Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-07-28
GEORGE STEPHENSON.

The life Of George Stephenson, tho one
hundrcdth anniversary of whose birth has
just been celebrated in England, is we'll
worth the careful study of the young. It,
is one OF those lives which stand out uii
abiding testimony to the fact that poverty
and lowly condition 10 early life cannot
keep down one who is patient, persistent
and persevering. Over the door of one Of
the large private banking houses in Eug-
land hangs Sign in the shape of satchcl.
The founder Of the house went from Lon
don, with his whole wardrobe in satchc
and his whole wealth in single piece Of:
silver, worth sixty cents Of American
money. The sgu over the door is Intended
to preserve tho memory of that incident.
But the banker was not US useful man
perhaps, as was Stephenson. Tho latter
was born iu the coliiery village of Wylam,
in Northumberland, Eugland. His father
was laborug man, and his home single
room in small Iaborc,s cottage. When
nine years old, George earned four cents
day tending widow S COWS. Then VIC lind
him working as helper to his fathcr, who
was fireman at co!licry, when George
was still SO little he had to hide from tho
oversecr, earning twelve cents day-bc.
coming full fireman when fifteen, at
twenty four cents day-thcn an engine
man at seventeen, ranking his father, who.
became his son Georges tircman-rcgard.
lug himself as "a made man for life" when
his wages wero raised to three dollars
weck-without knowledge of tho alphabet
even when he was eighteen years old-tak
ing lessons when approaching manhood, in
spelling and reading three nights iu tho
week ut tho village night school at six
cents week pursuing his lessons at the
col!lery fire, and ding "sums' on his
piece of sllte, or with chalk on the side Of
coal wagon-eking out his scanty warey
IN his scanty leisure time by needing and
making shoes for his fellow workmeu. out.
ting out their clothes for the needles Of
their wives, cleaning aud mcndiny olo.k,,
unloading ballast from coal bargcs, making
lasts for shocmakcrs, at all of which ho
became master hand.
ln spite of all these labors and the many
difficulties which surrounded him, he turned
his attention to the Improvement of loco
motive, or travelling engines as he called
then, anu nc was soon renowned over all
the world as the great railroad builder and
engineer OF his time. lie did not invent
the iocomotvc-hc did not construct tho
nFsI enS,ne that Travelled over land; others,
and particularly Oliver Evans Of Philadel.
| phl', had done that sometime bcfoyo. But
he took the locomotive when it was a USE
less and almost rejected thing aud made it q
| power Tor mans service.
Stephenson's first engine was, after mu,h
labor and anxiety, and frequent alterations
placed upon the killingsworth Railway,
on the 10Th of July, 1911, and on ascend
ing grade Of l foot in 45o feet, drew eight
loaded carriages of thirty tons weight
at about four miles on hour and for somo
time after continued regularly at work.
From this point Stephenson s su cccss SEEM
cd to have been assured. lIo acquired fumo
and wealth. lIo was called three times to
Belgium and once to Spain as consulting
engineer. After years of useful service to
his fellow men, service that has placed his
na4nc on the worlds broad roll of fame, he
died at Taptoo, August II. 1913.
Ncto YORK. Observer.