The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-15
Frank Thompson. President .FernsyIsania
Railroad,

road interests look back with pride to
lineage Of the land Of the thistle and
Leather.
A family of this description is that of
Thomson. In I'll Alexander Thomson
sailed from Scotland and settled as O
pioneer in the Cumberland Valley.
Among his children was son, Alexander,
who, after winning distinction at the bar
OF his State, represented his district in
: Congress from 1894 to 1925. Returning to
the practice of his profession, he became
judge Of the Sixteenth Judicial District,
and subsequently professor Of Law in
Marshall College.
His son, Frank Thomson, was born in
Chamhersburg, Pa July 9th, 1Sil His
rudimentary and classical education was
received at the Chambersburg Academy,
but he did not inherit the paternai taste
for the law With the foresight which
has been one of the distinguishing char
acteristics of his life he saw in he practi.
cal work of the railroad M attractive and
promising field Of action, ard at seventeen
years Of age he entered the Altoona Shops
of tho Pennsylvania Railroad for instruc-
ton.
A four years course of training in this
great school of applied acicuce graduated
him mechanical engineer, who could
build a locomotive through every stage OF
the progress, from tho crude iron to the
finished engine on tho rails, while 1t also
fitted him to operate as cngneman the
product of his own skill.
1t required little time for Col. Thos. A.
Scott, General Superintendent Of the road
TO detect in the young engineer evidence
OF unusual ability. and the outbreak of civil
war furnished the oppor, unity of testing
his Judgment.
Colonel Scott had been appointed by
President Lincoln, Assistant Secretary of
War, nnd placed in charge of all matters
relating to the transportation OF troops
and supplies, and he called Frank Thorn
son to his hid as Chief Assistant
Mr.. Thomson took the field Immediate
ly, the scene of his operations being the
south and tho upper Southwest, whero ho
constructed railroads and bridges rcpaic.
ed those which had been injured by the
cxigeicie5 of war, directed the transporta-
tion Of troops and the forwarding of sup
plies to the front.
The S gnal success of his efforts in this
dangerous undertaking not only received
fitting recognition from the War Depart
mcnt, but marked him as railroad man
Of ruro promise At the conclusion of
active hosliliiios in This territory he was
relieved from military duty, and in June
1861, was appointed Superintendent of tho
Eastern Division of the Philadelphia and
Eric Railroad, which occupied his time
until March, 1878, After this experience
promotion came rapidly. In March, 1873,
he was made Superintendent of Motive
Power OF tho Pennsylvania Railroad at
Altoona.
In this position the vast information and
wide experience gained from his course in
the shops was applied To the w0rl; OF prac-
tical locomotive construction, and SO was
laid the foundation Of the system which
has since produced those celebrated loco.
motives known as the "R6unsylvanin Bail
road Standard En .ine' On July lst, 1874,
he relnquishod this post to become Gencr
al Manager of the Pennsylvania Railroad
system cast of Ptsburg and Eric.
As General Manager ho introduced
number Of reforms III tho management,
administration, and main cinlnce Of tho
road The s9audard track and the solid
rUahbCd owes its eXis oDce to his efforts,
and the system o. rack Inspection and
the award of prizes for tho best section of
Of traCk were instituted by him. The
adoption OF superior standard of equiG-
ment, the building Of picturesque sta ions
and the ornamcnation of thoir grounds,
the use Of the block signal system aud htr
safety appliances, We're all distinctive feat.
Urcs Of his management, He was also in.
strumental in developing that high gredo
of discipline for which the Pennsylvania
Railroad Is noted
Ga -aetaiier- lstr-- i $50 ,fornsorf he.
camc Second Vice President and OH Oct.
a7th, 1888, was advanced to the post of
First Vice, President, which he has held
up TO the present date. During his in
cumbency of the Vice Presidential offices
Mr.. Thomson was charged with the traffic
arrangements of the System, both in the
freight and passenger branch, and as adj
mnistrative officer of the ROAD and diroCt
representative of the President was In
position to carry out to their fullest fIui.
ton tho progressive reforms which he in
stituted as General Manager
His direct supervision Of the traffic ar
rangcmcnts existing between the Pcnu-
sylvania Railroad and its connections
kept him in close touch with all the rail.
way interests of tho country, and 80
makes him to-day one of the best inform
cd, most experienced, and abest Of Amer
can railroad managers. These qualiflca
tions are universally acknowledged by all
his contemporaries of the railroad world.
Mr. Thomson's duties as the manager
of great railway require 90 much OF his
time that he has never been identified
with many other public institutions. A
notable exception, however Is the Equit-
able Life Insurance Company, Of which
he is director.
The social side of Mr.. Thomson's life Is
quite as comprehensive as It's business
counterpart. He is u patron Of art, lltcra
ture, and music, and his handsome resi-
dcnce at "Corkcrhill," near Merton sta.
ton, is enriched with many examples of
artists in painting and sculpture, whose
works are as valuable as they are rare.
At this mansion, with the assistance of
his daughter, Miss Anne Thomson, he dis
pcnses quiet Lut notable hospitality, to
which his wide acquaintance, both III this
country and abroad, has contributed tho
presence Of many men and women cmi.
nent in the higher walks of life. His
famous cabin, located in his grounds,
uniquely decorated with tho spoils of tho
chase, is often tho scene of quiet enter.
tainment, while his finely appointed
house Is given over to the more elaborate
social functions.
The secret of Mr.. ThOmson's excellent
health under the heavy strain of his duties
is fl und in his love of out of-dour sport He
is an ardent angler, hunter Of much
merit, and generally selects for his holi.
day the season when he may indulge his
taste for the fascination Of the rod or gun.
Mr. Thomson is a member Of tho Phla'
delphia Club, tho Union Club of New
York, and other prominent clubs in both
cities
Mr.. Thomson Is widower his wife, tho
daughter of the late Ben jamin &. Clarke,
of New York, having died in June, 1887.
Miss Ammo Thomson, the only daughter,
a prominent figure in Philadelphia society,
and Frank e. and Clark Thomson, both
students at Harvard, compose the family.
DreadfuIiy Nervous
GESTS-I was dreuifuIly nervous. aud for
relief took your karl's Glover Root Taa 1t
uuietcd my nerves and strengthened my
whole Nervous System. was troubled with
Constipation. Kidney aud bowel trouble.
Your tea soon cleansed my system 80 thor
ouyhly that rapidly regaineG health aud
strength. Mrs :. A. Sweet, Hartford Conn.
SrIt by n. b. Dantorth. 4ud aud Market Dts
The best place in the city to get a good
ENJOYABLE meal at all hours Of the day,
Sardner's, Seventh and Shipley streets
Stanton bots.
The Ladies' Aid of st James Parish
will give "Tea" at the home of Mrs.