Las Vegas optic., 1913-12-12
FROM WORK GANG
TO HEAD OF
ROAD
NEW PRESIDENT OF THE FRISCO
HAS HAD REMARKABLE
a RAILROAD CAREER

on, recently elected president of the
st. Louis and San Francisco railroad
("The Frisco''), is a very notable ex-
ample Of self-made man, for he rose
from actual poverty by his own un-
aided efforts.
Energy, persistence and courage
were his equipment. He was not two
years old when his father died, leav-
ing his mother in almost INDECENT cir
cumstances, with two young sons to
provide for. They lived in Earlyille,
III.
In the spring of 1867, William, then
.9 years old, was taken into a furni-
ture store and set to work painting
chairs. But he got more paint on his
clothes than on the chairs and was
discharged. His next job was dump
ing shayings in a planning mill at 50
a week. 3 He was promoted from time
to time. but was unable to get more
than a boys salary. oo9 WORT
Hearing that there were opportuni-
ties in Nebraska, he started for that
far away region in a prairie schoon-
er" that happened along, earning his
passage by driving the mule team.
At Grayton, Neb., he quit the "schoon-
er" and went to work for his keep
on small farm. The farmer, J. G.
Eldridge, had difficulty in maintain
ing his own family, but the boys
plight appealed to him and he couldn't
turn him away. He told William,
however, that he must keep look
out for another place.
One day young Nixon observed a
railway section gang at work near the
station at Grayton. He spoke to the
foreman and was told that he could
have job at $175 a day if he would
report at sutton, the next station on
the line.
But how was he to get to Sutton?
The foreman said he couldn't pass
him without he had actually begun
work Mr.. Eldridge was consulted. The
fare was only 80 cents, but the farm.
Ter didn't have even that amount OF
cash.
4Tell you what Il1 do" said Ed
ridge finally. Well just drive that
big hog of mine to town tomorrow
and sell him.
| Next morning it was done, and the
farmer handed William $125, half the
proceeds. And so young Nixon got
to Sutton and was put to work.
That was in December 1872
says Nixon. II remained with this
gang for a month. We were employ
ed by the Santa Fe railway. One
day a newspaper came into the section
house from Emporia Junction, Kan
I noticed the station agent in that
town was man who had formerly
lived in Earlville, my home. wrote
him and asked for a job.
"a few days later / got a telegram
from Emporia offering me job as
night watchman at the Santa Fe de-
pot had just drawn my months
pay few days before, but had sent
most of it back home to mother, and
was again in trouble knew l could
make the trip in a caboose without
expense, but I did want to pay the
two old ladies who cooked for US at
the section house. aa
Finally | broke the news to them.
They thought it was dishonest but l
assured them i would send The money
back as soon as / could collect my
salary
"That night l climbed into a ca
boose on a freight train and started
for Emporia Junction. 1t was cold
night and I was exposed to the ele-
ments The next morning was very
lill. l had to change cars at a small
station in Kansas, and when ] got off
/ met a brakeman who had been
working on the Santa Fe. He noticed
lthatgI j was i'll and asked If he could
be of any assistance.
II when 1 told him ! had but one
dime he took he to drug store,
where he purchased medicine and then
took me to hotel. He also sum
moned doctor, paying the bill him
self He had nursed me back to
health by the next day. After a good
breakfast he put me on the train
which carried me to my destination.
III never saw or heard of him again
He was what was then known as a
rowing brakeman. But I shall never
forget him and still hope that / may
meet him again.
when I reached Emporia Junction
III had recovered from my illness.
went to work as night watchman for
$40 month. / held this job almost
a year before could find another
Ennaniup learned that the Santa