Springfield-Greene
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of Many of the Representative Citizens
JAMES S. McILVIN. The great Empire state (which seems to have been given a most appropriate sobriquet) has sent large numbers of her enterprising citizens into the great West, where they have made commendable records in every walk of life, being people who believe not only in doing things but in doing them well; they seem to be, almost without exception, men and women who combine the proper elements of character and innate qualities to make good and useful citizens. James S. McIlvin, a locomotive engineer of the Frisco Lines, living at Springfield, is one of this number.
Mr. McIlvin was born at Rochester, New York, May 16, 1856. He is a son of Robert and Rosine E. (Richards) McIlvin, both parents natives of New Hampshire, each representing an old New England family. They .grew to maturity in their native state, attended the common schools there and were married in New Hampshire, but removed from that state to the state of New York about the middle of the nineteenth century. The father of our subject was a carpenter by trade and he followed carpentering and building during the latter part of his life, but his earlier years were devoted to farming. His death occurred at Westfield, New York, about ten years ago. He removed his family to Kansas when that state was being settled by Eastern people and there the mother of our subject died, in the town of Lacygne, in 1872. To these parents two children were born, namely: Herbert, a conductor on the Southern Pacific railroad, lives in Dallas, Texas; and James S., of this sketch.
James S. Mcllvin was taken to the state of Kansas by his parents when he was a small boy and there-he grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools. He began his railroad career in 1877, in Pennsvivania, on the Bessemer railroad, which at that time was known as the old Alleghany road. He began as fireman and remained with this road about five years, then came to Kansas and worked out of Dodge City a short time as fireman on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe road, removed to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1881, and began firing on the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis railroad. He was sent to Springfield by this road in 1882 and worked on the Ozark division. He assisted in track laying from Cedar Gap to Mammoth Spring. In 1883 he was given a regular run as engineer on this division. He remained with the old "Memphis Route" until it was leased to the Frisco Lines in 1900, when he went with the latter road, with which he has remained to the present time. He is now engineer on a freight train, between Springfield and Thayer. He has given excellent satisfaction in the various positions he has held with different railroads, being capable, alert, conscientious and trustworthy.
Mr. Mcllvin was married in Mercer, Pennsylvania, October 23, 1883, to Ida A. McGinnis, who was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Jolly) McGinnis. The father is deceased, but the mother is living at the advanced age of eighty-five. Mr. McGinnis devoted his life to farming. Mrs. McIlvin's maternal grandfather, Capt. Thomas Jolly, was a soldier in the War of 1812, in which he made an excellent record. He lived to the unusual age of ninety-three years.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mcllvin, namely: Gertrude is the eldest; Annetta is teaching in the public schools of Springfield; .Mary, Hazel, Edith K., and June are all at home.
Our subject owns an attractive and well furnished home at 1820 Demming Place, Springfield.
Politically, Mr. McIlvin is a Republican. He belongs to the Masonic order and the Order of Eastern Star, he and his wife being charter members of Crescent Chapter, No. 21. The family belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
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