread public support for the project through its completion.

What consequences do you foresee if the railroad survey fails?

America will lose the opportunity to have a critical lifeline tying her coasts together, and our Canadian neighbors will likely capitalize on our failure.

A substantial portion of my personal wealth and the wealth of my investment house are committed to this effort. If the railroad cannot be built to generate the revenue to retire the bonds and pay the investors’ returns, that will severely challenge my ability to meet my debt obligations.

Mr. Walker also has placed his reputation and a significant portion of his personal assets at risk, to ensure that he is committed to a positive outcome on our mutual behalf. And he will be putting his personal safety at risk by facing whatever dangers the survey crew may encounter.

TIM PIPER is retired from a long career in Information Technology and has been a lifelong hobbyist musician. In his earlier days he was an avid hiker and backcountry camper, but his adventures these days are less strenuous and more comfortable. He began his education at Illinois State University as an English major, but life circumstances put him on a more pragmatic path, and he graduated with a BS in Business Admin, a degree he finds appropriately named. He lives in Bloomington, Illinois. 
Learn more at www.timpiper-author.com or follow him on Facebook.

https://timpiper-author.com/

https://www.facebook.com/people/Tim-Piper-Author/61550582340267/?sk=about

Meet Nelly from Tim Piper’s The Yellowstone Campaign

~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment
Amazon Affiliate Linked Used Helps Support This Blog

Welcome to Novel PASTimes! We are pleased you stopped by today.

Tell us something about where you live: 

Thank you for inviting me. I was born on a farm near Bloomington, Illinois, but we moved to town when Papa took a job at the carriage shop. I hated to move away from my best friend, Jubilee Walker, who lived on a neighboring farm, but we continued to go to school together and maintain our friendship. I grew up in a house my father built, and completed my basic education at public school. After high school, I was planning to live at home and attend Illinois State Normal University to gain training as a teacher. But events transpired that caused me to change my plans. I made a difficult decision to leave home, and the comfort of my friends and family, to move to Poughkeepsie, New York, where I currently reside as I continue my education.

Is there anything special about your name? Why do you think you were given that name? 

My Christian name is Cornelia—Cornelia Mae Boswell. I was named in honor of my mother’s mother, who died before I was born. Thankfully, my parents didn’t care much more for the name than I do, and they’ve always called me Nelly.

Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?  

I am a student at Vassar College, studying for a career in the literary arts. I love the intellectual challenge of my studies and the feeling of accomplishment I gain from meeting those challenges. I’ve gained a much broader and clearer understanding of issues in our society, and I’ve made the acquaintance of inspiring people. But being so far away from the people I love is difficult. At times, the freedom of being away from my family and Jubil is a guilty pleasure, but at other times, I desperately miss their love and the ease and comfort of being with them.

Who are the special people in your life? 

My family foremost, but Jubilee Walker also feels like family. He and I were best friends throughout our childhood, then as we grew older, our friendship deepened. Now that we are adults, our relationship has gotten complicated, but we care very much for each other. Lily Warner, the wife of Jubil’s business partner, is a mentor to me and an important influence. And her sister, Professor Maria Mitchell, is my chaperone and benefactor while I am at college. She introduced me to her friend, Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who has also become a friend and mentor, as well as my inspiration in the struggle for women’s social equity.

What’s your family like? Do you have brothers and sisters? 

I have twin brothers who are two years younger than me. They are annoying! They are identical twins, but easy to tell apart—Ike has good sense, and Eli does not—but they are an inseparable team. The boys are loud, overly energetic, clever to a fault, and determined not to let their elder sister rule the roost. My father can be opinionated and overbearing, but my mother reminds me that I take after him. She deserves a sainthood for her efforts as a peacekeeper and shepherd to such a rowdy flock. I love them all dearly.

What is your heart’s deepest desire?   

To be in control of my own destiny and circumstances. To live a life filled with accomplishment and exciting experiences. Hopefully, to find someone to share love and life with.

What are you most afraid of? 

That I will be forced to live in a way that goes against my nature. That I’ll live a dull life and accomplish little, and that my convictions will drive love away. I also harbor a deep concern that I will lose Jubil to some fatal event while he is on one of his adventures, but I accept that he must live his life as he chooses.

Are you harboring a grudge against anyone, and why or why not?

You could say I harbor a grudge against males in general—at least those who feel that women should remain subordinate to men and live without the same social rights and status that they enjoy. For example, I find it difficult not to resent my father for his efforts to control my life. He insists that I live according to his wishes, regardless of my own interests and my own will. His viewpoints are widely shared today, but times are changing, and people should change with them. I was also upset for a time with Jubil for upending our marriage plans, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me, so I am no longer holding that grudge.

Do you have a cherished possession? 

Ever since childhood, I have maintained a journal of my experiences, thoughts, and feelings. My brothers got into my writings once, but my parent put a firm end to that before it became a habit. I also have a beautiful pair of beaded moccasins given to me by Jubil. He brought them back following one of his Colorado expeditions with Major John Wesley Powell. I wear them almost every evening, and they remind me of him and of home.

What dreams do you have for your future?  

I want a career, to be able to support myself financially and to live wherever I choose. I’d like to be recognized for my talents, though I am not entirely sure yet what those are. I would like to be a writer, but I am not sure yet whether I would be a better journalist or novelist. I am quite willing to accept a position with a publishing business until I find my literary wings. I also have romantic dreams, but I feel those will have to be fulfilled after my career ambitions have been realized.

Is there anything you’re afraid people might find out about you? 

Not really. I have no deep dark secrets. I suppose I do have a phobia about people discovering my first name, and deciding to use it publicly.

What have you learned about yourself in the course of your story?  

That I am willing to stand up for myself and do what I must to be an independent woman in the world and to fight for the same rights and opportunities as any male.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you? 

Despite my very feminine appearance and demeanor, I am quite capable on horseback, and not at all squeamish about the outdoors.

Thanks for allowing us to get know you a little better!

Tim Piper is retired from a long career in Information Technology and has been a lifelonghobbyist musician. In his earlier days he was an avid hiker and backcountry camper, but his adventures these days are less strenuous and more comfortable. He began his education at Illinois State University as an English major, but life circumstances put him on a more pragmatic path, and he graduated with a BS in Business Admin, a degree he finds appropriately named. He lives in Bloomington, Illinois. You can stay in touch with him at www.timpiper-author.com or follow him on Facebook.

Purchase the book:

Amazon

Bookshop

A Chat with Jubilee Walker from Tim Piper’s The Powell Expeditions

~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment

Tell us something about where you live:

I was born and raised on a 160-acre farm in central Illinois, about fifteen miles north of Bloomington. My parents built a modest farmhouse, where I grew up reading dime novels in my loft bedroom and dreaming of a life of adventure. When I was ten years old, my father died, and my uncle came to live on the farm. I helped him build a cabin and furnishings from timber off the farm. After he died at Shiloh, I used his cabin as my private retreat, where I continued reading adventure stories and imagining having my own adventures one day. When I was seventeen, my mother died, and I set off to see some of the West. While I was away, the farmhouse and barn burned down, but my uncle’s cabin survived. Today, the farm lies fallow, and I live in the cabin, when I’m not off somewhere on an adventure.

Is there anything special about your name? Why do you think you were given that name?

Jubilee is not a common name, but it is not one I’m ashamed of. I don’t mind being called Jubilee, but most people call me Jubil. I’ve seen a similar name spelled Jubal, but I’ve never known anyone else named Jubilee. My parents named me with the intent of the word in mind—an event for celebration. My mother had a very difficult time while she carried me and a difficult delivery that meant I would be their only child. They named me Jubilee to celebrate my successful birth and my mother’s survival.

Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?

I am in the outfitting business. On my first trip West, I made travel money by working part-time at Warner and Company Outfitters in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I struck up a good relationship with the Warners and agreed to open a new store in my hometown with Mr. Warner’s son, Luke. The Council Bluffs store caters to overland travelers and army posts, but Luke and I cater to travelers in the age of the railroad. My passion for adventure and my acquaintance Major John Wesley Powell, a family friend, has brought expedition outfitting into our business. I very much enjoy testing out our products by using them in the field and helping my partner create improved versions. I don’t mind helping customers select products or the general labor of operating the store, but the recordkeeping and money-handling aspects I leave in Luke’s more capable hands.

Who are the special people in your life?

My parents and my uncle will always be in my heart. As my best friend, Nelly Boswell, and I have grown up together, our relationship has become more complicated. I am hopeful that our relationship will continue to deepen, but my desire for a life of adventure and Nelly’s independent nature make our future together unclear. Nelly’s family has treated me like one of their own for as long as I can remember. Her twin brothers, as troublesome as they may be sometimes, help Luke and me with our store. I owe the Warner family a great deal, for having such confidence in me and encouraging me to live my dreams. And Luke Warner has become for me the brother I never had. I also befriended a Pawnee scout named White Dog during a wagon-train trek across the plains. I hope that friendship grows.

What is your heart’s deepest desire?

To marry Nelly and have a family. But the world is full of adventure and beauty, and I want to experience all of it. I hope to somehow have both a life of adventure and be happily married to Nelly, even though I recognize these desires might not seem complementary. I’d also like to expand my reputation as an adventurer and make my business with the Warners more successful. And of course, I want to make all the people close to me proud.

What are you most afraid of?

Living a lonely, tedious life. Growing up, I honored my father and mother and never complained about life on the farm, but I knew the life of a farmer was not for me. The routine of the chores, the dependence on the weather for success, and the solitary existence all go against my nature. But a man who is too restless to stay at home and be a good husband and father may be destined to spend his time alone. This is not what I want for myself, but I have to be true to my nature.

Do you have a cherished possession?

My parents’ farm is my only remaining link to them, and although I have no interest in farming the land, I have no interest in selling it either. My saddle horse, Star, who I do not think of as a possession so much as a family member, was my father’s until he died. I can’t recall a time when she was not with me. I treasure my father’s Henry rifle, one of the first models made. It is as true and reliable as he was. My mother’s ruby ring is one of the few luxuries she owned and one I hope to someday place on Nelly’s finger. White Dog’s medicine bag is also a treasured keepsake. He gave it to me for saving his life, and it holds spirit tokens that supposedly wield the power to protect me from danger.

What do you expect the future will hold for you?

I hope that Nelly will continue to tolerate my restless spirit and even love me as more than a friend, in the way that a wife loves a husband. The outfitting business suits me well, but I hope to contribute to America’s settlement by being involved in the exploration of the last remaining wilderness areas in our great West.

What have you learned about yourself in the course of your story?

As I grew up daydreaming about a life of adventure, I was concerned that my nature was too meek and commonplace to withstand the demands of a life of danger. But I have learned that being honest, hardworking, pleasant with people, and calm in the face of danger are traits that make me valuable to bolder men who need reliable helpers to succeed where most men can’t.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?

I am unlikely to ever be a problem drinker. While I enjoy an occasional glass of wine, my time with Major Powell in the Grand Canyon cured me of ever developing a taste for whiskey.

Tim Piper is retired from a long career in Information Technology and has been a lifelong hobbyist musician. In his earlier days he was an avid hiker and backcountry camper, but his adventures these days are less strenuous and more comfortable. He lives in Bloomington, Illinois, with his cat, Maggie, who is no help with his writing, but is a stellar companion. He began his education at Illinois State University as an English major, but life circumstances put him on a more pragmatic path, and he graduated with a BS in Business Admin, a degree he finds appropriately named. You can stay in touch with him at www.timpiper-author.com