Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-30
Oldest Travelling Passenger Agent Re
tires To-day


Timmons enrolled with a Tennessee
company but was never enlisted. He
was given a Winchester rife and re-
mained with his company until the
war was ended. His friends have Of
ten urged him to arrange to get regu-
lar papers as an enlisted man, but he
has refused.
In the Railroad Game
During April, 1866, James Tim
mons hired with the American EX-
press Company in New York and until
August l, 1869, drove a route wagon
He next received appointment as pas
senger and advertising man with the
Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw Railroad
W ich was the first through route to
the West, by reason of the completion
of the Steubenville, Ohio, bridge. lie
opened headquarters in New York city
and for three years and three months
looked after business for this com
pany. The Missouri, Kansas and
Texas Railroad Company next secured
the services of Mr.. Timmons, and for
nine months he was travelling agent
for this company with headquarters in
New York city.
On August /, 1873, he entered the
employ of the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad
as passenger agent and travelling ad-
vertisng man. His territory was east
of Buffalo and Pittsburgh, and includ-
ed the New England States. His office
was at Ninth and Chestnut streets on
the site of the present Philadelphia
post office.
Durin5 two years as travelling pas
senger agent he ran excursions from
the Cumberland Valley to points in
the West. In 1873 he sent from Har-
risburg in one day twenty-three car
loads of people who took up farming
in Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois. one
train carried 4S9 people.
Passenger Agent Here
Soon after Mr.. Timmons was given
the title of travelling passenger agent
which he held until one year ago when
the office of a. Il. Buchanan, division
passenger agent was opened and Mr..
Timmons was made passenger solici-
tor. During his career as travelling
agent Mr.. Timmons handled many
important excursion parties.
Six special trains of knights Tenn
plar We're sent to San Francisco in
19Ot by MIR. Ttmmons, who acted as
escort. He handled many hundred
excursions to the sea shore and was
a big factor in the arranging of the
trips for the veterans who attended
in July.
With +. p. Abercromhie as superin-
tendent OF transportation, Mr.. Tim
mons was in charge of the movement
Of the soldiers at Camp. Meade near
Middletown. During this camp a rec
ord was made for the movement of
soldiers that has never been equalled.
In FIVE and a half days, without work
ing at nights, 10000 soldiers were
moved, in 1.596 cars. This record is
on file at the war department in
Washington, D. c.
Mr.. Timmons was also an important
factor in the movement of the Dunk
ards each year whenever they held
conventions and at times handled as
many as 10000 people in two weeks.
During the celebration in Philadelphia
soldiers from Camp Meade were sent
to Philadelphia and in two hours and
ten minutes $500 soldiers were load
ed
Mr.. Timmons is known from the
Atlantic to the tactic. From the
North South, East and West he is
held in the highest esteem. He is a
resident of 4O42 Green street, Phila-
delphia, where Mr.. Timmons will
spend the remainder of his days with
his family.