Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Brown, William Carlos 1853 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 14, 2015, 5:43 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

WILLIAM CARLOS BROWN.
The world's leaders are few; the great majority of people are content if not to
remain in the position into which they were born to advance but a little way,
lacking either the ambition or the determination which are indispensable
elements of progress. Of a distinguished man a friend and poet once wrote: "Fate
tried to conceal him by naming him Smith. Something similar might be said of Mr.
Brown, but the innate force of his character, his undaunted energy and his
unfaltering determination have gained for him such distinction as few men enjoy.
He won place not only with the foremost magnates of the country but even in that
class ranked as a leader. He was born in the Baptist parsonage at Norway,
Herkimer county, New York, July 29, 1853. The home was situated on the southern
border of the great north woods that constituted the Adirondack wilderness. The
family remained there until September, 1854, when a removal was made to Fenner,
Madison county, New York, where they continued until May, 1856. They were
afterward residents of Gaines and Murray in Orleans county until July, 1857,
when the family home was established at Vernon Springs, Howard county, Iowa.

William Carlos Brown was educated in the common schools. Both he and his twin
brother, George L. Brown, were very energetic and helpful to their parents. The
mother was very proud of them and in return received their loving and dutiful
affection. Their home training was such as developed in them sterling traits of
character, and the lessons of thrift were never forgotten.

At an early age William Carlos Brown started out to earn his own living. Going
to Thomson, Illinois, in 1868, he was employed there for about two years in
supplying wood for engines at a time when that fuel was used. Subsequently he
worked as a section hand on the old Western Union Railroad, now a part of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, never dreaming that in the future he would be at
the head of one of the largest railway companies on the American continent.
Laudable ambition prompted him at all times to make the best possible use of his
opportunities, and he devoted his evenings to learning telegraphy. In the spring
of 1870 he became an operator at Charles City on the Iowa & Dakota division of
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. He was afterward operator at various
stations on the line in both Iowa and Minnesota until the spring of 1871, when
he was made night operator in the train dispatcher's office at Minneapolis. In
June, 1872, he went to the Iowa division of the Illinois Central Railroad as
train dispatcher at Waterloo and in March, 1875, he went to Wilton Junction as
train dispatcher for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, there
remaining until July, 1876, when he accepted a similar position on the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Ottumwa, remaining with the road for two
decades. He continued here for only a short time, however, for in the same month
he was transferred to Burlington, where he remained as dispatcher until January
1, 1880. He was next chief dispatcher of the St. Louis division at Beardstown,
Illinois, from the 1st of January, 1880, until January, 1881, and was train
master of the same division at Beardstown until July, 1884. He next became
assistant superintendent of the St. Louis division at Beardstown, remaining in
that connection until January 1, 1887, when he became superintendent of the Iowa
lines at Burlington, serving in that connection until August, 1890. Pie was next
general manager of the Missouri lines of the Burlington system from August,
1890, until January, 1896, with headquarters at St. Joseph, Missouri, and a
further step in his upward career came when he was made general manager at
Chicago for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, retaining that relation until June
30, 1901.

His connection with the New York Central began on the 1st of July, 1901, when he
went to Cleveland, Ohio, as vice president and general manager of the Lake Shore
& Michigan Southern and Lake Erie & Western Railroads. In February, 1902, he was
made vice president of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad and in
February, 1905, became operating vice president. In June, 1906, he was made
senior vice president and in 1908 was elected to the presidency of the New York
Central lines, comprising the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad, the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern, the West Shore, the Western New York & Ottawa, the
Indiana, Illinois & Iowa Railroads and others, including the Cleveland, Chicago,
Cincinnati & St. Louis, the Lake Erie, Alliance & Wheeling and the Chicago,
Indiana & Southern. The system embraces twelve thousand miles of the most
important railway lines in the world. It seems when we think of Mr. Brown's
remarkable rise to the presidency of this great system from the humble position
in which he was preparing wood for engines that he must have had an Aladdin
lamp—so marvelous is the record—and yet careful investigation shows that the
secret of success was such as any man might learn. Whatever duties were assigned
him he performed capably, faithfully and willingly, giving to the work in hand
his best efforts. He never scorned any task no matter how humble. His methods
were ever clean and honest and the same policy has been pursued from the
beginning throughout his wonderful career. The treatment he ever accorded the
public and his subordinates was of the same quality of courtesy extended to his
superiors. As he rose to positions of administrative direction it was seen that
he was capable of directing the most complex and intricate railway interests.
Often the change he has made in management of roads has been radical, but the
end has justified the means, indicating his thorough understanding of every
phase of the business bearing upon the subject in hand. Until he resigned the
presidency of the New York Central lines and retired to private life in January,
1914, he was the active, directing, responsible head of the great system in the
combined transportation, engineering, equipment and mechanical departments.
Responsibilities of so varied and important a character have never been
attempted by a single individual in any system of railroading in the world. His
powers were adequate to the demands made upon him. He gave proof of the fact
that he possessed executive and administrative ability of the highest order. He
combined untiring energy and industry with patience and good nature, displayed
unswerving fidelity to his duties, and he possessed the priceless faculty of
gaining and retaining the good-will of patrons and the love, respect and loyal
support of employes of the road.

In manner Mr. Brown is modest, unassuming, genial, with no pride of position or
power. His conduct embodies all that has become recognized as of the type of the
gentleman of the old school. He is a remarkable man in a remarkable age, where
most extensive interests have been combined and in their control have come forth
men of notable powers, ready for any emergency and capable of finding successful
solution for the most intricate and involved problems. His life should serve as
an incentive to young men of future generations. Mr. Brown, however, takes no
special credit to himself, nor is there about him any show of mock modesty. He
recognizes the fact that he has passed beyond many who started out on life's
journey with equal or perhaps better advantages, and yet he says that it is only
that he has made good use of his time and opportunities and employed his powers
to the best advantage. He has now retired from active life and it is his
intention to make his home in Ottumwa.

At Lime Spring, Howard county, Iowa, on the 3d of June, 1974; Mr. Brown was
united in marriage to Miss Mary Ella Hewitt, a daughter of C. C. and Mary
(Cheesboro) Hewitt, the former a successful hardware merchant. Mrs. Brown is a
most refined and beautiful woman, regarded as the belle of the city in which she
lived. She is also a model wife, mother and home maker. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown
were born three daughters, two of whom are married and reside in handsome homes
near the present residence of their parents, Georgia, the eldest, being the wife
of Dr. Frank Ellis Pierce, and Bertha, the wife of Dr. Kellogg Speed. Margaret,
the youngest daughter, is at home.

Mr. Brown loves outdoor life and sports. Farm interests are a source of
recreation to him. He enjoys watching the cattle and horses and noting the
growth of all farm products. He is an excellent judge of stock, and his farm
property is splendidly equipped. A genial host, wealth and position have enabled
him to promote the comfort and interests of his guests, yet his splendid
prosperity has made no change in his treatment of his fellowmen. He stands today
as he did in his young manhood, strong in his ability to plan and perform,
strong in his honor and his good name—a high-principled, liberal-minded
gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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