The proverb “Economy—easy chair of old age”, expounds a cardinal requisite in railway construction. Deference to this admonition spelled marked success financially for Donald and James A. MacIntosh, “Men from Glengarry”, a team of contractors and graders favorably known to western railroad builders. Jealous of reputation, by hewing to the line they made good where others often failed and their forty years of unremitting effort were crowned by enjoyment of the premium. Speaking over the casket of Donald Alexander McIntosh in Forest Home Cemetery Chapel, Milwaukee, 1915, the Reverend James Oastler, D.D., said in part, “These Glengarry men are sons of the men who had come from the highlands and islands of Scotland in the earlier days—and mighty men they were—pioneers—builders of empires. Their manner of life bred in them hardiness of frame, alertness of sense, readiness of resource, and a courage that grew with peril. Fighting was like wine to them, when the fight was worth while.”
We of the United States, can congratulate ourselves that some of the Glengarry men found their way across the border, and brought with them their courage, their resourcefulness, and their love of the open. They did not ask for an opening. They asked this question: “What does the world need to have done?” Then they set about doing it. Donald A. McIntosh was a man from Glengarry.
I very distinctly recall my last visit with him and he convinced me that there was within him a superb nature, a fine generosity—that physically and mentally he was afraid of no man.
Dr. W. H. Stennett was born on a farm beside Lake Simcoe, Ontario, in 1832. When seventeen he settled in Rock Island, Illinois, as a junior with a druggist, meanwhile gratifying his inclination to browse among books. Later he was given charge of the production in a department of a chemical manufacturing company and being an omnivarous reader of publications pertaining to chemical, medical and surgical knowledge, he undertook the study of medicine, graduating at the Medical College of Missouri at St. Louis in 1859. With a partner he commenced practice at Bloomington, Ill., and Miss Clara Hughitt became his wife there. In 1867 Doctor Stennett retired from practice to become General Agent, Illinois Central Railway, St. Louis, and six years later was appointed “G.P.A.” of C. & N.W.R. From 1884–7 he held the position of Assistant to General Manager, afterwards assuming the duties of Auditor of Expenditures with the same company and he retained his supervision of that department for 19 years. While he was General Passenger Agent of C. & N.W.R., his duties required that he travel a great deal. In his later years he preferred to remain at home, and during the last twenty-five years of his life, while working for the C. & N.W.R., he did not take a vacation, nor during that time did he spend a single night away from his home.
He loved flowers, spent much time in the cultivation of many varieties, and carried on regular correspondence with friendly horticulturists. Dr. Stennett was interested in a wide range of subjects and derived much pleasure from discussions with intimates among railway officials and literary people.
He was a man of determination and died practically in harness, having left his duties only a few days before his end, and on July 22nd, 1915, the date of his death, he dressed, bade adieu to his library and conversed with his family two minutes before his spirit took flight.
The Great Northern Railway has at St. Paul an Asst. Genl. Passr. Agent from Sarnia, Ontario, in the person of W. R. Mills; Mr. J. A. Emslie, Genl. Agent Santa Fe at Milwaukee, originated in Canada. John F. Barron, Genl. Agent, Union Pacific Ry, Chicago, came from London, where his after business hours accomplishment as a clever monologue artist and dancer, were perfected with his townsman and associate, the metropolitan star George Primrose. M. O. Barnard, Genl. Agent, N.P.R., Buffalo, N.Y., is a lad from the land of lacrosse and Sid. Dewey representing the “G.T.R.” at New York, is a brother of the Grand Trunk’s freight traffic manager.
George Barnes,
General Agent, Northern Pacific Railway; Vice-President, Detroit Transportation Club, pictured promoting Third Liberty Loan.