The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-04

handling the business of a many-mil-
lion dollar concern and drawing a sal
airy just one thousand times the amount
he drew a month as raggety-trou-
sered boy In Topeka
This man is Mr.. S. T. Fulton, re-
Gently appointed general sales manager
of the American Steel Spring company
known all over the world The boy spo-
ken about above was Sammy Full
ton Mr.. S. T. Fulton is just an I'M
g bridged edition of Sammy Fulton Of
so years ago.
Sammy Fulton. as he is known in
Topeka is in town visiting his mother
who lives on West Seventh street. Mrs.
Fulton doesn't think Sammy is
bit better than he was when he was
carrying messages for the Union Pa
cific-and he doesn't either for all tina t.
but Topekans who have known him
for years take no little pride in his po-
Sit3on.
Was Once a Messenger Boy.
S. T. Fulton started his career as a
messenger boy. Now he has a score
of messenger boys tip-toeing into his
office. lie found it necessary to quit
school in North Topeka about 80 years
ago and help support the family by
running errands at the Union Pacific
station.
For a few years in spare moments
he learned the secrets of the telegraph
key and took an interest in the nays
ton at all times of the day and night:
Soon the Union Pacific was in need
of an operator and agent IN a little
village not far from Topeka and
SAMMY was given the job For sew
eraI years he shifted from one station
to another, handling the telegraph key,
selling tickets, building fires, cleaning
out the station and Juggling the bag
gage.
But Fulton had a number of spare
moments while attending to his sta
ton duties. Between his duties ne
took up stenography by long distance
Then he was given chance TO per
feet it. He did. Fulton never lost
chance to do anything. Finally he
came back to Topeka and was given a
position as stenographer TO General
Superintendent of Motive rover
Hackney of the Santa F7e in this city.
But still Fulton was not satisfied
He wanted to be more than steno-
grapher. He wanted someone else 70
run the typewriter while he dld the
dictation A few years later he was
made assistant to President Washburn
of the old Kansas City, Fort Scott q
Memphis road at Kansas CITY, rms
was a good position for young man
and the average fellow would have
been satisfied.
When the Frisco took over this road
he was made private secretary to
President Winchell- He travelled all
over. the country with the Frisco pres
ident and at every turn of the wheel
he was on the lookout to learn some
thing new.
Assistant TO President Winchen.
A short time after this appointment
the Frisco and the Rock Island Lines
entered the matrimonial state and the
two roads Joined hands with Winchell
at the head. Winchell had his head
nuarters at ST. Louis with the Frisco,
INT changed his office to Chicago to
head the two roads. He took fulton
assistant
the president
while in ST. Louis and Chicago Full
TON kept his eye open for something
better. He studied railway economy
and conditions. He watched the
roads purchasing department and
took advantage of every opportunity
to amend his knowledge. The Rock
island and Frisco could not get along
together and their divorce was a cue
for Fulton to try out something else.
Instead of going back to st. Louis
with President Winchell, Fulton de-
cfded to get out of railroad work and
stand ready to snatch up a PROPOSE
ton in Chicago.
Only a few months of this dog
watch and Fulton was made west
ern representative of the American
Steel Spring company at Chicago.
This company is one OF the largest In
the country 1t has mammoth plants
all over the United States and does
a world wide business. Fulton as
" estern sales manager won q. way into
the management of the company and
short time ago he was appointed
general sales agent at New York City.
Fulton isn't afraid of work. To-
pehans who remember him around the
Union Pacific depot know that He
still is a young man and with his ex-
perience and position, it is predicted
he will make a rapid advance in the
business world.