CHARLES W WELLER

Charles W. Weller, division master mechanic of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, at Atchison, Kansas, was born in Summit county, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1852, a son of Daniel and Susan (Shockey) Weller, both natives of the Keystone state. Daniel Weller was in early life a farmer and later a miller. His last years were spent in the state of Missouri, where he died in 1893. His widow survives him and makes her home in Kansas City. The Weller family was well represented in the Union army during the civil War, the father and three sons going to the front and one of them losing his life in the service.

The father, Daniel Weller, was a member of the Tenth Ohio Cavalry. One son, John, was in the Twenty-fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry and was captain of his company. Another son, George, was in the First Michigan Cavalry, and the third, Zachariah, was in the Ninth Ohio Cavalry and died while in the service.

Charles W. Weller spent the first eleven years of his life in his native state. When he was eleven he went with his parents and other members of the family to Bryan, Ohio, the county seat of Williams county, and it was in the public schools of that place that the greater part of his education was obtained. His railroad career had its beginning at the time his school days ended. Coming to Armstrong, Kansas, he entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company in 1862. With a natural bent for mechanics he applied himself in this direction and soon became a skilled workman. He was given the position of fireman on a switch engine, subsequently filled other responsible places and in 1880 was sent to Denver, Colorado, where he took charge of the round house for the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, a position he occupied until 1885. Returning to Kansas at that time he became general foreman of the M. K. T. shops at Parson, where he remained three years, until 1888, since which time he has occupied his present position at Atchison, that of division master mechanic of the Missouri Pacific Railroad shops.

Mr. Weller was married, in 1874, to Miss Anna Reves, of Marshall, Texas, and they are the parents of three children: Gertie M., Charles H. and Mattie L. In the Masonic order Mr. Weller has taken the degrees of the blue lodge and chapter, holding membership in Active Lodge, No. 158, F. & A. M., and Washington Chapter, R. A. M.