From the banks of the winding Avon the boy Shakespeare went forth and his genius revitalized and gave a tremendous impetus to literature and the drama. Were you aware that Stratford in the new world long after produced a son, in youth Tom Jarvis, who is undoubtedly leaving his impress on the peaceful pursuit of international trade. Contend if you will, that it is a far cry to the hedge rows of merrie England for a parallel, for a coincidence; yet there is a modicum of truth in most generalizations. The elect all sing small in the beginnings. The journey of the Bard from obscurity to the throne room was tedious and none the less devious is the pilgrimage from a dingy office in the heel of a freight shed to the Vice-Presidency of one of America’s great railway highways.
Thomas N. Jarvis,
Vice-President, Lehigh Valley Railroad, New York.
A sprig off the geneological tree which inspired the name of a Toronto residential thoroughfare, T. N. Jarvis was born and reared in Stratford, Ont., and at sixteen essayed the study of legal tomes. This was dry, unremunerative occupation and about 1870 he exchanged Blackstone for the freight classification, billing desk and, to him, the less monotonous, more congenial railway atmosphere. He proved to be anything but “A square peg in a round hole” and earnest endeavor earned rapid promotions to Paris, Black Rock, Buffalo and Cleveland. At the expiry of seven years he entered the service of the International Fast Freight Line; a twelve month later the Blue Line and in 1880 to the Commercial Express Line. It is related that about this time he visited Cleveland to acquaint a certain high executive official of his contemplated resignation to assume other duties. Suspecting the nature of his errand, every resource of his patron’s diplomacy and palatial home were enlisted to successfully smother the avowal. Disappointed at the outcome, the ambitious Jarvis returned to headquarters to find that a cheque of fair proportions had preceded him as a retainer.
On completion of the “Nickel Plate” in 1883 he organized the Traders’ Dispatch and as manager was the youngest in his class, with a pronounced penchant for ensnaring traffic netting good revenues. The Lehigh Valley Railroad Company had been scrutinizing the trek of the tall, rangy and genial bachelor, Tom Jarvis—with a host of ‘pay streak’ friends from Frisco to Fundy Bay—and they soon made it “worth his while.” In ’98, as their General Eastern Agent at New York, his traveling men garnered cheese, coal, milk, live stock and passenger traffic ad libitum. Circularized again and again, he subsequently made his bow as Assistant General Traffic Manager, Freight Traffic Manager, and in March, 1906, Vice-President.
He modestly attributes it all to hard work and the aim to become familiar with the duties of “the men higher up.” Boys, note that. Cosmopolitan habitues of the Lotus Club, for instance, and friends in Ontario watch his progress with pride and await news of further honors. Now and then they have opportunity to inspect him at close range as guests in his private car.
While the methods of Mr. Jarvis in business are incisive, crisp and convincing, and devoid of much flowery phraseology, he possesses the most approachable and kindly personality, which unconsciously wins the homage of porter and President’s esteem.
“Honor and shame from no condition rise:
Act well your part—there all the honor lies.”