Isaac Gouverneur Ogden (1845-1928)

He was known as I.G. Ogden and was born in New York City. He left school at sixteen to become a clerk in a New York mercantile house. Later, he was employed by the banking firm of Fisk & Hatch. In 1871, he entered the railroad business as paymaster and accountant of the Chicago & Pacific. Five years later he became auditor, serving until 1881 when he joined the Canadian Pacific Railway, as auditor of its Western Division, with offices in Winnipeg. Under his supervision the Canadian Pacific's accounting system developed into one of the finest of its kind in the world. The department over which he had control started in 1883 with six employees and by the time of his death it numbered more than 900. In 1883, two years after joining the Canadian Pacific, its Western terminus was Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. In the next few years the line crossed the Canadian Rockies and met tidewater at Vancouver. During his administration of its funds the company acquired a fleet of vessels which enables it to provide transportation around the globe. Becoming Vice President in charge of the CPR's finance, he moved to its headquarters in Montreal. When he died in 1928, he was the last surviving officer of the CPR who was with the company at its organization in 1882.