Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-06-13

another man came along who listened
to what we said. He asked me who
and what ! was he asked me how
spelled my name, and said, Without
a p. It seemed he knew my great
uncle, J. Edgar Thomson, one Of the
former presidents of the road, we'll A
few minutes later he left, and when
started to 60 the general manager told
me the man who had been questioning
me wanted to see me in his Office. Then
for the first time learned the stranger
was Colonel Thomas A. Scott, president
Of the road" .. l.sN=
It was the talk that the young me-
chanic had that afternoon with Colonel
Scott which resulted in his being re-
moved from the Altoona shops to
position in the ofdce Of the company.
A few months later the civil war
broke out and Colonel Scott was ap-
pointed assistant secretary Of war by
President Lincoln and placed in charge
Of all matters relating to the transpor-
tation of troops and supplies Of the
Union army. Mr.. Thomson was then
a boy not 20. but the genius Colonel
Scott possessed for reading. and Judging
men led him to appoint young Thorn
son, 40 his first assistant. The latter's
first work was to move troops into
Washington by way Of Annapolis and
later to, restore the roads, repair, the
shops, rolling stock and machinery Of
the roads running through Alexandria.
Va. During the war hs achieved apny;
notable fsats IN getting wrecked roads
and dismantled rolling stock into work
Ing tordsr, and was In many why's ~
spondhle Tor the brilliant success of
Colonel SCOTS department. 4. Sss ~55,sS
After the val. and when not quite %
be was appointed superintendent Of the.
eastern, division Of the Philadelphia and
Erie road In 1878 he became superin.s
tendsnt Of motive power Of the Penn
sylvania railroad at Altoona, and two
years later was made general manager
Of. the Pennsylvania system east of
Pittsburg and Erie Il was In this posi-
stion that he introduced refornt in the
management, administration and main
fspeSss Q9 the road, which placed it IN
the Hrst rank.
On Oct. /, 1889. he was chosen sec.
ond vice president; on Oct. 27, 1883,
first vice president, and upon the death
Of George B. Roberts he was elected
president on Feb. 8, 1897. Mr.. Thorn
son was born in Chambersburg, Pa.
July 8, 1841. His grandfather, Alex
ander Thomson, came from Scotland
and settled in the Cumberland valley
in It'll. His father, Judge Alexander
Thomson, was congressman from
1924 to 1926. Frank Thomson was edu-
Gated in the Chambersburg academy,
and upon his graduation entered the
Altoona railroad shops When he met
with the accident to his thumb, he was
thoroughly proficient mechanic and
engineer, capable Of taking the raw
materials and constructing a locomo-
4 tive and operating it when completed.
For years Mr.. Thomson had been re-
garded as the foremost railroad man in
the country. Marvellous executive aEili-
ty and power to judge the capacity Of
men about him were his chief charac-
teristics. In temperament and manner
he was exceedingly calm and amiable.
He had the qualities which make the
successful diplomat to an abundant de-
gree. No one ever saw him rufded or
excited. e. :" KEN e.. &
In his private life he was singularly
attractive. As a host in his home
Corkerhil, at Merton. Pa. he was pre-
eminent. all that was gracious, digni-
fed, kindly. He was fond Of outdoor
life and was hunter and an angler. -
Special to New York World. 5