The Van Buren press., 1897-11-06
COL. s. W. ToRDYGE-
sketch Of the President Of the St
Ioais and Southwestern Rail.
road. Cotton Belt.

loais and SouthNestern Rail.
road. Cotton Belt.
Jane Eliot contributes to the St
Louis Star the following sketch Of 1
gentleman well known and esteemed il
Arkansas
Samuel Winfield Foriyoe. president
of the ST. Louis and Southwestern
Railroad. popularity known IS the
Cotton Belt. began his career by work
ing during vacation while sohoolboy
for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
known in that day rs the Central Ohio.
In 1850 he left school snd took $
permanent position IS station sgent for
the same road.
The breaking Ont Of the war changed
his course for while. He enlisted as
q private in Company B. First Ohio
Volunteer Cavalry, in July. 1861. His
promotion was rapid from private TO
second lieutenant and from second
lieutenant TO first lieutenant. to captain,
and again to assistant inspector general
Of cavalry, with rank of colonel.
assigned TO duty in the cavalry corps,
Army Of the Cumberland.
At the close of the war Samuel "
Fordyce located at Huntsville, Ala.
and on borrowed capital started small
banking business. the firm being
Foriyce 6 Bison. He took an active
interest in politics as a Democrat. and
in 1874 was made s member Of the
Alabama state central committee.
Politics has always played a great
part in the life of Samuel Winfield
Fordyce, and for years it was a n. tier
of public speculation whether he would
shine as star in the political arena or
become the president of a great rail
road
1t has always been the general belief
with those who knew him best that had
he been fired with political aspirations
to the degree of his loyalty to his party
he could have been today one of the
most distinguished Office holders in
Washing gton or elsewhere.
But what would have been gain for
Colonel Fordyee in this direction would
have meant the serious loss of an i'm
portant factor to the railroad world.
Early in 1876 Colonel Fordyce located
at Hot Springs and engaged in various
enterprises in and outside of the state,
always continuing in the service of the
railroad. with its interest uppermost in
his mind. Again his love for politics
was manifested. and he was sent as a
delegate to the state gubernatorial con
vention in 1880.
In 1884 he was elected as delegate 10
the state judicial convention. and after
wards became member Of the national
Democratic committee.
He was a delegate 70 the national
Democratic convention st Chicago in
1884. and was on the committee 70
notify Grover Cleveland Of his aouins-
ton.
II 1SS2 hs VAS a delegate &; lA-ss
troz -zs STATE q ArEE-sEs % th-
nGtl1zZ Ds31c-z15c socrsz1--- E1s
EKs cEZKz e IA r-0z--es II
vs--zEzzs=11 -rEIzzzE-1-1
@EE4 sTz--=i " M -t.i17l-a1 szz--z-.s
Il sls. E,EE C1itns.l EIr-E-.s Was -ggnI-F
Ii---G-lf--r1lr II ais 1r1zlls.ss# E'Ir.if ant
v,llIs. r1r a -.ziI1s1r II E-iEss1,saa- IL
lssI IA. v1R nHai,s r-r.,.- PRESIDENT Eut
7-ss4zzIEzsr M siE Ts=-Ez frIll r -.EHlIf
i.slir-zAEI sunuEHr Eg-r II 1sss7 VIA IsI.-
lHinrs--L ---l.srvsr tIr 1Is. -zasr
L1HE1 m -su-EsElir-zEsIuI Il ISL IA
IHIuF. w-sH riH11,=t sI Ia. r. L.uIiH
A-E-sgIEsss ANT T.zsE -1if-zzst Eut
bau1Is. y 7urftva. v-aH nHII. 1r-.as
usTr II 1eA tis ruurIzSIrF ssssl1 f..l
urH -tlE. nlmnf n 3 -.sszfFvs- Gimme.
furrHtzs -za-IE f:1E-E. n flH ufEI1l
EIlIT1I8sE- cIlanFs " 1Iszurs fuiux-sC r-f
u-r-lI11zzEainI Ellf r n 1BnHT Euf'vI A.
1lts = -uuH ant suu-1r E-szTs-1. n
1uzzu1 E,..f. VIII 5szurusl II Fg~1sn.
s-r a. IA hsHt ~ 1r-sssa1ss-1-. va taf
-.ssl zl-s-las II 81 Ls1rif
EET lsW- C1l11ls1 Fu-sTss va
u1E--l-5 m Nla susEr Z C1s55-E-
aEnE-- ut 1hs 8sr ELzEz D
Cas5i-E lassar e ths Czza~-lssi
P-ss.-E-s-E1 caErh a. Ez.-zsills.
Ala
Il E-T-aE-Ines czlassl FC-ivcs i =
ErEE hEurs. szu and erect Grss,
msu-El s--vitT h1s hinged rs hair with
EEF- winch i tEsi becoming white
EmE add dignity % his strong
i1tszis-11zl ts1fzras BE = earnest
s1szEaEic End saEacio1s IN al business
EzEl-s kesa observer of political
svHr-s q strong partisan. & warm
frssaz and posses those sterling
quzl5r5s-s sEhich have rEssed hin from =
pa1- supl0ys - . railroad 70 the
Fr=siasorT.