San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JAMES P. HARKINS
An efficient and popular railroad
official is James P. Harkins, the wide-awake and affable agent of the Western
Pacific Railroad handling both their growing freight and passenger interests at
Stockton, in which city he was born on November 29, 1877. His father, Captain John Harkins, is still
esteemed as one of the most agreeable of Irish gentlemen settling in America,
while his mother, who was Miss Mary Ann McCarthy before her marriage, is equally
the center of a circle of devoted friends, who admire in her those traits for
which the daughters of Erin have long been noted.
James Harkins was educated at St.
Mary’s College, Stockton, in the thorough manner for which that institution is
famous, and then he began a three-year experience as messenger boy in the
employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and during his service there, he
learned telegraphy, becoming telegraph operator for the Alameda & San
Joaquin Railroad, a busy line running from Stockton to the coal mines at
Tesla. When the Western Pacific Railroad
started construction in 1905, they took over this coal line, and Mr. Harkins
became an operator along the line of construction. In 1909, the Western Pacific Railroad
commenced regular operations in their important service to the public, and Mr.
Harkins was made cashier in the local office under the management of J. H.
Mettler, the agent. Four years later, in
January, he was promoted to be chief clerk, and, having continued to give the
best of satisfaction as his experience was widened and he became more
interested in and devoted to railroad work, in March, 1919, he was made freight
and passenger agent at Stockton, in which capacity he succeeds so well that the
company is able to render the maximum of service with the lowest cost and the
least possible friction to the public.
At Stockton, in 1914, Mr. Harkins
was married to Miss Catherine McLaughlin, the daughter of a pioneer family of Stockton;
and their fortunate union has been blessed with three children, William T.,
Ivan James, and Jacquelin M. Mr. Harkins belongs to Stockton Parlor No. 7,
N. S. G. W., to Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E., and he is a very active and popular
worker in the K. of C. and the Young Men’s Institute.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
677. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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