Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-07-05
A, H. Webb now General Superintendent
OF Missouri Pacific Railroad.
trrom The wichita, Kansas, Eagle j

tErOm The Wlcnlla, kaHsas, FaSiG.l |
A. II. Webb, who since 1894 has
bsen superintendent Of the Wichita
division OF the Missouri Pacific Rail-
road, has been promoted to the posi-
ton Of general superintendent, sue
ceeding A. DeBernardi, who resigned
to become general manager OF the
Kansas City, Mexico & Orient. Inc
promotion became effective June ~.
E,C. Willis, assistant to the general
manager of the Missouri Pacific at st.
Louis, has been appointed superin'
tendent to succeed MIR. Webb IN
Wichita. For years he was CHIEF
clerk to Mr.. Webb.
Mr.. Webb's promotion Will take
him away from Wichita. lie VIII
make his headquarters at Kansas City
and upon his return from st. Louis
Sunday will arrange to turn over his
Office here Monday and leave at once
for his new duties.
In placing this Wichita citizen in
such high position in railroad circles
President Bush, of the Missouri Pa
cific, has given recognition to PROB
ably one OF the best railroad men IN
the west. Few men has been rail-
roading so long as Mr.. Webb.
He began in 1874 when but II years
old starting in as switchman for the
old Iron Mountain but it was not long
until his ability was recognized for in
MAY, 1876, he was promoted to fre'gh
conductor. Four years later he was
given passenger run and until 1854
conducted passenger trains No. ana
2 from st. Louis to Texarkana. This
was and 10 to this day one OF the mn
est trains in the west being known as
the Sunshine Limited.
Railroading came naturally to Mr.
Webb and he early attracted the at
teution OF Jay Gould. Mr.. Webb's
first official position was trainmastei
at Knobel, Ark, which he held unit
November, 1885, when he was trans
ferred to Wichits. In 1894 he wal
made superintendent Of this division
succeeding Russell Harding, who wal
promoted.
At the time Mr.. Webb entered tn
~
service OF the Iron Mountain part 0
the road was under construction Do
tween Little Rock and Texarkans an.
some sections Of the line were stil
broad gauge but shortly atterward
were changed into standard.
Although born in Virginia, Januar'
8. 1857, Mr.. Webb might be termed
Mlssourian for It was In that state tina
he spent his boyhood, his parents mo'
Ing to farm near lronton, Mo-, wne
A. II. was but 10. One day the WEB
!. family went to town taking the 20
with them. While tho family wa
shopping the lad went to the railroa
station and hustled freight becaus
the railroad had peculiar attrac''o
for HIM. Il wss said no wouso gu
play to be o. the station when q tra'
was pulling in. Tho toot Of locoms .
tive whistle was - the song OF ~
siren to him. He was strapping Dl
boy and the train crsws liked to,se
him for he could hustle heavy fro'gl
and loved to relieve them. The cor
ductors encouraged him 10 u W.. =
short time until hc tnrned n's OsS
70 the farm Tor the railroad.
In those days most Of the lIo .
Mountain engines were equipped W |.
wood burners. Mr.. Webb delignm
shame : grumbllng trainman ~ =.
Ing him how hs and another OrsK.m'
used % load eight 70 Ton ool0'
wood on the engine tender onc'
twlos 8 day. .,,..,
| WIZ ~. SVebh came 10 the Wlcnl