Walter J. TOMPKINS

TOMPKINS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/12/2013 at 13:45:04

June 11, 1861 --- November 3, 1931

Walter J. Tompkins, retired North Western Railway conductor, passed away Monday morning at his home in Eagle Grove. Presumably his illness was of brief duration. Funeral services were held at Eagle Grove Tuesday afternoon and the remains were taken to his old home at Amboy, Ill., where internment was made Wednesday.

Mr. Tompkins reached his 70th birthday on June 11th last after rounding out 47 1/2 years of service with the North Western Company. He retired from active duty on his 70th birthday and was placed on the pension roll of the company July 1st. Mr. Tompkins entered the train service on the Northern Iowa Division in the fall of 1883 and due to the rapid expansion of railway lines at the period but a few years elapsed before he became a passenger conductor and the major part of his long railway service was in the capacity. For a considerable number of years prior to his retirement he was in first place on the seniority list of passenger conductors on this division. During most of his service as a passenger conductor he held a run into Hawarden and the Tompkins family their home in this city for a good many years. They moved to Eagle Grove more than twenty years ago where they have since resided. Besides his widow he is survived by two sons, Elmer and Ralph, and one daughter, Mildred.

Mr. Tompkins was identified with Hawarden in its early struggles and was held in high esteem by many of our older residents who knew him intimately. All will join in extending sincere sympathy to the members of the Tompkins family.

Hawarden Independent -- Iowa
December 3, 1931