CONVERSE, MAJOR JAMES
The subject of this sketch, though he would perhaps resent the insinuation of age, is, nevertheless, one of the veteran railroad men of Texas, having witnessed the development of the entire railroad system of the State from its infancy up, in which development he has, without making any special claims of the kind, occupied a somewhat prominent position. Major Converse was born in the town of Aurora, Portage county, Ohio, September 21, 1828. Educated for a civil engineer, he began his railroad career in 1850 as division engineer on the Lake Erie & Mad River Railroad, one of the pioneer lines in Ohio. After a service of eight months on this road, something less than two years in the same capacity on the Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad, and the Cleveland & Medina Railway, and as engineer on location with the Tennessee Southwestern, he came to Texas in 1854 as chief engineer of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson road. He was in the employ of this road, the Mississippi Central, and the Houston, Trinity & Tyler roads until after the war, when, in the summer of 1865, he became chief engineer of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad, a position which he held for a period of eighteen years. During this time he built 600 miles of the last named road, including the main line and branches, and 154 miles of the Mexican International, in old Mexico. Those familiar with railway development in Texas can thus see that it is true, as stated, that Major Converse has witnessed the growth of the railway interest of Texas, and that he has perhaps done as much in the way of actual field work in extending the dominions of the iron horse as any other man in the State. When he accepted the position of chief engineer of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad forty years ago, there were less than 100 miles of railroad in active operation in all Texas, and the value of the rolling stock and equipments of all the roads then in the State probably did not exceed $1,000,000.
Now the State is covered with a network of steel rails, and the value of the railway properties in the State, exclusive of roadbeds, is put down at several million dollars.
There is a pregnant suggestion in this simple statement of facts, a theme for the orator, a splendid illustration of the rapid material development of this great commonwealth. In his forty years' residence in Texas, Major Converse has become as thoroughly Texan as it is possible for a man to become, being bound to the State by all those ties of personal interest, business association, friendship and family connection that go to fix one's attachments and give his feelings a local habitation and a name. He is a large real-estate holder, having invested his means from time to time at different places as opportunities were offered for good investments, and holds some stock in local enterprises. He has never held any public offices and has taken only a nominal interest in politics, his chief attention having been directed to his official duties in connection with the railroads, and to his private interests.
He married Mrs. M. E. W. Chase, of Houston, on the 21st of September, 1863, this lady being a native of the city of Houston, and a daughter of one of the founders of the town, Augustus C. Allen. Her mother, Mrs. Charlotte M. Allen, now in her ninetieth year, is the oldest settler of Houston as well as the oldest living representative of the large and historic family of Aliens, mention of whom will be found in many places in this volume. Mrs. Converse died at San Antonio, April 14, 1886, leaving one son, Thomas Pierce Converse. Major Converse's residence is now at Houston, though he lived for a number of years,-up to the death of his wife,at San Antonio. (Source: History of Texas Biographical History of the Cities of Houston and Galveston (1895)
The subject of this sketch, though he would perhaps resent the insinuation of age, is, nevertheless, one of the veteran railroad men of Texas, having witnessed the development of the entire railroad system of the State from its infancy up, in which development he has, without making any special claims of the kind, occupied a somewhat prominent position. Major Converse was born in the town of Aurora, Portage county, Ohio, September 21, 1828. Educated for a civil engineer, he began his railroad career in 1850 as division engineer on the Lake Erie & Mad River Railroad, one of the pioneer lines in Ohio. After a service of eight months on this road, something less than two years in the same capacity on the Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad, and the Cleveland & Medina Railway, and as engineer on location with the Tennessee Southwestern, he came to Texas in 1854 as chief engineer of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson road. He was in the employ of this road, the Mississippi Central, and the Houston, Trinity & Tyler roads until after the war, when, in the summer of 1865, he became chief engineer of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad, a position which he held for a period of eighteen years. During this time he built 600 miles of the last named road, including the main line and branches, and 154 miles of the Mexican International, in old Mexico. Those familiar with railway development in Texas can thus see that it is true, as stated, that Major Converse has witnessed the growth of the railway interest of Texas, and that he has perhaps done as much in the way of actual field work in extending the dominions of the iron horse as any other man in the State. When he accepted the position of chief engineer of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad forty years ago, there were less than 100 miles of railroad in active operation in all Texas, and the value of the rolling stock and equipments of all the roads then in the State probably did not exceed $1,000,000.
Now the State is covered with a network of steel rails, and the value of the railway properties in the State, exclusive of roadbeds, is put down at several million dollars.
There is a pregnant suggestion in this simple statement of facts, a theme for the orator, a splendid illustration of the rapid material development of this great commonwealth. In his forty years' residence in Texas, Major Converse has become as thoroughly Texan as it is possible for a man to become, being bound to the State by all those ties of personal interest, business association, friendship and family connection that go to fix one's attachments and give his feelings a local habitation and a name. He is a large real-estate holder, having invested his means from time to time at different places as opportunities were offered for good investments, and holds some stock in local enterprises. He has never held any public offices and has taken only a nominal interest in politics, his chief attention having been directed to his official duties in connection with the railroads, and to his private interests.
He married Mrs. M. E. W. Chase, of Houston, on the 21st of September, 1863, this lady being a native of the city of Houston, and a daughter of one of the founders of the town, Augustus C. Allen. Her mother, Mrs. Charlotte M. Allen, now in her ninetieth year, is the oldest settler of Houston as well as the oldest living representative of the large and historic family of Aliens, mention of whom will be found in many places in this volume. Mrs. Converse died at San Antonio, April 14, 1886, leaving one son, Thomas Pierce Converse. Major Converse's residence is now at Houston, though he lived for a number of years,-up to the death of his wife,at San Antonio. (Source: History of Texas Biographical History of the Cities of Houston and Galveston (1895)
CONVERSE, MAJOR JAMES
The subject of this sketch, though he would perhaps resent the insinuation of age, is, nevertheless, one of the veteran railroad men of Texas, having witnessed the development of the entire railroad system of the State from its infancy up, in which development he has, without making any special claims of the kind, occupied a somewhat prominent position. Major Converse was born in the town of Aurora, Portage county, Ohio, September 21, 1828. Educated for a civil engineer, he began his railroad career in 1850 as division engineer on the Lake Erie & Mad River Railroad, one of the pioneer lines in Ohio. After a service of eight months on this road, something less than two years in the same capacity on the Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad, and the Cleveland & Medina Railway, and as engineer on location with the Tennessee Southwestern, he came to Texas in 1854 as chief engineer of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson road. He was in the employ of this road, the Mississippi Central, and the Houston, Trinity & Tyler roads until after the war, when, in the summer of 1865, he became chief engineer of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad, a position which he held for a period of eighteen years. During this time he built 600 miles of the last named road, including the main line and branches, and 154 miles of the Mexican International, in old Mexico. Those familiar with railway development in Texas can thus see that it is true, as stated, that Major Converse has witnessed the growth of the railway interest of Texas, and that he has perhaps done as much in the way of actual field work in extending the dominions of the iron horse as any other man in the State. When he accepted the position of chief engineer of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad forty years ago, there were less than 100 miles of railroad in active operation in all Texas, and the value of the rolling stock and equipments of all the roads then in the State probably did not exceed $1,000,000.
Now the State is covered with a network of steel rails, and the value of the railway properties in the State, exclusive of roadbeds, is put down at several million dollars.
There is a pregnant suggestion in this simple statement of facts, a theme for the orator, a splendid illustration of the rapid material development of this great commonwealth. In his forty years' residence in Texas, Major Converse has become as thoroughly Texan as it is possible for a man to become, being bound to the State by all those ties of personal interest, business association, friendship and family connection that go to fix one's attachments and give his feelings a local habitation and a name. He is a large real-estate holder, having invested his means from time to time at different places as opportunities were offered for good investments, and holds some stock in local enterprises. He has never held any public offices and has taken only a nominal interest in politics, his chief attention having been directed to his official duties in connection with the railroads, and to his private interests.
He married Mrs. M. E. W. Chase, of Houston, on the 21st of September, 1863, this lady being a native of the city of Houston, and a daughter of one of the founders of the town, Augustus C. Allen. Her mother, Mrs. Charlotte M. Allen, now in her ninetieth year, is the oldest settler of Houston as well as the oldest living representative of the large and historic family of Aliens, mention of whom will be found in many places in this volume. Mrs. Converse died at San Antonio, April 14, 1886, leaving one son, Thomas Pierce Converse. Major Converse's residence is now at Houston, though he lived for a number of years,-up to the death of his wife,at San Antonio. (Source: History of Texas Biographical History of the Cities of Houston and Galveston (1895)
The subject of this sketch, though he would perhaps resent the insinuation of age, is, nevertheless, one of the veteran railroad men of Texas, having witnessed the development of the entire railroad system of the State from its infancy up, in which development he has, without making any special claims of the kind, occupied a somewhat prominent position. Major Converse was born in the town of Aurora, Portage county, Ohio, September 21, 1828. Educated for a civil engineer, he began his railroad career in 1850 as division engineer on the Lake Erie & Mad River Railroad, one of the pioneer lines in Ohio. After a service of eight months on this road, something less than two years in the same capacity on the Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad, and the Cleveland & Medina Railway, and as engineer on location with the Tennessee Southwestern, he came to Texas in 1854 as chief engineer of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson road. He was in the employ of this road, the Mississippi Central, and the Houston, Trinity & Tyler roads until after the war, when, in the summer of 1865, he became chief engineer of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad, a position which he held for a period of eighteen years. During this time he built 600 miles of the last named road, including the main line and branches, and 154 miles of the Mexican International, in old Mexico. Those familiar with railway development in Texas can thus see that it is true, as stated, that Major Converse has witnessed the growth of the railway interest of Texas, and that he has perhaps done as much in the way of actual field work in extending the dominions of the iron horse as any other man in the State. When he accepted the position of chief engineer of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad forty years ago, there were less than 100 miles of railroad in active operation in all Texas, and the value of the rolling stock and equipments of all the roads then in the State probably did not exceed $1,000,000.
Now the State is covered with a network of steel rails, and the value of the railway properties in the State, exclusive of roadbeds, is put down at several million dollars.
There is a pregnant suggestion in this simple statement of facts, a theme for the orator, a splendid illustration of the rapid material development of this great commonwealth. In his forty years' residence in Texas, Major Converse has become as thoroughly Texan as it is possible for a man to become, being bound to the State by all those ties of personal interest, business association, friendship and family connection that go to fix one's attachments and give his feelings a local habitation and a name. He is a large real-estate holder, having invested his means from time to time at different places as opportunities were offered for good investments, and holds some stock in local enterprises. He has never held any public offices and has taken only a nominal interest in politics, his chief attention having been directed to his official duties in connection with the railroads, and to his private interests.
He married Mrs. M. E. W. Chase, of Houston, on the 21st of September, 1863, this lady being a native of the city of Houston, and a daughter of one of the founders of the town, Augustus C. Allen. Her mother, Mrs. Charlotte M. Allen, now in her ninetieth year, is the oldest settler of Houston as well as the oldest living representative of the large and historic family of Aliens, mention of whom will be found in many places in this volume. Mrs. Converse died at San Antonio, April 14, 1886, leaving one son, Thomas Pierce Converse. Major Converse's residence is now at Houston, though he lived for a number of years,-up to the death of his wife,at San Antonio. (Source: History of Texas Biographical History of the Cities of Houston and Galveston (1895)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
