The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-10
Special Bargains This Week
OBITUARY.
Thomas j. Potter, First Vice. President of
the Union Pacific Railway.


Thomas j. Potter, First Vice President of
the Union Pacific Railway.
WASHINGTON March g. Mr. Thomas J. Pot
ter, vice president an3 general manager of the
Welcker's Hotel at 11:15 this rnorning MIR.
Potter came here in his private car on his way
to Florida. with his family and DR. Ransom. his
ply sician. about two weeks ago. He was
afflicted with dropsy of the heart, and travel
from Omaha to Washington fatigued him
that it was deemed advisable 10 make short
stop to afford rest. From the day of the arrival
here Mr. Potter began to sink, and within sixty
hours it was feared he dying. He rallied
just little, and has since been N that condition
where the border line between life and death
was scarcely perceptible His death this morn
ing not surprise to his family. The
mains will be taken from here to Burlington,
his old home in his special car and will leave
at o'clock this evenin e.
Thomas J. Potter was born In Carroll county,
Ohio, August 16. 1640 Mr.. Potter went to
Iowa when mere STRIPPING. It may be said
than in his boyhood he gave little evidence of
future greatness But he was sturdy, manly
lad albeit full of animal spirits. so much so that
TOM Potter's mischievoue pranks were known
and talked about for miles around. His first
railroad experience in July. 1862, when he
acted as lineman in the engineers corps
gagged in surveying the line for the Burlington
g. Missouri River Railroad from Burlington to
Council Bluffs. He served In the of the
rebellion. but without particularly distinguish
ing himself so far as history goes,
and his own modesty was such that it was not
possible to learn from him whether or not he
performed any particularly heroic deeds.
For short time after the war he was
employed in grocery store in Ottumwa, Ia,
but he restless and dissatisfied with himself.
He had passed the first quarter of a century
mark Of life. and began to feel that If he was to
achieve success it was high tune be up and
doing. He concluded that railroading offered
wide field for an active. energetic man, and be-
gan to work as tie inspector. In January, 1866,
he was appointed station agent at Abba, in Mon
county, the first county seat town west of
Ottumwa, and served in this capacity for two
years. The history of his advancement since
that time, compressed into a nutshell, is as fol-
lows: From 1868 to 1873, fuel and claim agent
Burlington and Missouri River road. Burlington,
Ia; January 1873. to May 1887, with Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy railroad; January to
August. 1873 general agent. Creston. Ia; Au-
gust, 1873. to February. 1875, assistant superin-
Gendent, same place; February. 1875, to June,
1878, superintendent Iowa division; June, 1873.
December, 1879. to November. 1880,
assistant general manager, Chicago; Novem-
ber, 1880. TO November, 1884, general manager,
from which time to September, 1884, also third
vice. president, as well as general manager; and
also vice president and general manager of the
following railroads: ST. Louis. Keokuk g.
City, and Chicago g. lows. and vice-president
of the Hannibal t& st. Joseph Railroad Com
pany; September, 1884, to May, 1887, first vice.
president and general manager as first above;
also vice-president of the Kansas City. St.
Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad Company;
since May. l6 1897. first vice-president of the
Union Pacific Railroad Company. Ii will thus
be seen that promotions strewn along his
path like milestones but they were
sought in any instance, ont came to him in the
natural order of things and simply bacause his
superiors recognized the logic of events and
could not keep him down, even had there existed
at any time an inclination TO do so.