WILLIAM HENRY KYLE, Buffalo, New York.
William Henry Kyle, the subject of this sketch, was born of Scotch-Irish parentage in the Township of Fullerton, County of Perth, Province of Ontario, March 11, 1851. At the early age of 5 he began his school career, walking seven miles and back every day for three years, when a schoolhouse was built within a mile of his father's farm; this he attended until his 16th year, when he went to work for his father on the farm; here he remained for two years, when he embarked with his father in the grocery business, in Cookstown, and remained until the death of his mother. Three years later, through the influence of T.R. Ferguson, M.P., from County Simcoe, he secured a position on the police force of Toronto, but, developing a strong taste for the life of a railroad man, he made application and secured a position as brakeman on the Northern Railroad of Canada. While holding this position he was given a chance to fire through the sudden sickness of the regular fireman, and so well did he perform the duty that the engineer recommended him to the Master Mechanic, and on the next trip he was given the position of fireman, which he held for two years, when, a strike being on, he was asked to take out an engine as engineer, but, true to the principles of right, he refused the flattering offer, thereby securing for himself the illwill of the Superintendent, who, when the time for his promotion arrived, refused it to him. Mr. Kyle thereupon asked for his "time" and quit the service. He came to Buffalo, and three days after arriving here was given a position on the Lake Shore, where he remained until the year of the panic, 1873, when he chose to go on the lake, firing on the steamship St. Louis, which position he held for three years. In the meantime Mr. Kyle had taken out naturalization papers, becoming a citizen of his adopted country. At the expiration of his service on the St. Louis, he having been of much service to a Mr. Jebb, a sugar refiner, in securing for him experts in the various branches of sugar refining, he was offered by that gentleman a position in his refinery at Peoria, Illinois, where he remained until the dissolution of that firm, when, through the recommendation of Mr. Jebb to Mr. Jewett, then receiver for the Erie, he returned to his employment of fireman, from which position he was promoted to the position of engineer; for a while he was extra, but for several years past he has had a regular engine.

In 1884 Mr. Kyle was married to Miss M.J. Brotherton, of Addison, New York. Their daughter, Miss Lulu Grace Kyle, is known as a specially promising musician, being a pianiste of rare ability. In his younger days Mr. Kyle was a member of the Canadian Volunteers, Company 3, 5th Battalion, Colonel Benting commanding; and later joined the Queen's Own Rifles, Colonel MacKenzie, in which capacity he acted as guard at the Governor General's house. Mr. Kyle is a member of the B. of L.E., No. 15, having become identified with the order as soon as he was eligible therefore. Mrs. Kyle is and has been prominently identified with the Knights and Ladies of Honor; she has occupied the position of Proctor and is now Past Proctor, and is their delegate to Syracuse Convention.


Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.