The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-01-31
Mount Holly Bows.


Mount Holly Boys.
The Street RailsOay and Electrical Nescs
gives list of the officers of the Northwest
General Electric Company, with litho-
graphic portraits of the gentlemen. In the
list are two young men formerly of this
town-Henry NJ. BylIesby and Howard G.
Lewis. The former is the son of the late
Rev. Dewitt C. Byllesby. who was at one
time rector of Trinity church; the latter
the son of our well-known townsman,
Franklin B. Lewis.
Both of these young men hold RESPONSE.
BILE positions in the Northwest Company
which is located at st. Paul, Minnesota
and which does a business scarcely
equalled by any other house. in any line,
In its section of the country. Mr.. Byllesby
is President of the Company, Mr.. Lewis
holding the double position of Vice Presi-
and Treasurer. The News says
Henry M. ByIlesby was born in Pitts
burg, Pa, in 1859. He obtained his edu-
cation in the public schools and at Lehigh
University. His first business experience
was gained in a railroad Office in New
York city, after which he worked three
years as draughtsman and mechanical
engineer, when, in 1882, he began work
with the Edison Company, remaining with
them until 1885. as manager Of the Ca
madam Department. Electricity furnished
him fascinating work. and he left the
Edison Company only because wider
field was offered him by the Westing.
house people.
This company at once recognized his
ability, and he soon became their general
manager and first vice president, remain
ing with them until the end of 1890. The
first months of the year of 1891 found him
connected with the Thomson Houston
Company, when he went to St, Paul, and,
in May, 1891. was given the position be
now holds.
Mr. Byllesby has won these rapid pro-
motions by his own worth, as he possesses
unusual executive ability combined with
thorough technical and practical know
ledge of all electrical matters. He Is q
member of the American Society of Civil
Egineers, of the American Society of Me-
chanical Engineers, and of the American
Institute Of Electrical Engineers. He is
the inventor of some important devices,
which goat least, to show that he is original
in his work, and it is quite safe 30
say that, in general. men of original
ideas, not copyists. succeed best in any
line of work, for they are independent
thinkers.
Howard c. Lewis was born at Mount
Holly, in 1859, and was companion OF
Mr.. Byllesby in his boyhood days. While
the latter, as boy. was constructing toy
engines, Mr.. Lewis early showed his lean
ing to books, and as result of close atten-
ton to his studies he was graduated in Law
by Columbia College, soon after becoming
Of age. Shortly after graduating he was
admitted to the bars of New York and
New Jersey, and began active practice at
Mount Holly, where he remained until
April. 1889. when he was called to Pitts
burg by the Westinghouse Company, to
work In their legal department.
His work was 80 satisfactory, the follow
ing year he was made secretary of the
company. which position he resigned in
February, 1891, to take position in the
legal department of the Thomson-HoustoE
Company, going, soon after, to Chicago al
counsel for the Chicago department. Ht
had scarcely been admitted to the bar o
Illinois and got settled in the Chicago offict
when he was called to St. Paul, where he
was made vice president and treasurer o
the Northwest Thomson-H Houston Com
pany, entering upon his duties in July
1891. In addition to these offices he II
also counsel of both the General Electro
Company and Of the Northwest Genera
Electric Company.
Outside of the experimental department
from which come the new discoveries ant
inventions, no work connected with thu
growth of the electrical industries ha
been more important than that of thu
legal department. for upon the work o
counsel very often the value of contract
franchise, or a patent depends; and wheI
Mr.. Lewis entered this department of law
it was an entirely new field, there beiDi
neither statute nor precedent to map on
the way. That he should have held q
many positions being more important thai
the one resigned, is ample testimony t
the fact that his own abilities and re
sources gained him these rapid promo
tions, leading to the important trusts nov
imposed in him.