TRENARY-G.H. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

The enterprise of the subject has been crowned by success, as the result of rightly applied principles which never fail in their ultimate effect when coupled with integrity, uprightness and a congenial disposition, as they have been done in the present instance, juding from the high standing of Mr. Trenary among his fellow citizens whose undivided esteem he has justly won and retained. GH Trenary, the influential and popular superintendent of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company, with offices at Salem, Illinois was born Feb 9, 1867 at Lafayette, Indiana the son of Randolph B. Trenary, a native of Ohio who came to Indiana when a boy. He was a locomotive engineer, having run an engine during the Civil War and he followed this profession all his life, becoming one of the best known railroad men in his community. He died in Feb 1904 at Stone Bluff, Indiana. The mother of the subject was known in her maidenhood as Mollie Norduft a native of Williamsport, Indiana and the representative of a well known and highly respected family there. She passed to her rest in 1873. They were the parents of 4 children: Charles W, of Kansas City, MO; GH the subject of this sketch; Evender H who died in 1888; Elizabeth wife of Charles Mallett of Stone Bluff, Indiana. Our subject attended the common schools at Urbana, Illinois, leaving school when in 8th grade for the purpose of beginning the study of telegraphy at Urbana. Becoming an expert at this exactl profession he followed it together with that of agent at various stations for 13 years with great satisfaction to his employers who regarded him as one of the most efficient and reliable men in this line of work in their employ. He spent 4 years at Ogden, Ill; one at Urbana, one at Waynetown, Indiana; one at Champaign, Ill; two years at LeRoy, Illinois 3 at Veedersburg, Indiana one at Hoopeston Illinois. From 1896 to 1899 he was chief clerk to the general superintendent of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois RR Company at Chicago. For 5 years our subject held the responsible position of superintendent at Brazil, Indiana from 1899-1904, since which time he has been superintendent of the Ill Division of C&E Ill RR, with headquarters at Salem. The offices of this road were located here in December 1906 having been removed from St. Elmo, this state. This road employs about 500 people in all departments. The local offices occupy the entire 3rd floor of Salem State Bank Bulding and is the busiest place in Salem. Mr. Trenary's private office is also on this floor. Everything is under a splendid system. Mr. Trenary has jurisdiction over all transportation, a very responsible position, indeed and one that not only requires a superior talent along executive lines but a clear brain, sound judgment and steady habits but he has performed his duties so well that the company deems his services indispensable. This road has a departmental division system. Our subject was happily married Dec 1884 to Beulah R. GLASCOCK, the refined and accomplished daughter of HJ Glascock, an influential and highly respected citizen of Ogden, Illinois. The commodious, modern, cheerful and model home of the subject and wife has been blessed through the birth of six children: GW born April 12, 1886 lives in Salem; Nell born Dec 30, 1887; Genevive F born March 1, 1893; Robert F born Oct 22, 1895; H. Kenneth born Jan 29, 1901; Randolph Bryant born Jan 26, 1904. These children have received every care and attention, been given good educations and each gives promise of bright and successful futures, exemplifying in their daily lives what a wholesome home environment and careful parental training can do in developing well rounded and highly cultivated minds and bodies. Mr. Trenary moved his family to Salem in December 1906. He has been honored by being chosen alderman for the city of Salem. Although a loyal Republican and well fortified in his political beliefs and anxious to see the triumph of his party's principles, Mr. Trenary has never aspired to positions of public trust at the hands of his fellow voters. However, his support can always be depended upon in the advancement of all movements looking to the public weal in his community whether educational, moral or civic. In his fraternal relations, he is a member of the Masonic Order and Modern Woodmen and one would soon conclude by a knowledge of his consistent and gentlemanly daily life that he believed in carrying out the sublime precepts of these commendable organizations. Both Mr. and Mrs. Trenary are members of the christian church. They are pleasant people to meet, and their cozy home is often the mecca for numerous admiring friends who seek the cheerfulness and hospitality so freely and unstintingly dispensed here. No better or more popular people are to be found in Marion County and they justly deserve the high esteem in which they are held.