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Heinrich Hilgard: From Speyer to American Railway King!
A new book about Heinrich Hilgard, the Speyer emigrant and railway king, sheds light on his important history.
Heinrich Hilgard: From Speyer to American Railway King!
A new book about Heinrich Hilgard, better known as Henry Villard, is attracting attention. It will be presented in Speyer on September 29, 2025, and it illuminates the remarkable life of one of the most important emigrants of the 19th century, who not only shaped American railway history but also never forgot his Palatinate roots. Loud Rhine Palatinate Karl Erhard Schuhmacher, an experienced expert on Hilgard's life, published this book to preserve the memory of Speyer's famous son.
Heinrich Hilgard was born on April 10, 1835 in Speyer and represented the family of the lawyers Hilgard and the Palatinate Lisette Pfeiffer. The family moved to Zweibrücken in 1839, where Heinrich received his education. Intriguingly, he left high school during the Palatinate Uprising in 1849 due to a conflict with a religion teacher. Wikipedia points out that he then went to Palatinate and finally took his Abitur in Speyer in 1852.
An adventurous emigration
In 1853, Hilgard set out on a momentous adventure. He emigrated to the USA without knowing English and landed in New York on October 13th. With just $50 donated by a great uncle in Illinois, he started a new life. With his last money he bought a shipping passage and laid the foundation for his impressive career, which made him known as the “American Railroad King”. HDBG is to be read.
His path took him through many different professions, including as a writer and later as editor of a local newspaper. Hilgard gained the trust of President Abraham Lincoln and covered the American Civil War as a journalist. This eventually opened the doors to a bright career in the railway sector. He became president of several railroad companies and was largely responsible for the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
A legacy that lasts
However, his involvement did not end with rail transport. Hilgard founded an orphanage in Zweibrücken, the Hilgard School, and supported the construction of the Memorial Church in Speyer. Thanks to his services, he became an honorary citizen of his hometown in 1895 and is still unforgotten today - not only because of the Hilgardstrasse in Speyer that is named after him, but also because of the bust that is dedicated to him there.
Schuhmacher's book is an important step in keeping the memory of Heinrich Hilgard alive and shows that his story is still of interest to the region today. Despite the many challenges that accompanied him, Hilgard left a remarkable legacy - not only in the USA, but also back home in the Palatinate.