Work, William A.

WORK, MCLAUGHLIN, GOFF, TANNER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2003 at 17:20:39

WILLIAM A. WORK
On the 15th of June, 1886, W. A. Work entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company as brakeman, and served in that capacity until September 25, 1891, when he was promoted to conductor, which position he still fills. He is at present in the freight service and is a resident of Clinton, which is the home of many of the employes [sic] of this road.
Mr. Work was born February 16, 1852, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, of which state his parents, William and Levisa (McLaughlin) Work, were also natives. Coming west, the family reached Iowa on the 20th of June, 1861, and located in DeWitt, Clinton county, where the father continued to make his home until his death, which occurred September 1, 1880. He was a distiller during his residence in Pennsylvania, but after coming to this state engaged in the grain and milling business. His wife died in February, 1866.
W. A. Work, the only child of this worthy couple, received a good practical education in the public schools of DeWitt, and during his youth learned the miller's trade, which he followed for about ten years in partnership with another man, selling out in 1882. He has twice married, his first wife being Sarah Goff, whom he wedded June 20, 1877, and after her death he was united in marriage with Miss Estella Tanner, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her father was William Tanner, who enlisted in Company L., Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, during the Civil war and died at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her mother is still living and now resides in Clinton. Mr. and Mrs. Work have two children, Flora I. and Frank B. Fraternally our subject is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors, and all who know him hold him in the highest esteem. He has a fine home at 738 Stockholm street, Clinton, one of the prettiest streets in the city, which he built in 1891. In politics, he is a Republican.

Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.