Yule, Henry F.

YULE, GENTLE, TINGLEFF

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2003 at 17:23:08

HENRY F. YULE. 

One of the most trusted engineers in the service of the Northwestern Railway Company is the subject of this sketch, Henry F. Yule, who was born in Rochelle, Illinois, February 28, 1860, and has been employed since 1872 by the above company. His parents, Henry and Charlotte (Gentle) Yule, were natives of Scotland. The former born May 1, 1831, came to this country in 1858, and found employment with the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company at Rochelle, Illinois, while at Fulton he was wood agent for twelve years. This was a position of great responsibility, as it was the duty of the incumbent to see that all engines on the road were supplied with wood. This work was performed with so much satisfaction by Mr. Yule that upon taking up his residence in Clinton he received from the railway company a position as shipping clerk, which for several years he filled with much credit. Later he retired to a farm at Holstein, Iowa, which he had purchased in 1881. Mr. Yule has always enjoyed the best of health and throughout his life has been very prosperous. His estimable wife, born in Scotland in 1835, died in Clinton in 1887. There were seven children born in this family, four of whom died in early childhood, while one son, Andrew, died in 1881 at the age of twenty-six years. Those living are: Margaret, who was born in Scotland; and H. F., the subject of this sketch. The family are members of the Congregational church and Mr. Yule is a Knight Templar Mason.

Henry F. Yule received his education in the schools of Fulton. At the age of thirteen he left school and went to work for the railroad company, cutting bolts and nuts in the machine shop, where he was employed for seven years. He then left Fulton and went to Hudson, Wisconsin, in 1879, where he secured a position in the machine shops of the railroad. He worked there for one year and then became brakeman, which position he held for one year. In 1881 he took up his residence in Clinton, and beginning as a fireman he worked for the Northwestern Railway Company in that capacity for five years, when, at the end of that time, having secured the confidence and esteem of his employers by his thorough attention to business, he was promoted to the post of engineer, which he has since filled.

Mr. Yule has an untarnished record as an engineer, never having had an accident either to himself or to his trains. During his residence in Clinton he was witnessed many changes both in the town of Clinton and in railway circles, and since having a regular run between Clinton and Boone has seen both towns grow and prosper.

Mr. Yule was married in October, 1885, to Miss Carrie Tingleff, who was born on the shores of Denmark in 1864 and came to this country when but eight years old. Her parents are Christian and Christina Tingleff, natives of Denmark, who took up their residence in New York upon first coming to this country, and in 1872 moved to Clinton, Iowa. They were farmers by occupation but are now living retired lives in Clinton, the former having reached the advanced age of eighty-one years and the latter sixty-six. The four children born to our subject and wife are as follows: Alice, born October 23, 1886, attending high school; Susan, born April 3, 1888; Harry, born August 23, 1899 [sic], and George, who died in early childhood.

The success attained by our subject has been due solely to his own industry and energy. His opportunity for obtaining an education was very limited, but by constant application he has acquired that knowledge which in the daily performance of his duty has become so essential to him. In 1885 he purchased his home at 523 Ninth avenue, and has added many improvements to the same so that to-day he has a modern, comfortable dwelling for himself and family.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.