Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-22
THEODORE P. SHONTS
DIES IN NEW YORK
Former Head of Panama Com
mission Suffers Attack of
Pleurisy.
BEGAN AS AN ACCOUNTANT
Worked Side by Side With
Laborcrs While Building
Railroad.
fBy Associated Prcss1

10y rASSocldLeC frcSS,
NEW YORK, Sept, 21.-Theodore p.
shon,s, president OF the Intcrborough
Rapid Transit Company. died at his
home In Park Avenue 1t / o'clock this
morning.
Mr. shonts had been suffering from
acute hung congestion, due To pleu..sy.
since last june. when ne was stricken
while al work IN his office. Since then
he had undergone three operations
and suffered several relapses. the most
serious of which occurred Friday
night
Last night his condition became so
serious that members OF his family
gathered at his bedside.
Theodore y. Shonts began his bust
ness career as an accountant IN an
Iowa bank. built several railroads in
the Middle West, became chairman OF
the Isthmtan Canal Commission which
Panama Canal. and later president OF
the marlborough Rapid Transi, Com
pany. which operates important sub
way and surface traction lines in New
York City.
Born In Pennsyivnnh.
Born In Crawford County. Pa. MAY
5. 1856. he was taken TO Iowa TO live
when his parents removed there in his
boyhood. Having been graduated from
Monmouth College in 1876. he became
Iowa employed him TO simplify and
standardize their bookkeeping methods.
After~ard he studied law and for a
snort time practiced it at Centerville,
Iowa.
In 1852 Mr.. shohts married Harriet
Amelia Drake. daughter of John Fran
els Drake, financier. sailroad builder
and formerly Governor of Iowa Cen
cral Drake had At this time engaged
in important railroad building enter
prises.
Mr.. shonts became manager and
superintendent OF some Of these under.
takings and therein laid the tounda-
tion for a subsequent career as A rail-
road builder. fie became popularity
known as man who could transform
""streaks OF rust" into real railroads.
He built The Iowa Central Railroad,
the Missouri. Iowa and Nebraska Rail-
road, built and was controlling owner
OF the Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Rail
road. and. with mis- associates con-
;ro!ied the Toledo. st. Louis and West
ern Railroad which he rcorganized
and Of which n became president.
Worked with Laborers
II Is said that in his early career as
raiiroad builder he worked side By
side with labore-s when occasion de-
Handeo. and. although Of jovial dis
position, vas vigorous disheartener
Of any subordinate who dared 20 be-
While MIR. shonts was presiden, OF
the Toledo, St Louis and Western IN
1905. President Roosevelt appointed
him as chairman OF the Istnmian Canal
Inn'ission and h= held that position
Tor about two years during the period
when plans 70. the construction OF the
canal were IN process OF formulation.
As chairman of the commission. he was
president OF the Panama Railroad Com
paHy and the Panama Railroad Steam
ship Line.
He organized the executive, enS-
neering and operating departments OF
the Panama Canal Commission. but re-
signed the Office in January. 1907, to
accept the presidency OF the Inter
borough Rapid Trsasit Company at
salary said to be $4,000 year.
As head OF the Interborough sub
way system, Mr.. Shonts was instru-
mental in promoting a great develop
ment OF that system during the period
when New York subway lines were
being greatly extended.
Mr.. and Mrs. Shonts had two daugh-
ters. One of them. Miss Theodore
Shonts was married In 1908 10 the
Duo de Chaulnes, of France, who died
within few months after their mar
-iaGe.