Thomas James Mullen

MULLEN

Posted By: Bill Hansen (email)
Date: 2/7/2011 at 18:01:32

From the Ottumwa Courier dated Tuesday, April 12, 1938

T.J. MULLEN, RAILROAD PIONEER DIES AT 86

Thomas James Mullen, 86, pioneer railroader and an Ottumwa resident for the lat 50 years, died Monday [April 11, 1938] at 6:30 p.m. at his home, 110 South Union street.

Mr. Mullen had been in poor health for the last month. He was the sole survivor of a large group of Burlington railroaders who came to Ottumwa in 1888.

He began his career in the transportation field on the Schuylkill canal in Pennsylvania nearly four score years ago, working on his father's boat. Later he served 12 years in the train and engine service of the Reading railroad in the same state.

Mr. Mullen came to Ottumwa in February, 1888, entering the service of the Bulington railroad as an engineer. For the next 34 years he worked in that post. He was retired in July, 1922.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Mullen and was born January 1, 1852, at Port Carbon, Pa. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic church, of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and of the Veterans' association of the Burlington.

Surviving are his wife, Stella; one daughter, Miss Mary Cecelia Allen; three sons, Thomas H., George P., and John J. Mullen of Ottumwa; two sisters, Mrs. Ellen Dowling and Mrs. Mary Hillard of Port Carbon, Pa., and five grandchidren of Ottumwa.

Services will be Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at Vaughan's funeral chapel and at 9 a.m. in the Sacred Heart Catholic church. The Rev. J.H. Courtney will celebrate requiem high mass. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Members of the Holy Name society of Sacred Heart church will meet at the funeral chapel tonight to recite the rosary. The body will remain at the chapel until time for the services.