The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-01
WILLIAM r. M'KEEN
SKETCH OF A WORTHY n REPRE-
SENTATIVE AMERICAN CITIZEN.
He Built Up "a Great Transportation
Property Bit by Bit-SOme Incl
dents of His Busy Career.
Kansas City Star.

Haute to Logansport and the one from
Terre Haute TO Peoria. Ill. The history
is interesting. The. Terre Haute & Indians
apolis railroad, connecting the two cities,
was one of the earliest built in the State.
Mr.. McKeen was one of its directors al
most from the beginning. With a penchant
for knowing all about every enterprise
with which he is connected, he soon be-
came familiar with the details of the bust
ness and operation of the road. In 1861
he was elected president, a position which
he has held continuously for twenty-seven
years
AS early as 1863 he effected an arrange
ment with the Pennsylvania Company
which enabled him to build. equip and
operate a line of road from East st. Louis
through Vandalia TO the eastern line of
the State of Illinois. When this was done
he closed the gap by building westward
from Terre Haute across the Wabash
river to the State line, thus completing a
trunk line from the East to the Mississippi
at st. Louis. He knew something of the
extent and richness Of the prairies of Illi-
nois and their generous response to the
overtures of the agricuiturist. His penetra-
ton into the future discovered boundless
resources undeveloped. and his determine
ton to be first in the field equipped with
facilities to handle the traffic was evidence
The yandalia under his executive control
has been carefully and admirably managed.
IT'S popularity as a PASSENGER th9rongnrarree
equipment and fast time, but also on its
reputation for carrying its trains to their
destination without accident There is a
has ever been killed on the road during
the thirty years of it's operation, 1t is the
'.Cunard line" of the prairie RMS singular
~ rnunifu from fatal accidents is due 10
the policy adopted by. the president in the
selection of heads of departments ana
alone are considered in determining APP
pointments. No political influence, ia
voritism or friendship is strong enough TO
secure the appointment or an applicant
who is incapable, inefficient or untrust-
worthy.
MAN OF VARIED ABILITIES.
Mr.. McKee has the ability requisite for
large undertakings, remarkable power OF
analysis and a faculty of holding In MIND
important details. This is very largely an
acquired faculty, the result OF thorough
training in positions which required him to
know the details of transactions of vast
import as well as small account. He was a
farmers son, born on the beautiful prairie
of vigo county, where his father settled
as a pioneer, only a few miles from the
city which has been the theater OF ms en-
tire business career. After reaching. the
limit of instruction in the public SCHOOLS
he spent a single term i'm Asbury Univer-
sity. where he evinced aptness in master
ing the studies which afford a preparation
for commercial pursuits. At eighteen he
cult Court, and at twenty-one conhdentlal
clerk and bookkeeper in the Terre Haute
he was promoted, on merit, to the respon-
sible position of cashier. This brought
him into personal contact ro n with fne s wbe
controlled these banks. Although but
twenty-three years of age he discharged
entire Accountability. With the knowledge
thus acquired and the little. money saved
he organized a private bank about forty
of the strongest fiscal institutions of the
State. 1t is the oldest private bank and
the only one that lived through all the pam
les and financial depressions that have Cis-
turbed the country's business since it was
| organized. His eldest son is now president
of this old banking house of Mckeen &
Co. A younger son is cashier.
With a view to facilitating commercial
traffic. he was one Of the projectors of the
president until 1885, declining to serve
longer on account of the too exacting ue-
mands on his time in behalf of other en-,
in the construction of the magnificent
Union Station at indianapolis, and was the
CONNEXIONS Union Station at Terre Haute.
In the management of a railroad three
classes are interested: The stockholders, the
CILBiOycS dhQ II puOiiC- LhCh tCACo
sometimes appear to be antagonistic. To sat
isfy all of them requires large capacity,
sturdy integrity and wise diplomacy in the
chief executive officer. Mr.. Mckeen has
been fortunate enough to accomplish 1t
under all circumstances. His continuance
in Office from year to year evidences the
pleasure of the stockholders with his adj
ministration. The uniform fidelity and
loyalty of the Vandalia's employees attest
their satisfaction with the wages received
and the treatment accorded them. His
boundless popularity with the great body
of the people is logical proof that he fully
merits the demands of the third class. The
| assertion that he is the most universally
| popular business man in the State will not
be challenged. Broad minded, large heart
ed and generous. he is accounted the I'M
| conditional friend of every public enter
prise of merit and every man worth of
friendship. His employees love him, and in
token of their affection call him 1.-THE old
man. Any one of them VINO has a grew
ance knows that his complaint will be
heard, that his wrong will be righted, by a
man who never countenances injustice or
oppression; whose innate sense or right and
duty is recognized as an element OF ines
Unable value in the computation OF his
official qualifications. He is a man whose
careful habits of thought make him strong
within himself and qualify him as a safe
counselor in all matters of business. There
IS no man whose advice is more frequently
sought. and none to whose opinions greater
Difference is shown. His political opinions
are based upon his own conscientious in
vestigations. While his convictions are firm
| he is modest in the expression of his views
and careful not to give 0ffense. He has
never held or sought political offices; on the
| contrary has frequently declined overtures
made to him looking TO that END. He could
nave been elected Governor If he had given
the word. He remains at home more close
ly than any other railroad president in the
country, rarely being absent except to meet
| pressing business engagements. The gen
eral exception is that once In four years
he attends the Republican National con-
Vention as a delegate. This has been going
on so long that his absence from any such
delegation would be cause for challenging
the regularity of its selection.
HTS GREAT LIBERALITY.
His principal recreation is found in the
supervision of his fine stock farms One,
situated about four miles from the city,
is devoted chiefly to the breeding and rails
ing of blooded cattle. Another, less than
two miles from the city. is a horse farm.
The arrangement of barns and lots and
pastures, with the accessories Of water
and all other comforts. is superb; and his
stock represents some Of the finest strains
Of blood that have become famous on the
turf. The record-breaking track is on his
land, leased for the purpose, though he
does not participate in the racing.
Mr.. McKeen is a charitable man. His
liberality is proverbial. He never declines
and his contributions for benevolent pur-
poses probably exceed those OF any other
man in the State. Most Of his, gifts are
\ in secret and kn0wledga of them wNuId