Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
THOMAS L. HASLER. The fair Oriole state, while not so rich or vast in area as some of her sisterhood in the Union, is one of the best beloved. "Maryland, My Maryland," has long been a favorite song, formerly more so than now, however; but all of us, from whatever section of America we may hail, admire the state that has produced so many splendid citizens. From the early Colonial days down to the present she has given to the nation leading men and women in all walks of life. Among the citizens of Greene county, Missouri, who originally came from within her borders, is Thomas L. Hasler, one of the well known locomotive engineers of the Frisco System, with which road he has been connected for a period of forty years, and it goes without saying that he has been capable and trustworthy, for that is a very long time to remain with one company.
Mr. Hasler was born in Baltimore, Maryland, July 14, 1852. He is a son of Eli and Maria (Divine) Hasler, the father, of Pennsylvania Dutch stock, having been born in the Keystone state in 1825, and his death occurred October 12, 1903. The mother of our subject was born in Ireland in 1826, immigrated to the United States when young in years, and her death occurred March 21, 1909. These parents received limited educations in the common schools and they were married in Pennsylvania. Eli Hasler was a cabinet maker by trade, which he followed in a number of the large cities of the East, finally locating in St. Louis, where he lived a while, and in 1860 moved to Phelps county, Missouri, where he purchased a farm and there spent the rest of his life, but his widow spent her last years with her son, our subject, in Springfield. During the, Civil war Eli Hasler was a member of the Home Guards at St. James, this state. His family consisted of eight children, namely: William lives in St. James, Missouri; Thomas L., of this review; Marira, George, Agnes, John and Frank are all living; Edward is deceased.
Thomas L. Hasler was but a boy when his parents brought him to Missouri and he grew to manhood in this state and received his education in the schools of St. James. He worked on the home farm until 1873, then began his railroad career on the Atlantic & Pacific railroad, which subsequently became known as the Frisco. He began as fireman and worked his way up to engineer on a passenger train, in which capacity he is still employed, his run being between Springfield and Fort Smith, Arkansas. He has long been regarded by the company as one of the safest and most capable of its engineers, sober, reliable and careful.
Mr. Hasler was married on September 3, 1879, in Springfield, to Lucy E. McCleane, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Archie and Lucy E. (Bird) McCleane. The father's death occurred in Jefferson county, Missouri, and the mother of Mrs. Hasler died in England. Mrs. Hasler received a good common school education.
To our subject and wife seven children have been born, namely: Allen is employed in the Frisco shops here; Mamie; Archie is employed in the Frisco shops; George is also a machinist in the local railroad shops; Agnes, Della, and Eli, the latter working in the Frisco shops.
Politically, Mr. Hasler is a Democrat. He belongs to Division 83, United Brotherhood of Engineers. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and he and his family are Catholics.
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