BENJAMIN SOUTHERN WATHEN, SR.
Both wives were named Josephine:Josephine Madora (Trammell) Wathen and Edith Josephine (Harrison) Wathen.
Parents, William A. Wathen and Elizabeth Gibbs.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
BENJAMIN S. WATHEN
One of the distinguished representatives of the civil-engineering profession in the southwest and one who has been a prominent and influential factor in railroad construction and development in this section of our great national domain, is Major Benjamin S. Wathen, who maintains his residence in the city of Dallas, Texas and who is now retained as consulting engineer for the Texas & Pacific Railroad, with the affairs of which he has been long and prominently identified. He is one of the really great railroad builders of the southwest and is a man whose high attainments have found concrete and constructive exemplification, while his character is the positive expression of a strong and noble nature, so that he has ever commanded the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fellow men. His has been an exceedingly active and useful career as one of the world's productive workers, and there are many other points which render the story of his life most interesting, even as it must prove a source of incentive and inspiration to others. He is a scion of families whose names have been identified with American annals since the early colonial epoch in our national history, he is one of the gallant sons of the fair southland who gave loyal service in defense of the cause of the Confederacy in the Civil war, and he is one of the best known and most highly honored of the pioneer citizens of Dallas,Texas which city has represented his home for two score years and which he has seen develop from an obscure frontier town into a metropolitan city of great commercial and industrial importance.
Major Wathen was born in Marion County, Kentucky, on the fourth of March, 1845, and is a son of William A. and Elizabeth (Gibbs) Wathen, the former of whom was born in Maryland and the latter in Kentucky. The lineage of the Wathen family is traced back to staunch English origin and its first representatives in America came to Maryland as members of the colony founded by Lord Baltimore, in 1645. From that state members of the family emigrated in an early day to Kentucky, and there William A. Wathen became a representative planter and merchant of Marion county, where he and his devoted wife continued to reside until their death.
Mrs. Wathen was born in Kentucky and was a representative of a family prominently identified with civic and public affairs in that historical old commonwealth. Her mother was a sister of Hon. Charles A. Wycliff, who served as governor of Kentucky in an early day.
Major Benjamin S. Wathen was reared to adult age in his native county and there was pursuing his school work at the time when the dark cloud of Civil war spread its pall over the nation. His youthful loyalty was quickened to responsive protest and though he was only seventeen years of age at the time he promptly tendered his aid in defense of the cause of the Confederate States of America. He enlisted in the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, which became a part of the valiant command of General John Morgan. In this connection Major Wathen participated in the historic Morgan raid into Ohio, where he was captured by the enemy and imprisoned at Camp Chase, later being transferred to Camp Douglas, in the city of Chicago. He was held a prisoner of war about nine months and his exchange was then effected. He rejoined the Confederate forces and continued in active service in southwestern Virginia until the close of the war, when he received his parole, in May, 1865. He participated in numerous engagements of important order, was ever found at the post of duty and made a record that shall ever reflect honor upon his name. His continued interest in his old comrades is shown through his affiliation with the United Confederate Veterans' Association.
After the termination of his gallant military career Major Wathen returned to Kentucky, where he became a member of the engineering corps engaged in surveying and construction work on the line of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, in June, 1865. His great technical skill has been gained largely through practical experience, but he has also been a close student of the theoretical phases of his profession, and has long held authoritative prestige as a civil engineer.
In 1869 Major Wathen came to Texas to assume the position of engineer in connection with surveying and construction work on the line of the Houston & Great Northern Railroad, now known as the International & Great Northern. After doing important engineering work for this company until August, 1874, he then became chief engineer for some new lines and later accepted a position as engineer for the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company, with which great corporation he has continued to be identified during the long intervening years and in the development of whose admirable system he has been an influential and valued factor. He became chief engineer for this company in 1880, and he retained this important office until the 1st of June, 1911, excepting for a period when engaged in special work for the Southwest System, when he was retired from the active duties that had long engrossed his time and attention and was retained in the office of consulting engineer, a mark of the company's appreciation of the great work he had accomplished in its behalf and also of the continued value of his interposition in connection with the technical affairs of the system.
At the time when Major Wathen first entered the service of the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company its line extended only from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Longview, Gregg county, Texas, a distance of sixty-four miles. With all extension and construction work on this railroad system Major Wathen has been most closely and effectively concerned, and he takes personal pride in noting its importance in connection with the civic and industrial development and upbuilding of the fine country traversed by its lines.
In politics the Major is a free trader and as may well be inferred, is in the camp of the Democratic party, and not only is he well fortified in his views concerning matters of public import, but he is also one of those broad-minded men who have stood exponent of progressive ideas and of civic righteousness.
Relieved from the more onerous duties which long rested upon him, Major Wathen is enjoying to the full the attractions of his pleasant home at 2728 Oakland Avenue, in the city of Dallas, Texas and also the grateful relationship of association with a host of friends who are tried and true. He has been one of the contributors to the upbuilding of the southwest and his name and achievement merit a place of prominence in this history of the state which has so long represented his home.
In 1877 Major Wathen was united in marriage to Miss Josephine M. Tramwell, of Henderson, Texas, and she was summoned to the life eternal in January, 1895. She was survived by four sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living excepting one son.
In November, 1896, was solemnized the marriage of Major Wathen to Miss Edith J. Harrison, likewise a resident of Henderson, Texas, and they have three children, one son and two daughters.
Warner, Harry T., editor. Texans and their State.
Both wives were named Josephine:Josephine Madora (Trammell) Wathen and Edith Josephine (Harrison) Wathen.
Parents, William A. Wathen and Elizabeth Gibbs.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
BENJAMIN S. WATHEN
One of the distinguished representatives of the civil-engineering profession in the southwest and one who has been a prominent and influential factor in railroad construction and development in this section of our great national domain, is Major Benjamin S. Wathen, who maintains his residence in the city of Dallas, Texas and who is now retained as consulting engineer for the Texas & Pacific Railroad, with the affairs of which he has been long and prominently identified. He is one of the really great railroad builders of the southwest and is a man whose high attainments have found concrete and constructive exemplification, while his character is the positive expression of a strong and noble nature, so that he has ever commanded the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fellow men. His has been an exceedingly active and useful career as one of the world's productive workers, and there are many other points which render the story of his life most interesting, even as it must prove a source of incentive and inspiration to others. He is a scion of families whose names have been identified with American annals since the early colonial epoch in our national history, he is one of the gallant sons of the fair southland who gave loyal service in defense of the cause of the Confederacy in the Civil war, and he is one of the best known and most highly honored of the pioneer citizens of Dallas,Texas which city has represented his home for two score years and which he has seen develop from an obscure frontier town into a metropolitan city of great commercial and industrial importance.
Major Wathen was born in Marion County, Kentucky, on the fourth of March, 1845, and is a son of William A. and Elizabeth (Gibbs) Wathen, the former of whom was born in Maryland and the latter in Kentucky. The lineage of the Wathen family is traced back to staunch English origin and its first representatives in America came to Maryland as members of the colony founded by Lord Baltimore, in 1645. From that state members of the family emigrated in an early day to Kentucky, and there William A. Wathen became a representative planter and merchant of Marion county, where he and his devoted wife continued to reside until their death.
Mrs. Wathen was born in Kentucky and was a representative of a family prominently identified with civic and public affairs in that historical old commonwealth. Her mother was a sister of Hon. Charles A. Wycliff, who served as governor of Kentucky in an early day.
Major Benjamin S. Wathen was reared to adult age in his native county and there was pursuing his school work at the time when the dark cloud of Civil war spread its pall over the nation. His youthful loyalty was quickened to responsive protest and though he was only seventeen years of age at the time he promptly tendered his aid in defense of the cause of the Confederate States of America. He enlisted in the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, which became a part of the valiant command of General John Morgan. In this connection Major Wathen participated in the historic Morgan raid into Ohio, where he was captured by the enemy and imprisoned at Camp Chase, later being transferred to Camp Douglas, in the city of Chicago. He was held a prisoner of war about nine months and his exchange was then effected. He rejoined the Confederate forces and continued in active service in southwestern Virginia until the close of the war, when he received his parole, in May, 1865. He participated in numerous engagements of important order, was ever found at the post of duty and made a record that shall ever reflect honor upon his name. His continued interest in his old comrades is shown through his affiliation with the United Confederate Veterans' Association.
After the termination of his gallant military career Major Wathen returned to Kentucky, where he became a member of the engineering corps engaged in surveying and construction work on the line of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, in June, 1865. His great technical skill has been gained largely through practical experience, but he has also been a close student of the theoretical phases of his profession, and has long held authoritative prestige as a civil engineer.
In 1869 Major Wathen came to Texas to assume the position of engineer in connection with surveying and construction work on the line of the Houston & Great Northern Railroad, now known as the International & Great Northern. After doing important engineering work for this company until August, 1874, he then became chief engineer for some new lines and later accepted a position as engineer for the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company, with which great corporation he has continued to be identified during the long intervening years and in the development of whose admirable system he has been an influential and valued factor. He became chief engineer for this company in 1880, and he retained this important office until the 1st of June, 1911, excepting for a period when engaged in special work for the Southwest System, when he was retired from the active duties that had long engrossed his time and attention and was retained in the office of consulting engineer, a mark of the company's appreciation of the great work he had accomplished in its behalf and also of the continued value of his interposition in connection with the technical affairs of the system.
At the time when Major Wathen first entered the service of the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company its line extended only from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Longview, Gregg county, Texas, a distance of sixty-four miles. With all extension and construction work on this railroad system Major Wathen has been most closely and effectively concerned, and he takes personal pride in noting its importance in connection with the civic and industrial development and upbuilding of the fine country traversed by its lines.
In politics the Major is a free trader and as may well be inferred, is in the camp of the Democratic party, and not only is he well fortified in his views concerning matters of public import, but he is also one of those broad-minded men who have stood exponent of progressive ideas and of civic righteousness.
Relieved from the more onerous duties which long rested upon him, Major Wathen is enjoying to the full the attractions of his pleasant home at 2728 Oakland Avenue, in the city of Dallas, Texas and also the grateful relationship of association with a host of friends who are tried and true. He has been one of the contributors to the upbuilding of the southwest and his name and achievement merit a place of prominence in this history of the state which has so long represented his home.
In 1877 Major Wathen was united in marriage to Miss Josephine M. Tramwell, of Henderson, Texas, and she was summoned to the life eternal in January, 1895. She was survived by four sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living excepting one son.
In November, 1896, was solemnized the marriage of Major Wathen to Miss Edith J. Harrison, likewise a resident of Henderson, Texas, and they have three children, one son and two daughters.
Warner, Harry T., editor. Texans and their State.
BENJAMIN SOUTHERN WATHEN, SR.
Both wives were named Josephine:Josephine Madora (Trammell) Wathen and Edith Josephine (Harrison) Wathen.
Parents, William A. Wathen and Elizabeth Gibbs.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
BENJAMIN S. WATHEN
One of the distinguished representatives of the civil-engineering profession in the southwest and one who has been a prominent and influential factor in railroad construction and development in this section of our great national domain, is Major Benjamin S. Wathen, who maintains his residence in the city of Dallas, Texas and who is now retained as consulting engineer for the Texas & Pacific Railroad, with the affairs of which he has been long and prominently identified. He is one of the really great railroad builders of the southwest and is a man whose high attainments have found concrete and constructive exemplification, while his character is the positive expression of a strong and noble nature, so that he has ever commanded the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fellow men. His has been an exceedingly active and useful career as one of the world's productive workers, and there are many other points which render the story of his life most interesting, even as it must prove a source of incentive and inspiration to others. He is a scion of families whose names have been identified with American annals since the early colonial epoch in our national history, he is one of the gallant sons of the fair southland who gave loyal service in defense of the cause of the Confederacy in the Civil war, and he is one of the best known and most highly honored of the pioneer citizens of Dallas,Texas which city has represented his home for two score years and which he has seen develop from an obscure frontier town into a metropolitan city of great commercial and industrial importance.
Major Wathen was born in Marion County, Kentucky, on the fourth of March, 1845, and is a son of William A. and Elizabeth (Gibbs) Wathen, the former of whom was born in Maryland and the latter in Kentucky. The lineage of the Wathen family is traced back to staunch English origin and its first representatives in America came to Maryland as members of the colony founded by Lord Baltimore, in 1645. From that state members of the family emigrated in an early day to Kentucky, and there William A. Wathen became a representative planter and merchant of Marion county, where he and his devoted wife continued to reside until their death.
Mrs. Wathen was born in Kentucky and was a representative of a family prominently identified with civic and public affairs in that historical old commonwealth. Her mother was a sister of Hon. Charles A. Wycliff, who served as governor of Kentucky in an early day.
Major Benjamin S. Wathen was reared to adult age in his native county and there was pursuing his school work at the time when the dark cloud of Civil war spread its pall over the nation. His youthful loyalty was quickened to responsive protest and though he was only seventeen years of age at the time he promptly tendered his aid in defense of the cause of the Confederate States of America. He enlisted in the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, which became a part of the valiant command of General John Morgan. In this connection Major Wathen participated in the historic Morgan raid into Ohio, where he was captured by the enemy and imprisoned at Camp Chase, later being transferred to Camp Douglas, in the city of Chicago. He was held a prisoner of war about nine months and his exchange was then effected. He rejoined the Confederate forces and continued in active service in southwestern Virginia until the close of the war, when he received his parole, in May, 1865. He participated in numerous engagements of important order, was ever found at the post of duty and made a record that shall ever reflect honor upon his name. His continued interest in his old comrades is shown through his affiliation with the United Confederate Veterans' Association.
After the termination of his gallant military career Major Wathen returned to Kentucky, where he became a member of the engineering corps engaged in surveying and construction work on the line of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, in June, 1865. His great technical skill has been gained largely through practical experience, but he has also been a close student of the theoretical phases of his profession, and has long held authoritative prestige as a civil engineer.
In 1869 Major Wathen came to Texas to assume the position of engineer in connection with surveying and construction work on the line of the Houston & Great Northern Railroad, now known as the International & Great Northern. After doing important engineering work for this company until August, 1874, he then became chief engineer for some new lines and later accepted a position as engineer for the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company, with which great corporation he has continued to be identified during the long intervening years and in the development of whose admirable system he has been an influential and valued factor. He became chief engineer for this company in 1880, and he retained this important office until the 1st of June, 1911, excepting for a period when engaged in special work for the Southwest System, when he was retired from the active duties that had long engrossed his time and attention and was retained in the office of consulting engineer, a mark of the company's appreciation of the great work he had accomplished in its behalf and also of the continued value of his interposition in connection with the technical affairs of the system.
At the time when Major Wathen first entered the service of the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company its line extended only from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Longview, Gregg county, Texas, a distance of sixty-four miles. With all extension and construction work on this railroad system Major Wathen has been most closely and effectively concerned, and he takes personal pride in noting its importance in connection with the civic and industrial development and upbuilding of the fine country traversed by its lines.
In politics the Major is a free trader and as may well be inferred, is in the camp of the Democratic party, and not only is he well fortified in his views concerning matters of public import, but he is also one of those broad-minded men who have stood exponent of progressive ideas and of civic righteousness.
Relieved from the more onerous duties which long rested upon him, Major Wathen is enjoying to the full the attractions of his pleasant home at 2728 Oakland Avenue, in the city of Dallas, Texas and also the grateful relationship of association with a host of friends who are tried and true. He has been one of the contributors to the upbuilding of the southwest and his name and achievement merit a place of prominence in this history of the state which has so long represented his home.
In 1877 Major Wathen was united in marriage to Miss Josephine M. Tramwell, of Henderson, Texas, and she was summoned to the life eternal in January, 1895. She was survived by four sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living excepting one son.
In November, 1896, was solemnized the marriage of Major Wathen to Miss Edith J. Harrison, likewise a resident of Henderson, Texas, and they have three children, one son and two daughters.
Warner, Harry T., editor. Texans and their State.
Both wives were named Josephine:Josephine Madora (Trammell) Wathen and Edith Josephine (Harrison) Wathen.
Parents, William A. Wathen and Elizabeth Gibbs.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
BENJAMIN S. WATHEN
One of the distinguished representatives of the civil-engineering profession in the southwest and one who has been a prominent and influential factor in railroad construction and development in this section of our great national domain, is Major Benjamin S. Wathen, who maintains his residence in the city of Dallas, Texas and who is now retained as consulting engineer for the Texas & Pacific Railroad, with the affairs of which he has been long and prominently identified. He is one of the really great railroad builders of the southwest and is a man whose high attainments have found concrete and constructive exemplification, while his character is the positive expression of a strong and noble nature, so that he has ever commanded the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fellow men. His has been an exceedingly active and useful career as one of the world's productive workers, and there are many other points which render the story of his life most interesting, even as it must prove a source of incentive and inspiration to others. He is a scion of families whose names have been identified with American annals since the early colonial epoch in our national history, he is one of the gallant sons of the fair southland who gave loyal service in defense of the cause of the Confederacy in the Civil war, and he is one of the best known and most highly honored of the pioneer citizens of Dallas,Texas which city has represented his home for two score years and which he has seen develop from an obscure frontier town into a metropolitan city of great commercial and industrial importance.
Major Wathen was born in Marion County, Kentucky, on the fourth of March, 1845, and is a son of William A. and Elizabeth (Gibbs) Wathen, the former of whom was born in Maryland and the latter in Kentucky. The lineage of the Wathen family is traced back to staunch English origin and its first representatives in America came to Maryland as members of the colony founded by Lord Baltimore, in 1645. From that state members of the family emigrated in an early day to Kentucky, and there William A. Wathen became a representative planter and merchant of Marion county, where he and his devoted wife continued to reside until their death.
Mrs. Wathen was born in Kentucky and was a representative of a family prominently identified with civic and public affairs in that historical old commonwealth. Her mother was a sister of Hon. Charles A. Wycliff, who served as governor of Kentucky in an early day.
Major Benjamin S. Wathen was reared to adult age in his native county and there was pursuing his school work at the time when the dark cloud of Civil war spread its pall over the nation. His youthful loyalty was quickened to responsive protest and though he was only seventeen years of age at the time he promptly tendered his aid in defense of the cause of the Confederate States of America. He enlisted in the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, which became a part of the valiant command of General John Morgan. In this connection Major Wathen participated in the historic Morgan raid into Ohio, where he was captured by the enemy and imprisoned at Camp Chase, later being transferred to Camp Douglas, in the city of Chicago. He was held a prisoner of war about nine months and his exchange was then effected. He rejoined the Confederate forces and continued in active service in southwestern Virginia until the close of the war, when he received his parole, in May, 1865. He participated in numerous engagements of important order, was ever found at the post of duty and made a record that shall ever reflect honor upon his name. His continued interest in his old comrades is shown through his affiliation with the United Confederate Veterans' Association.
After the termination of his gallant military career Major Wathen returned to Kentucky, where he became a member of the engineering corps engaged in surveying and construction work on the line of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, in June, 1865. His great technical skill has been gained largely through practical experience, but he has also been a close student of the theoretical phases of his profession, and has long held authoritative prestige as a civil engineer.
In 1869 Major Wathen came to Texas to assume the position of engineer in connection with surveying and construction work on the line of the Houston & Great Northern Railroad, now known as the International & Great Northern. After doing important engineering work for this company until August, 1874, he then became chief engineer for some new lines and later accepted a position as engineer for the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company, with which great corporation he has continued to be identified during the long intervening years and in the development of whose admirable system he has been an influential and valued factor. He became chief engineer for this company in 1880, and he retained this important office until the 1st of June, 1911, excepting for a period when engaged in special work for the Southwest System, when he was retired from the active duties that had long engrossed his time and attention and was retained in the office of consulting engineer, a mark of the company's appreciation of the great work he had accomplished in its behalf and also of the continued value of his interposition in connection with the technical affairs of the system.
At the time when Major Wathen first entered the service of the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company its line extended only from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Longview, Gregg county, Texas, a distance of sixty-four miles. With all extension and construction work on this railroad system Major Wathen has been most closely and effectively concerned, and he takes personal pride in noting its importance in connection with the civic and industrial development and upbuilding of the fine country traversed by its lines.
In politics the Major is a free trader and as may well be inferred, is in the camp of the Democratic party, and not only is he well fortified in his views concerning matters of public import, but he is also one of those broad-minded men who have stood exponent of progressive ideas and of civic righteousness.
Relieved from the more onerous duties which long rested upon him, Major Wathen is enjoying to the full the attractions of his pleasant home at 2728 Oakland Avenue, in the city of Dallas, Texas and also the grateful relationship of association with a host of friends who are tried and true. He has been one of the contributors to the upbuilding of the southwest and his name and achievement merit a place of prominence in this history of the state which has so long represented his home.
In 1877 Major Wathen was united in marriage to Miss Josephine M. Tramwell, of Henderson, Texas, and she was summoned to the life eternal in January, 1895. She was survived by four sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living excepting one son.
In November, 1896, was solemnized the marriage of Major Wathen to Miss Edith J. Harrison, likewise a resident of Henderson, Texas, and they have three children, one son and two daughters.
Warner, Harry T., editor. Texans and their State.
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