The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-12-12
DEATH OF JAS.CONYERSE
Passed Away at DeOtOn Ranch N Callahan
County Monday Night.
WAS A PIONEER RAILROAD MAN or TEXAS
Ills Denth Was Unexpected and the
Announcements proved shock
10 His Friends.

IA telegram announcing the death OF
Major James Converse OF Houston Mon
day night was received yesterday, and
the announcement being. wholly unex-
pected was a shock to those who heard
It, The telegram came from Major
Charles G. Woodbridge, With whom Major
Converse had gone to Denton Ranch, in
Callahan county. to inspect some prop
orty.
Major Converse left Houston on No
vember 26. in excellent health, and his
death was therefore a surprise ami a
shock to his friends He leaves a son.
Thomas Peirce Converse, and daughter,
Mrs. H. NJ. Davis, both OF whom live in
California. Nothing is known yet as to
the arrangements for the funeral.
Major James Converse was one OF the
veteran railroad men OF Texas, having
Witnessed the development Of the entire
railroad system OF the State from It's
infancy up, in which development he
has, without making any special Gains
of the kind, occupied a somewhat promi-
nent position.
Major Converse was born in the town
of Aurora Forage county, Ohio, Sep
| TENDER a. 1928. Educated for civil
engineer he began his railroad Eareer
in 1850 as division engineer on the LaSe
Erie and Mad River railroad. one OF the
pioneer lines IN Ohio. Amer service
| of eight months on this road, sons
thing less than two years in the same
| capacity ON the Toledo, Norwalk and
| Cleveland railroad, and the Cleveland and
] Medina railway, and as engineer ON loca-
tion with the Tennessee Southwestern, lie
/ came TO Texas in 1854 as chief engineer
Of the Galveston, HOUSTON and Henderson
road He was in tlre employ OF this
road, the Mississippi Central, aud the
Houston. Trinity and Tyler roads until
after the war, when In the simmer Of
1se5 he became chief engineer OF the
/ Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio
4 railroad a position which he held for a
neriod OF eighteen years. Duting this
| lime he built 900 miles of the last named
road. including the main line and
branches, and l54 miles Of the Mexican
International in Old Mexico.
Those tamllar with railway develop
ment in Texas can thus see that it ls
true as stated, that Major Converse has
witnessed the growth of the railway in
terest OF Texas, and that he has perhaps
done as much in the waM OF actual HELD
I work in extending the dominons Of The
iron horse as any other man In the state.
n When he accepted the posltloh oi cuiet
engineer OF the Galveston Houston and
Henderson railroad forty-six years ago,
there we're less than 100 miles OF rail
road in active operation in all Texas,
Z and the value of the rolling stock and
eo,,inments OF ali the roads then in he
4 ststs ala not exceed 81 100000. Now the
Slate Is covered with network OF steel
rails and the value of the railway prop
arties in the State exclusive on roadbeds,
,s nut down at many million dollars.
There is a pregnant suggestion in this
stmnle abatement OF facts, theme ipr
INC orator. a splendid illustration OF the
ranid material development OF this great
on,,r onwealth. In his forty-six years
sosidance In Texas Major Converse had
become as thoroughly Texan as Y IS pos
I sihle for a man 70 become, having been
hound TO the State by all those ties OF
oaT.sonal interest. business association
fsJendship and family copneeilon that 90
- az ones az achments and give his
feelings a local habitatiOn and name
We was a large real estate holder, having
Invasted his means from time TO time ai
5ifrerent places as opportunities were
offered for good Investments, ana heii
,snne stock in local enterprises. He rad
never field any public office ana took
oniv a nominal interes. Ia politics his
cnief Alteration having been directed 20
Mo of6..ial duties IN connection with the
.aIlroads ana 10 his private Interests.
10 married Mrs NJ. u. w. Chase 81
uanstou on September p. 1863, tiSs lady
being native 81 the city or HOUSTON