Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
CHARLES J. DRURY. There is a great deal in being born under a good eye, one that watches and guards off the error and folly that overtake so many young men. The parents that are able to infuse into their children the spirit of the Spartans--the spirit that can meet any fate and make the most of the world-will see their children grow to years of maturity with excellent habits and splendid principles, and see them become exemplary citizens. Charles J. Drury, former superintendent of the North Side machine shops for the Frisco, and a man who had an envied record in his special line of endeavor, although a young man, was fortunate in having broad-minded, honest and painstaking parents, so that he looked but upon the world from a sane, intelligent and comprehensive viewpoint.
Mr. Drury was born September 17, 1878, at Chicago junction, Ohio. He is a son of M. J. and Mary (Cook) Drury, the former a native of England and the latter of West Virginia. M. J. Drury was born in May, 1849. He spent his earlier years in his native land and received a good common school education, but was young when he came to the United States. He has spent his life in railroad service. He served his apprenticeship at Parkersburg, West Virginia, in the shops of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. Later he went to Kansas and was general foreman at Parsons in the shops of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company, from 1880 until 1886, after which he was gang foreman until 1892 for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company, was general foreman for this road at La Junta, Colorado, until 1895. From that year until 1902 he was general foreman at Arkansas City, Kansas, for the same road, and from 1902 to 1906 he was master mechanic for the same road at Winslow, Arizona. He then was master mechanic for about a year at Raton, New Mexico, for the same road, and from 1907 to 1912 he was mechanical superintendent at La Junta, Colorado, and since then has been at his present location, Topeka, Kansas, as superintendent of shop. The mother of the subject of this sketch died in January, 1907.
Charles J. Drury, who was the only child of M. J. Drury and wife, received his education in the schools of Kansas City, Missouri; Topeka, Kansas, and La Junta, Colorado, attending the high school in the last named place. He entered railway service July 1, 1895, from which time until July 1, 1909, he was machinist apprentice for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, at Atchison, Kansas. After serving his four years there he was, until July 1, 1906, machinist for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, Southern Pacific Company, Kansas City Southern railway, El Paso & Southwestern railroad, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad and other roads. From July 1, 1906, to July 1, 1908, he was roundhouse foreman of the Santa Fe at La Junta, Colorado. From November, 1908, to September, 1910, he was general foreman of the same road at Albuquerque, New Mexico.From September 1, 1910, to April 1, 1911, he was master mechanic on the Oklahoma division of the same road at Arkansas City, Kansas. From April 1, 1911, until January, 1913, he was master mechanic of the Plains division of that road at Amarillo, Texas. From January, 1913, until July of the same year he was general foreman for the St. Louis & San Francisco railroad at Fort Smith, Arkansas, and from that date until July, 1914, he was general foreman in the Springfield shops of this company, and at his death was master mechanic of the machine shops at Sapulpa, of the Oklahoma division. He was a master of his special line of work and made a fine record in the responsible position which he held as he did in all previous positions. His death occurred October 19, 1914, as a result of typhoid fever.
Mr. Drury was married, in February, 1903, in San Francisco, California, to Julia McKenry, who was born in Wisconsin, in August, 1880. She is a daughter of William and Mary McKenry, who reside in Wisconsin.
Five children, four of whom are still living, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Drury, namely: Mary, born December 25, 1904, died in January, 1908; Florence, born March 11, 1907; Jack, born August 17, 1909; Charles, born March 13, 1910; Frances, born January 12, 1913.
Politically, Mr. Drury was a Republican. He was a member of the Catholic church, and, fraternally, he belonged to the Knights of Columbus.
[1094-1095]
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y
Table of Contents | Keyword Search | Greene County History Home | Local History Home