Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/38

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MRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY

the seventeenth century. His maternal an- cestors were from Maryland. His early life was spent in Utica, where he attended the public school until thirteen years of age. lie then began his long career as a railroad man, a career that now covers half a cen- tury of the greatest national progress. On [•\'bruary i. 1864, he began work in the office of the agent of the Baltimore & Ohio as messenger boy, continuing with that com- pany six years, serving as messenger and agent's clerk and telegraph operator. Those -ix years were well spent. Not only did they bring well gained information, but val- uable experience was gained and a reputa- tion for diligence, carefulness, willingness and trustworthiness firmly established.

Terminating his connection with the Bal- timore & Ohio, he entered the service of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway, serving as agent, train dispatcher's assist- ant and train dispatcher, spending three vears with this company, and with each year rising in rank and experience. In 1873 he entered the employ of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway, continuing with that company and its successors, filling still more and more important positions. For eight years he was train dispatcher, for two years superintendent of the Ohio & Indiana division, for three and a half years superin- tendent of the Eastern division, and from January i, 1887, to November 10, 1889, as- sistant general superintendent. He then transferred his allegiance to the Chesapeake cK: Ohio Railway Com|)any, accej^ting the appointment of division superintendent with headquarters at Richmond, Virginia. The years had now added to his strong character qualifications the experience and knowledge necessary to further advancement, which quickly came. On January i, 1890, he was promoted to the office of general superin- tendent of the Chesapeake & Ohio, this be- ing followed, July i, 1891, by his appoint- ment as general manager. Nine years were spent in this position, when again he was called to greater responsibilities. On Feb- ruary I, 1900, he w^as elected president of the road. He is also president of the Hock- ing Valley Railway Company, elected in March, 1910, and of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, of Indiana, elected July I. 1910, the latter company being formerly known as the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louis-

ville Railway, the short line between Cin- cinnati and Chicago.

Having now reached the highest position a railroad company can bestow, it is inter- esting to know that this "man from the ranks" has made a forceful, successful com- mander, repeating in his higher responsi- bilities the successes of each lower position held. The system he controls is an import- ant one, and with his control directors and patrons are well satisfied. He has built up a large traffic for the system, as he pre- viously built it for division and line by catering to the upbuilding of business of every kind in the territory which the sys- tem serves. He is decidedly averse to some of the practice common enough in railway operation, and is old fashioned enough to believe that a railroad can best advance its own interests by loyal service to all the business interests of its territory. This sound business doctrine, loyally worked out by his subordinate officials, has brought prosperity to the road and to its patrons, and establishes Mr. Stevens' contention. That a railroad occupies a very intimate relation to the development of the country through which it runs, and that the develop- ment of the one means the natural advance- ment of the other, is well known. Neither the rights nor convenience of the shipper, nor the dividend earning rights of the stock- holder are sacrificed to one another, but both are secure by Air. Stevens' wise, conserva- tive, careful and equitable management. Hence, travel w^here you will along the lines of the Chesapeake & Ohio system, and you will find him everywhere commended as a public-spirited, progressive executive.

Happy as are his relations with patron, stockholder and director, he is nowhere more highly respected, honored or loved than by his subordinates of the system. Himself a self-taught man, he has the deep- est sympathy with every movement tend- ing to increase the opportunities railroad men may have for self-improvement through good books, study and social intercourse. This interest and sympathy has centered in the railroad Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, whose w^ork he has grandly fur- thered in Richmond and at many other places along the line. Many associations have been formed through his eiTorts, and through his financial aid many suitable