- CHARLES HENRY MENZIE. If the locomotive engineers of the
country are a picked body of
- men, this gentleman is a fine representative of the craft.
Though over sixty years of age he is still alert and vigorous,
and no steadier grasp than his is laid upon the throttle along
the entire line of the Milwaukee road.
- Mr. MENZIE was born in Hobart, Delaware Co., N.Y., June 26,
1837, and is a son of Robert
- R. and Rebecca Ann (THORPE) MENZIE, whose sketch appears
elsewhere. They came to Walworth County, Wis., in June, 1850,
and made their home in this State as long as they lived.
- Charles H. MENZIE was only thirteen years of age when he
accompanied his parents to
- Wisconsin on their removal from New York. He grew to manhood
in Delavan, and finished his literary education in the public
school of that thriving town. When a boy, he worked at various
occupations, and early had the ambition to get on in the world
and be of some account. His school days over, he was employed
on the Racine & Mississippi railroad, now the Racine &
Southwestern division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
railroad, and was engaged in that capacity two years. Then,
the Civil war breaking out, Mr. MENZIE enlisted as a member of
Company D, 22d Wis. V. I., and was in the service two years,
eight months and thirteen days as a non-commissioned officer.
He was a loyal soldier, participated in some of the most noted
struggles of the Middle West, and was wounded in the left leg
at Overall Creek, Tenn., carrying the ball in his hip to the
present day. He was also in the battles of Spring Hill, Brentwood
Station, and many other contests, which were called skirmishes,
but which in any lesser war would have been called battles.
His wound was severe, and rendered his retirement from the service
necessary. Returning home, Mr. MENZIE resumed his work on the
railroad, this time as a fireman, having previously been a brakeman.
He fired four years, and in 1869 was promoted to engineer, which
has been his vocation to the present time. Since 1881 he has
been continuously in the passenger service of the railroad, and
is regarded as one of the most trusty and capable men on the
entire line.
- Mr. MENZIE and Miss Nancy Emeline BEEBE, a daughter of William
L. and Sallie (TRIPP)
- BEEBE, were married July 17, 1867. They have one adopted
daughter, Alice, who is now the wife of Rufus BAKER, of Freeport,
Ill. Mr. and Mrs. MENZIE are members of the Episcopal Church,
and he is a Mason of high standing, belonging to Excelsior Lodge,
No. 97, A.F. & A.M.; Freeport Chapter, No. 23, R.A.M.; Freeport
Commandery, No. 7, K.T.; Freeport Consistory; Tripoli Temple,
of the Mystic Shrine, Milwaukee, Wis.; and is well versed in
the secret lore of the order. He is also a member of the L.
H.D. Crane Post, of the Grand Army of the Republic, at Beloit.
Politically Mr. MENZIE is a Democrat. He lives at No. 912 School
street, where he built a fine home in 1897. Mrs. MENZIE is a
genial and accomplished lady, and is very prominent in social
circles. She belongs to the Order of Easter Star, and was the
first Worthy Matron of Beloit Chapter, No. 77; is a member of
the Ladies' Relief Corps; the Daughters of the American Revolution;
the Eminent Ladies; the Lee Parliamentary Club; and other social
and intellectual movements, doing everything possible to uplift
and advance humanity in general.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, pp. 303-304.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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