Biography - Robert Dunsmore
The oldest conductor of the Chicago & Alton Railway in point of
service is Robert G. Dunsmore, who likeness is presented
herewith. No man in the employ of the company enjoys a wider
acquaintance than this popular knight of the ticket punch. He is
personally known to almost every man, woman and child along the
line from Bloomington to Kansas City, and from Roodhouse to St.
Louis. Mr. Dunsmore is a whole-souled fellow, the like of whom
one seldom finds. He is as unweilding as the sturdy oak of the
forest when he is in the path of duty and right, but as kind and
sympathetic as a child to those unfortunately in distress. None
but the unworthy ever have any fault to find with this genial
and generous gentleman. When off duty he is an agreeable and
entertaining companion, but on duty he is all business –
courteous to all, but brooks no foolishness, which may of his
"smart" passengers have found out to their sorrow.
Mr. Dunsmore is a native of Canada and was born in Huntingdon
County, Province of Quebec, in 1848. His first years were spent
upon a farm and the rudiments of his education were acquired in
the country. For four years he attended the Huntingdon Academy.
With the exception of two years, from 1865 to 1867, which he
spent in the Queen’s service as a soldier, he worked on his
father’s farm until he came to the States in 1868. His first
work was done for a brother in Minnesota, who was a contractor
on the Minnesota Southern Railway, now a part of the C. M. & St.
P. System. He also did construction work on the Northern
Pacific. His first work in railroading was
Note: Robert Dunsmore's biography transcription is incomplete because pages 12 – 15 were missing.
Transcribed 25 Oct 2006 by Linda Jones Craig from Souvenir of Roodhouse, 1897.
