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Stephenson County, Illinois Genealogy
Thomas Carroll
THOMAS CARROLL is an engineer who has seen many years
service with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Road. Beginning on the
engine when only eighteen years old, he has come to understand its very
life, and almost make it a part of himself. He knows every whim and fancy
of the iron horse and can coax it to its utmost exertion.
Thomas Carroll, Sr., the father of the Freeport engineer, was born in
county Monaghan, Ireland, and came to America when a young man. He lived
in New York for a time and came to Freeport in 1854, the year after the
Northwestern was built into the city, securing a place on the road and
held it until his death in 1863. He was a democrat and a member of St.
Mary's Catholic church. His wife, Ann Duffy, a native of the same county,
still survives, making her home with the subject of this writing, and is
upwards of eighty years old. She became the mother of six children, four
of whom survive.
Thomas Carroll was born December 23, 1847, and came to Freeport when a lad
only seven years old. He had the usual school privileges of the time and
when he was eighteen years old began life for himself as a fireman on the
Racine & Mississippi Railroad, since incorporated into the St. Paul
System. Four years later he was given a seat on the right side of the cab
and had a run from Racine to Rock Island, and has been in the employ of
the great St. Paul railway ever since it took possession of the former
road. He has been over thirty years with the St. Paul road, a fact that
speaks volumes for his faithful and reliable character. Mr. Carroll and
Miss Mary J. Ryan were married in Freeport November, 1874. She was born in
Vermont, a daughter of Michael Ryan who died in young manhood, and
granddaughter of William and Ann Ryan. Her mother who is still living was
Julia Murphy before her marriage. She was a daughter of James and Bridget
(Roach) Murphy. Mrs. Carroll died December 5, 1885, and of her
Mr. Carroll is a member of St. Mary's Catholic church and belongs to the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Freeport Division. He also holds
membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has had a long
experience as a railroad man and can say with pleasure that he has never
been caught in any bad wrecks nor serious disasters.
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