| From the Ashville Citizen {Ashville, N.
C.} |
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| August 17, 1885 |
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Col. Thomas Dodamead |
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The Richmond Dispatch of the 15th, has a sketch of
this gentleman, whose death we noticed in our issue of Friday last: |
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The name of Col. Dodamead has been a very familiar one in
railroad circles for nearly half a century; always in honorable
connection. The Dispatch says he was born in Philadelphia
sixty-eight years ago, and there learned the trade of locomotive
building. In 1840, the firm to which he belonged, sold a locomotive
to the {Richmond &} Petersburg Railroad
Company, and Mr. Dodamead was sent out to put it on the track. His
skill and aptitude were so manifest that he was, at once, engaged as
engineer. From thence he rose through regular gradations to higher
and more responsible positions successively Superintendent of the
Petersburg & Weldon, the Danville road, the Virginia Central road,
the York River road, and for nine years, of the Greenville &
Columbia road. During the war he was a Colonel in the Virginia army,
and had charge of the movement of military forces and supplies on
the East Tennessee & Virginia road. In all positions, he displayed
fine executive ability, and had a particular aptitude in bringing
order out of chaos. |
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In the words of the Dispatch, he was the best man
in the United States to revive a broken down road. Dozens of the
best railroad men now doing duty in Virginia, received their
training under him, and in this way particularly, he rendered signal
service to the State of his adoption, which had become the State of
his devoted affection. He was a considerate officer, a true hearted
friend, a pure and upright citizen. |
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