Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-23
ALFRED BARRETT ROPES.
A Promising Young Man Who Died Re-
Gently In Sacramento.

A Promising Young Man Who Died Re-
| Gently In Sacramento.
The following from an Orange, n. j.,
paper refers to the late Engineer of Tests,
A. B. Ropes, who died here on the Sth
inst.
Albert B. Ropes, son of Lydia L. and the
| late David n. Ropes, died at Sacramento,
| Cal, on Tuesday. He had been in failing
health for some time, and for week pre-
vious had been so low that the gravest ap.
prehensions were entertained. No details
have yet been received. 1t is seldom that
death invades family circle and within
the short space of three months removes
| three adult members David n. Ropes
passed away on July 23d, and on July 31st,
little over a week later, his son, Charles
| F. Ropes, died at Sacramento.
Albert Barrett Ropes was the fourth child
of Lydia L. and David n. Ropes, and was
born in Orange on July I, 1862 He was a
pupil of the Misses Robinson for several
years, and then entered the public schools,
going through the Grammar Department
and then taking special course to fit him
| for Stevens POLYTECHNIC Institute, of Ho-
| boken, which he entered without cOndi-
| tons" in his 18th year. Just before his
graduation he received his diploma from
| the Orange High School. He graduated
| from the Stevens Institute in 1888, and at
once went to Brainerd, Mimi, to take a
position as engineer on the Northern Pa
| ci6c Railroad, which had been previously
| rendered him. He remained there about
three and half years in charge of the test
| ing of supplies of all kinds on the road
coal, fuel iron, steel, and finally the loco
motives. When II. J. Small, the Chief Engi-
& J.. 10 Do 20
| take charge of the Philadelphia and Reading
road, Mr.. Ropes went with him. and was
appointed Engineer of Tests, having charge
of the experimental and chemical labor
atory of the road. Here he remained for
nine months, when Mr.. Small accepted the
position of Superintendent of Motive Power
of the Southern Pacific Railroad, with
headquarters at Sacramento, Cal. He re-
quested Mr.. Ropes to accompany him, and
gave him the position of Engineer of Tests
of the entire Southern Pacific system,
which he held until his death. Mr.. Ropes
suffered greatly from malaria while at
Reading, and his constitution was under
mined. He never recovered his health, but
gradually failed. On Saturday he had
severe sinking attack, from which he failed
to rally, and his death occurred on Tues
day afternoon.
Ao a Ivy yOubS llOpCo w hS hdOlC
for his mechanical instinct. AS soon as
he could use his hands they turned nat
urally to the use of tools. He had during
his school days complete workshop, with
lathe, scroll saw and other appliances. Be-
tween his thirteenth and fifteenth years he
built working model in wood of a loco
motive, complete in all its parts both ex-
terror and interior. This was about two
feet in length. His whole education and
training fostered this love of mechanics,
and it was felt by all who knew him that
he had made no mistake in choosing his
career. He was a young man of strong,
positive character and of great influence
over those with whom he was thrown in
contact. An especially noteworthy trait
was his steadfast effort to be helpful to
those under him or in his employ. Over
such his influence was very great, and
many young man has had occasion to
trace the beginning of a better and more
useful life to the kindly words and coun-
sells of Mr.. Ropes. Another trait was his
modesty. As each added responsibility
was given to him, he spoke depreciatingly
of his own abilities, and this feeling seemed
to grow stronger as be grew older. He
was exceedingly popular wherever he
went, and made friends everywhere, but
he never lost his interest in his early home,
and he was always eager to meet those
who came from Orange or could tell him
of the dOingS of its people