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Railroad

Denison Daily News
(Denison, Tex.)
Vol. 6, No. 264, Ed. 2
Monday, December 30, 1878

M.K.&T. - Choctaw Division
Brief Biographical Sketches of the Boys.

This important road has been advertised to our readers, that we will not inflict an article upon them describing the charming scenery of the B.I.T. or inform them of the fact that everybody takes it - - in Texas. J.D. Brown, the energetic G.P.A., has made the M.K. &T., as familiar with the traveling public and the weary emigrant as household words. We propose to give a brief history of some of the rank and file who make their homes in Denison, and hold up the Texas end of this popular and prosperous road.
Major Edward Harding, division superintendent, has charge of the Cherokee, Choctaw and Denison divisions, extending from Parsons, Kansas to Whitewright, Texas, a distance of 300 miles. Major Harding was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and graduated as a civil engineer. He "fit" into the late "unpleasantness" for 4 years on the side of the Union, and made a brilliant record as a faithful and efficient Major of the engineer corps. After the war he was appointed general freight agent and superintendent of the Iron Mountain railway, and remained there until 3 years ago, when he entered the service of the M.K.& T. Major Harding is a thoroughly practical officer and is highly esteemed by the managers of the company, and much respected by his employees.
Frank Ungles, chief clerk for Major Harding, is a native of Illinois, single, handsome, and whistles like a mockingbird. He has been offered $50 for his patent, but will not sell. He is a No. 1 clerk and is kept busy every day in the year.
W.J. Edgar, chief dispatcher, is a native of Bonnie Scotland, the land of Bruce and Wallace. He is a man of family, and thinks more of his babies than he does of his native land, which is saying a good deal. He served his apprenticeship on the C.B. & Q., and has been in Texas over 2 years. He works every day, and will probably receive more "calls" New Year's Day than any other man in town.
D.L. Shea is night dispatcher, and has been in his present position for over a year. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and happy in the possession of a wife, 3 little ones and a palace shoe store.
Mr. G.S. Nelson, freight agent, has been in Denison only a short time, and has already made himself popular by his affable and obliging manner. He is a native of Maryland and has been employed in all branches of railway service.
Charley Fillmore, cashier, is a talented young man and deservedly held in high esteem by all who know him. Charles is not married.
Messrs. Coffin, Loraine, Maurice and other night clerks in the freight office, are gentlemen of ability and experience.
We now come to the conductors, an intelligent class of men, upon whom, perhaps, more responsibility rests than upon any other employee of a railway. W.K. Maxwell, passenger conductor, is a single man and a native of the spot where he was born. He is a great favorite on the road and one of the oldest men in the service, having held the position of train-master and dispatcher under former administrations. Next Christmas will probably fine him a member of a committee of 2, with power to add to its number.
H.H. Warner, better known as "Chick", is a genial and obliging young man and a general favorite. He graduated on t he C.B. & Q. and has been on the road 5 years. He has a wife and 11 small children.
John H. Hills is an old employe and has a sweet smile for everybody. He visited the Centennial and has been to Oshkosh. It is said an old man on the train will cling to Mr. Hills like the ivy to an oak.
Ben B. Brown, passenger conductor, is a Denison boy. He was born very young and is a fine specimen of the Brown family. Ben is always so happy that he can't speak for laughing. Married.
George Haynes is a norther man, having first seen a railroad in the "Sucker State." He went to Memphis, Tennessee, for the benefit of his health, but the climate being too damp, he migrated to Texas. George was road-master at Denison for a long time, and his reputation as a railroad man is firmly established.
George B. Sage, an old-timer from the Illinois Central, is one of the finest gentlemen in the world. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1835, his father being the first minister of the gospel that ever preached in that flourishing city, and he is still alive, guiding the members of his congregation to the better land. George can run a train with his eyes tied up. He knows every rail on the division. Married and has a fine family, one boy and 2 accomplished girls.
W.H. Wheeler, formerly of the Union Pacific, is par excellence the best conductor in the West for accuracy and dispatch. "Hank" is a native of New Jersey and has a wife and daughter.
George Yost is well known in Denison. He is a civil engineer by profession and was for a long time road master on the A. & P. and M.K. & T. roads, and had charge of the construction of the Denison and Southeastern. He is one of the best conductors in the West and is secretary of Lone Star Lodge, No. 53, Order of Conductors.
John F. Ward is a native of Illinois, and has probably seen more life on the rail than any other man in Texas. He served his time on the C. & A. and Illinois Central, and no more reliable or conscientious conductor ever handled a punch. He is thoroughly domesticated now, has a wife and 2 fine boys, the image of their "dad."
H.H. Ward is a young brother of J.F. Ward, and has already made his mark as a careful and competent conductor. He is a thorough gentleman and can sing an Irish song than a native of the "Old Dart." The only thing he abhors is flat wheels on his caboose.
J. Harnest is a handsome blond, the pride of the Harnest family, and a young man of fine attainments and unexceptional habits. He will probably carry signals for a second section before many moons.
C.C. Farrow, better known as "Wichita Charley," is a native of "Bleeding Kansas" and his first sphere of of usefulness was confined to twisting circular protuberances attached to the tops of box cars on the K.P. He is 27 years old, unmarried, and waxes his mustache once a month - when the pay car arrives. His favorite song is "Thou Art So Near and Yet So Farr-ow" He sings it 2 miles each side of Kiowa.
Jeff. Rhodes has worked on the K.P. and other roads and his lines have been cast in pleasant places. He is one of the youngest men on the division, but old in judgment and experience. Mr. Rhodes hails from the K.P. and has a wife and several little branches, who will follow his track.
F.P. Drake is a native of Muscatine, Iowa, and an estimable young man. He is unmarried, but is said to have a "duck" of his own. Frank is a hard worker and sails over the road "on time," unless a draw-head pulls out, when he is apt to get into hot water. Frank officiated upon the hurricane deck of a freight car up north before his advent here.
John McFarland is a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent. He has been running for over a year and is a vigilant conductor. His caboose is said to be the best organized of the division, as he carried a wash-boiler full of provisions. He wouldn't need to be re-victualed if he was "laid out a week."
Tom. Robinson holds the main track on the Denison division. He was born at an early age, in the state of Illinois, and came South to grow old. He has been running a long time and never had a "lay off" nor a collision. He has curly hair and a sweet temper, and is waiting for a chance to marry an heiress.
We intended to write up Horace Alexander and his corps of able engineers, but want of space compels us to postpone this to some future day.
This article, however, would be incomplete, without the history of Captain Wright, the indefatigable yard-master. He was born in the Badger state and raised on cranberries, and is very fond of fall sauce even until this day. His first attempt at railroading, which showed the natural best of his grain, was switching pigs out of a barn yard. Promotions soon followed, and he obtained a position as chief wrestler with green tides, Linberger cheese and coal oil barrels, on way freight. He was afterwards made passenger conductor on the L.L. & G., where he worked with honor and distinction for several years. His strong love for the beautiful, eventually brought him to Denison. Jack is a...man and makes up the trains for both the M.K. &T., the H. & T.C.D. &P. and D.&S.E. He has held the position of yard-master for a quarter of a century, and looks younger every year. Working between meals is beginning to tell on his appetite, and a few more stock seasons will probably slaughter his digestion. J.G. Fish says there will soon be nothing of Jack left - he will be all Wright. He is now chief of the Order of Conductors, and is deservedly respected by all who know him.