Frederick Jackson Byington

BYINGTON

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 6/1/2010 at 18:58:57

Ambition, determination and close application are the qualities by which Frederick Jackson Byington has reached an important position in the railroad world at a comparatively early age. He is now superintendent of the ester division of the Northwestern Railroad Company with headquarters at Boone and ahs been connected with that road for twenty-four years. He began his railroad career as a messenger boy in the Northwestern office at Rochelle, Illinois. There he was born September 3, 1876, his parents being Albert and Mattie (Bull) Byington. His paternal grandfather lived in Connecticut and was a mechanic. The family were Puritans and of the English descent. The father was a young man, migrated to the middle west and was married in Byron, Illinois. He had received a good common school education in Ithaca, New York, and was on intimate terms of friendship with Cornell, the founder of Cornell University. He took up pattern making in Rochelle, Illinois, and operated one of the first iron foundries there, shipping his castings to Chicago, something which was not thought of in those days by other manufacturers. He remained in that business for many years as and then retired now living with hour subject. He is a member of the Presbyterian church yet not strictly denominational, forming his own ideas I regard to religious teachings. He is a stanch republican and his views are in accord with the aims and purposes of that party. His wife died in 1881 at the age of thirty-five years. To them were born the following children: Glenn, a contractor of Rochelle, Illinois, Dean who married Florence Heffler and is a manufacturer of brushes in Aurora, Kane county, Illinois, and Frederick Jackson.
The last named attended the public schools of Rochelle until thirteen years of age, laying there a good general foundation for his career. He then became a messenger boy in the railroad office of the Northwestern, learning telegraph there . When fourteen yeas of age he was an operator, being located in Oak Park, Cook county, Illinois, for one year, after which he made a tour through the west, southwest and Mexico, acting as telegraph operator during this time. At seventeen he was made train dispatcher on the Milwaukee division of the Northwestern, which responsible position he filled to the satisfaction of his superiors. He spent three years here and was then transferred to Belle Plaine, Iowa, in the same capacity. After a year he was removed to Chadron, Nebraska, and was subsequently stationed at Evanston, Wyoming, Pocatello, Idaho, North Platte, Nebraska, Ashland, Wisconsin, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Fond Du Lac, that state. In all these cities he acted as train dispatcher and came in that capacity to Boone in 1902. He was night train dispatcher and day chief dispatcher until January 1910, when he was sent to Baraboo, Wisconsin as assistant superintendent , remaining in that city in that position until January 1913, when he returned to Boone as superintendent of the western division of the Northwester Railroad. He has since discharged the duties of this very important office as stands high in the confidence and esteem of the directors and high officials of the road. He is a useful ad trustworthy railroad man and a public spirited citizen, much interpreted in the progress of Boone and ever ready to give his support to worthy enterprises of public character.
On July 30, 1902 Mr Byington was united in marriage to Miss Edith Zalesky, the ceremony taking place at Belle Plaine, Iowa. She is a daughter of Joseph and Amelia (Crystal) Zalesky, and bore her husband the following children: Frederick Jackson born February 24, 1904 in Boone, and Corinne born November 11, 1905.
Mr Byington is a member of the Presbyterian church and gives his oral and material support to that organization. His political faith connects him with the republican party. Although he is to a large degree independent, particularly in local issues, preferring to support the men best fitted for the office to which he aspires regardless of his party affiliations. Fraternally he belongs to the blue lodge of Masons at Ashland, Wisconsin, being a member of Landmark Lodge, No 41. He practices the benevolent principles of his order in his everyday life and thoroughly believes in the brotherhood of man. He is highly esteemed by his employees who regard him with respect ad all of whom consider him their friends. Thoroughly efficient, trustworthy and faithful, Mr Byington is an ideal type of railroad man and yet higher honors may be prophesied for him in the future.

1914 Boone County History Book