San Joaquin County
Biographies
WINFIELD WEBSTER PRUGH
W. W. PRUGH, Superintendent
of that portion of the Southern Pacific system known as the Stockton &
Copperopolis Railroad (a history of which is given elsewhere in this volume),
is a native of Winchester, Preble County, Ohio, born August 12, 1847, his parents
being Jacob and Lucinda Prugh. When he was but two years old, his parents
removed to Burlington, Iowa, and there he grew up and received his education.
In 1864, he entered the service of the Western Union Telegraph Company as
messenger, and eight months later commenced an engagement in the office of the
Burlington & Wisconsin Railroad at Mt. Pleasant, as telegraph operator. In
November, 1866, he went into the Sandwich (Illinois) office of the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad as operator and ticket clerk. In May, 1868, he
entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad then engaged in the
construction of its great overland line to Ogden, and went into Laramie,
Wyoming, on the first train, and took the position of night operator there,
afterward becoming division operator, which position he held until November,
1868. From that time until November, 1869, he was telegraph operator and ticket
clerk at Chariton and Ottumwa, Iowa, on the Burlington & Missouri Railroad.
After that until June 20, 1870, he was night operator at Wasatch, Utah, and
telegraph operator and ticket clerk at Cheyenne, on the Union Pacific. From
June 27, 1870, to September 15, 1870, he was agent at Greeley, Colorado,
opening that station. After that until May 14, 1872, he was superintendent’s
clerk at Denver. From then until March 31, 1879, he was local agent of the
Denver & Rio Grande at Denver, and was the first agent of that company
there. From September to December 25, 1879, he was night operator at Terrace,
Utah, for the Central Pacific Railroad. From December 28, 1879, to August 4,
1880, he was station agent at Benicia, California, and opened that office. From
that time until February 1, 1882, he was superintendent’s clerk and trainmaster
of the western division, at Oakland Pier. From that time until November 24,
1884, he was assistant division superintendent at Tulare. In connection with
that position, from November 13, 1882, to July 1, 1883, he was in charge of
construction of the Nevada Division of the Southern Pacific, Mojave to The
Needles. From November 21, 1884, to April 10, 1886, he was division
superintendent at Tulare. From June 10, 1886, to date, he has been in charge of
the Stockton Division of the Southern Pacific Railroad. He is second
Vice-President of the Stockton Board of Trade, and a member of the board of
directors.
He is a member of San Joaquin Lodge, No.
19, A. F. & A. M.; is “C. of H.” in Stockton Chapter No. 38, R. A. M.; is
“C.” of Stockton Council, No. 10, R. & S. M., and a member of Stockton
Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar. He is past Master of Stockton Lodge, No.
27, A. O. U. W., and is Incorporate Director of the Grand Lodge of California.
He is one of the most experienced railroad men in California, and is a popular
official alike with the employés and patrons of his company.
Mr. Prugh was one of the prime movers in
the organization of the YoSemite Club, and was its vice-president and chairman
of the house committee, the first year.
Mr. Prugh was married in Denver, November
25, 1874, to Miss Henrietta Morey, a native of Albany, New York.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 606-607. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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