- THOMAS KING, one of the oldest employes in point of service
on the Northwestern Railroad, is
- now a resident of Janesville. He was born in Suffolk County,
England, on the 7th day of June, 1829, and is a son of William
and Jane (SMITH) KING. His early boyhood days were spent under
the parental roof, but at the age of thirteen he left home and
began work in the round houses and machine shops, thus becoming
familiar with railroading in early life. For about eight years
prior to his emigration to America, he was employed as fireman,
when, in 1851, he left his native land and settled in Syracuse,
N.Y., where he spent the winter, going to Ohio in the spring
of 1852. He began work in this country on the Galena Road, the
first road built from Chicago, but after nine months left that
road and was employed as fireman on the Michigan Central. In
1853 he was promoted to engineer, continuing in that capacity
for the Michigan Central until 1858, when he entered the employ
of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. In
1859 he came to Janesville, engaging as engineer on the Northwestern
Road, and in 1862 was placed in charge of a passenger engine,
and has served in that position continuously since, covering
a period of twenty-seven years. During the entire time he has
never been laid off for any misdemeanor, and not a single passenger
in the coaches of his train ever received even the slightest
injury. Careful and painstaking, he has won the confidence and
approval of his employers and their patrons, and his long continued
service is a high testimonial of the regard in which he is held
by the road. His run is now between Janesville and DeKalb.
- On the 27th day of September, 1856, Mr. KING and Miss Sarah
J. ELLIS were united in
- marriage. This lady was born in Lincolnshire, England, and
when twelve years of age came with her parents, James and Mary
(CHARLWOOD) ELLIS, to America, the family locating in New York.
In 1850 Mr. and Mrs. ELLIS became residents of Milwaukee, Wis.,
and later removed to Fond du Lac, where they spent two years.
For one year they resided in Oshkosh, after which they became
residents of Chicago, where the death of the mother occurred
from cholera in 1853. For thirty-three years Mr. ELLIS was connected
with the Northwestern Railroad Company in the capacity of mail
agent. His death occurred on the 4th of March, 1884.
- By the union of Mr. and Mrs. KING a family of six children
have been born, three sons and three
- daughters: William T., who married Miss Dotty WATSON, is
now traveling agent for the Osborn Manufacturing Company, and
resides at Janesville; Alice married Alfred TALLMADGE, an employe
of the Northwestern Railroad Company; Luella J., is the wife
of Robert McLEAN, a resident of Janesville; Clara M. is the wife
of Charles E. WATSON, an engineer on the Northwestern Railroad,
living at Harvard, Ill.; George E., and Ross Harry complete the
family. Mrs. KING was reared in the Episcopal Church. Mr. KING
is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and is a highly respected citizen.
-
- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock
County, Wis." (c)1889, p. 195.
- Courtesy of Carol
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