Los Angeles County
Biographies
THOMAS PATRICK CULLEN
CULLEN, THOMAS PATRICK, Railway Superintendent, Los Angeles, California, was born at Highland, Wisconsin, January 15, 1864, the son of James Cullen and Margaret (Ford) Cullen. He married Josephine Myer at Glendive, Montana, February 21, 1887, and to them there have been born five children, Roy (deceased), Thomas, Jr., Ruth, Josephine and Helen Cullen. Mr. Cullen’s parents were both born in Ireland, but were brought to the United States in childhood and spent the earlier part of their lives in Boston, Massachusetts. After they were married they moved to Wisconsin and remained there until called by death.
Mr. Cullen, who is one of the old school of practical, all-around railroad men, trained before the day of specialization, received his primary education in the public schools of his native town. He left the schoolroom when he was seventeen years of age, however, to go into the railroad business and this has been his field of operation ever since, a matter of about thirty years’ active service.
Mr. Cullen first began his railroad career in the year 1882, when he obtained a position in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company at Glendive, Montana. The company was at that time building through the State of Montana and Mr. Cullen worked in the Construction Department for about a year. Having learned the business of road-building during this time, he decided to qualify as a trainman and took a position as brakeman on one of the Northern Pacific freight divisions. He worked in this capacity for about two years and in 1885 was placed in charge of a train as conductor. He also was placed in charge of reconstruction on part of the line and supervised this work for about two years.
In 1887, Mr. Cullen was appointed General Yardmaster for the Northern Pacific at Glendive, and held this position for about one year, returning at the end of the period to the freight service of the road. For the next three years he remained in this branch of the business, then was promoted to the position of passenger conductor, in which he continued for twelve years, or until 1902. At that time he was offered the post of Superintendent of the Los Angeles Division of the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad Company (“the Salt Lake Route”), by the President, Mr. W. A. Clark, and accepted. He immediately removed to Los Angeles and has held this position for ten years. He brought to it the fruits of twenty years’ experience in all departments of the railroad business and during his tenure of office has been an important factor in the management of the practical part of the road’s operation. When he first joined the company it was in its infancy, but it has since developed into one of the leading railroads of the West and has been instrumental in opening up a splendid section of territory, in addition to reducing the time of travel between the East and the West.
During his long residence in Montana, Mr. Cullen, who is a Democrat in his political affiliation, took an active part in politics and for many years was regarded as one of the leaders of the party , he enjoyed an unusual personal popularity, but consistently refused to accept nomination for public office until 1892, when he was chosen as a candidate for State Senator on the Democratic ticket and elected. He was re-elected twice afterwards and served in all about twelve years.
It was during his time in the Senate that the famous Clark-Daly struggle for the control of the politics of Montana ensued. These two factions, led respectively by William A. Clark and Marcus Daly, both recognized among the great copper magnates of the world, kept up their rivalry for many years and the deciding battle finally was fought in the Legislature of 1901, when Mr. Clark was chosen United States Senator. The latter had been twice chosen for the honor prior to that time, but on one occasion, in 1890, was denied his seat, and on another (1898), resigned when a contest was inaugurated by his opponents, preferring to give up his seat, rather than have it questioned.
Mr. Cullen, during his entire career in the Montana Senate, was a great admirer of Mr. Clark, and supported him unswervingly from the beginning to the end of the celebrated battle. He was generally credited with having had an important part in bringing about ultimate success for the Clark cause.
Since transferring his home to Los Angeles, Mr. Cullen has taken only passive interest in political affairs and has devoted himself almost exclusively to his position as Superintendent of the “Salt Lake Railroad.”
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 670,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Joyce
Rugeroni.
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BIOGRAPIES