Thomas Wheeler Galleher

 


biography

 

 

Galleher, Thomas Wheeler, the general freight agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, has been connected with this road since he was a boy of fourteen years. He was born near Fredericktown, Knox County, Ohio, April 7, 1858, a son of Ludwell Leith Galleher. His paternal grandfather, Thomas H. Galleher, born July 11, 1792, died February 26, 1859. He resided in Virginia, and followed the occupation of farmer.

Ludwell Leith Galleher was reared and educated in Fauquier County, Virginia, where his birth occurred July 27, 1831. While yet young and single, he went to Ohio, locating in Knox County, where he was engaged in general farming for many years. In 1869 he removed to De Kalb County, Missouri, where he resided on a farm until 1870. Then, being unfavorably impressed with that section of the country, he returned to Ohio, settling in Fredericktown, where he lived retired until his death on November 30, 1888. He married Mary Jane Love, who was born June 21, 1840, in Knox County, daughter of Thomas Love, prosperous farmer. Pleasant and charitable, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church in which her husband was for a long time class leader and steward, she resides in Mount Vernon, Ohio. She has six children living, namely: Thomas W., the subject of this sketch; Boman Aker, the agent for the B. O. Railroad at Sandusky, Ohio; Mattie V., the wife of J. F. Hess, who is engaged in mercantile pursuits in Chicago, 111.; Cora Belle, living with her mother at Mount Vernon; Rolla Leroy, of Pittsburg, travelling freight agent for the B. & O. Railroad; and Howard Leith, of this city, stenographer for the B. & O. Railroad.

Thomas Wheeler Galleher attended a country school near Fredericktown until his removal to Missouri with his parents in 1869. On his return to that village in 1870 he completed his education. At the age of fourteen he obtained a position as telegraph messenger at the Baltimore & Ohio station in his native town, and being a bright, intelligent boy, soon mastered the mysteries of telegraphy, at which he spent all his, leisure moments. On November 18, 1872, he became the night operator in the same station, and since that time he has been deservedly promoted to various offices of responsibility until reaching his present position, the duties of which he discharges with thorough efficiency and in a way that gives satisfaction to all concerned. His railroad service, entirely with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad,has been as follows: November 18, 1872, to December 31, 1877, telegraph operator at Fredericktown, Monroeville, Chicago Junction, Butler, Utica, Newark, Lewis Mill, Bellaire, and Columbus, Ohio; January 1, 1878, to July 6, 1880, chief clerk to division freight agent at Columbus, Ohio; July 7, 1880, to January 4, 1882, agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Express at Columbus; January 5, 1882, to February 1, 1882, travelling freight agent at Columbus; February 1, 1882 to April 30, 1882, acting division freight agent at Columbus; May 1, 1882, to May 22, 1885, chief clerk to assistant general freight agent at Columbus; May 23, 1885, to December 31, 1886, chief clerk to assistant general freight agent at Pittsburg, Pa.; January 1, 1887, to March 15, 1896, division freight agent at Pittsburg; March 16, 1896, to February 28, 1897, general freight agent at Pittsburg; March 1, 1897, he was appointed general freight agent at Baltimore, Md., and has since resided with his family in that city.

On September 8, 1886, Mr. Galleher was united in marriage with Miss Anna Hazeltine Potter, daughter of Dr. Samuel B. Potter, of Fredericktown, Ohio. They have one child, Earl Potter Galleher, whose birth occurred May 30, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Galleher are members of the Oakland Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is an officer. Mr. Galleher was made a Mason many years ago in Magnolia Lodge, No. 20, of Columbus, Ohio. He adimitted, and is now a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 576, of Pittsburg; likewise of Ohio Chapter, No. 12, of Columbus; and is a life member of Columbus Council. He also joined Capital Lodge, No. 334, I. O. O. F., of Columbus, in which he passed all the chairs. He is likewise a member of Pittsburg Conclave, No. 89, Improved Order of Heptasophs, of this city. In politics he votes the Republican ticket, but he takes no active part in local affairs.

Biographical review: containing life sketches of leading citizens of Pittsburg and the vicinity, Pennsylvania. Boston: Biographical Review Pub. Co., 1897, Author: Anonymous.

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