My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH P. HERRINGTON. To the traveling public this gentleman is well and favorably known as a conductor on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. He has charge of the passenger train running between Sedalia and St. Louis, and it is a matter of pride with him that he runs the finest train into the finest depot in the world. His experience in railroading has been varied and comprehensive, and he has probably run trains over a larger number of roads than any other conductor in the country. During Mr. Frye’s term as Superintendent of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, he was his special conductor, and while serving in that capacity accompanied Mr. Frye in all his travels.

Mr. Herrington is a native of Brantford, Canada, and was born in 1857. He is the son of James and Anastasia (Ryan) Herrington, natives of Ireland, who, on emigrating to Canada, settled in London, and there resided until death, the father being a business man of that city. They were the parents of three sons and four daughters, of whom two sons and three daughters still survive, our subject being the third in order of birth. He was reared in London and is a graduate of the commercial college of that city, where he later took a course in telegraphy. At the age of sixteen he came to the United States and secured a position as telegraph operator with the Union Pacific Railroad at Atchison, Kan. From that city he went to Blue Rapids, Kan., and eight months later located in Jewell, where for more than two years he was engaged in the general mercantile business.

Returning to the railroad business, Mr. Herrington entered the employ of the Wabash Railway Company as brakeman on the road between St. Louis, Moberly and Kansas City, and two years afterward was promoted to the position of freight conductor between the two cities last named. Next he became passenger conductor between Moberly and Kansas City, filling the position for five years. In 1881 he became conductor on a freight train between Sedalia and Hannibal, and in 1884 was promoted to be passenger conductor, which position he has since filled. Since 1894 his run has been between Sedalia and St. Louis. As a railroad man he has been remarkably successful, and his ability has won merited recognition from the superior officials of the road.

In Carrollton, Mo., February 4, 1884, occurred the marriage of Joseph P. Herrington and Miss Lillian Arnold, who was born in that city and received an excellent education in Lexington Female Seminary. She is a member of the Calvary Episcopal Church, and is a lady whose charm of manner has won for her a high place in society. Fraternally Mr. Herrington is identified with the blue lodge of the Masonic order at Jewell, Kan., and Moberly Lodge No. 5, R. A. M., as well as Moolah Temple, N. M. S., in St. Louis. Active in the order of Railway Conductors, he served for some time as Chief Conductor of Division No. 60, and also has been Secretary and Treasurer of the organization. He is a leading member of the Democratic party in Sedalia, and in 1894 was a delegate to the state convention. Besides the other societies in which he is interested, he belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being a member of Lodge No. 125.