Background
The son of the German consul in New Orleans, he graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1873 and worked briefly as a schoolteacher before beginning his railroad career.
The son of the German consul in New Orleans, he graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1873 and worked briefly as a schoolteacher before beginning his railroad career.
Education: Graduated with degree in civil engineering from Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, 1873.
He joined the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1885 and served in a variety of roles, culminating in chairman from 1913 until his death in 1925. His 1896 biographical entry reads thus:General Manager, Southern Pacific. Office: San Francisco, California.
Born: July 30, 1854, at New Orleans, Louisiana.
Entered railway service: 1878, since which he has been consecutively July 1, 1873, to January, 1880, engineer of extension Morgan"s Louisiana and Texas Railroad and Steamship Company. January 1, 1880, to April 1, 1881, roadmaster, western division.
April 1, 1881, to April 1, 1883, assistant chief engineer and general roadmaster, same road. April 1, 1883, chief engineer and superintendent, same road.
October 1, 1885, to July 1, 1889, assistant manager, Atlantic System, Southern Pacific.
July 1, 1889, to October, 1895, general manager, Atlantic System, Southern Pacific. Vice-president, Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway and Texas and New Orleans Railroad. President, New York, Texas and Mexican.
Gulf Western Texas and Pacific.
Sabine and East Texas. October 1, 1895 through 1896, general manager, all lines, Southern Pacific.
The 1922 edition of the Biographical Directory of the Railway Officials of America lists him as chairman, Executive Committee, same company, and director, Union Pacific Railroad.