The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-23
Pioneer keokuk Railroad Man Passed
Away at Home In Dos
Moines Sunday
Morning.
PROMINENT IN BUSINESS
Was Connected With Several Import
ant Enterprises After Leav-
Ing Employ Of the
Railroad.

George w. Ogiivie, pio1eer railroad
man and former Keokuk resident,
whose death was briefly noted in The
Gate City last evening, passed away
at his Des Moines home Sunday morn
ing after short illness with the grip.
Had Mr.. Ogilvie lived until February
-, he would have been S3 years old.
He was born in Hancock county,
Illinois, the son of William Ogilvie
OF near Carthage.
When railroad was projected up
the Des Moines river valley. George
came as young farm hand with his
team and became a buyer of fodder
for the mules and eggs, and butter.
and country supplies for the board
Ing car and the men.
When the road began operations,
some time prior to 1860, Ogilvie was
given a clerical position in the Offices
Of the company at Keokuk. He reach
passenger agent, under John Given.
superintendent.
About 1859, when the construction
gang was in the neighborhood of
Bentonsport, forty miles west Of
Keokuk, the engineering crew found
a home in the big, newly constructed
farmhouse of John w. Burton. The
road was built through the Burton
farm. Mr.. Ogilvie boarded at this
farmhouse, and there met Miss Eliza
Burton, his future wife. The young
couple were married in 1862. They
began housekeeping in Keokuk.
Four children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Ogilvie, George Burton, Ralph
Train. Carnelia Frances and Edward
lLyde. The little daughter lived but
few weeks. Mrs. Ogilvie died at
the birth Of the third sol, III the sum
mer of 1873.
Gave Up His Position.
| About 1874, change in railroad af-
fairs put the eastern section of the
Keokuk q Des Moines road into the
hands OF the c. r. I. & P. MIR. Ogilvie
was given chance to take the posi-
ton of any employee under him, and the
salary. This was In order to place a
new man at the top Of the list, and
would of course throw out one down
the line somewhere. Ogilvie promptly
declined to take any mans position
away from him, and as promptly STEP
ped out. This left each employe be-
meath him secure and in possession of
his wages. The northwestern divis-
ion Of the road, from Des Moines and
Fl. Dodge. offered Mr.. Ogilvie the
position of freight and passenger
agent. and he accepted it and moved
his family to Des Moines. His sec
ond wife was Miss Mamie Burton. a
sister Of his first wife. She bore him
two children, son and a daughter.
dying In 1885 at the birth Of the daugh.
ter. Both wives and the three lit
tie ones are buried in the cemetery
lat Keokuk.
Mr.. Ogilvie later married Miss Caro-.
Ign MacAyeal Of Oskaloosa, who sur
wives him.
Following his retirement from the
railroad business, Mr.. Ogilvie engage
ed in business and was actively con-
Injected with several enterprises until
ten years ago, when he retired.
Widow Is Editor.
He Is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Carolyn M. Ogilvie. who is the owner
and editor of the Midwestern maya
zine, and three sons, George B., of
the Southern Pacific railroad: Ed
ward L.. editor and manager OF the
South st. Paul Reporter. and Ralph
T., business manager OF the same
paper. ALI three children reside in
st. Paul
Funeral services were held Monday
morning at the Harbach undertaking
establishment. The body was taken
to Keokuk by the sons for interment
in the family burial ground.
Mrs. Ogilvie was unable to accom-
pany the body OF her husband to Keo-
kuk because of the serious illness OF
her mother, Mrs. NJ. E. McAyeal Of
Amerbury, Mass. Mrs. McAyeal is at
the home of her daughter and was
taken i'll at the same time as Mr. Ogil-
vie.
Mrs. Ogilvie has the honor Of hav-
ing ORGANIZED the first d. A. R. chapter
in the state Of Iowa She was author
and publisher of the first Des Moines