William C. Sorrell (1859-1916)

SORRELL

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/3/2023 at 12:23:47

William C. Sorrell
(August 17, 1859 - March 14, 1916)

William C. Sorrell [listed as Surrell] is a railway engineer in the service of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, with which he has been connected since March, 1882, a period of twenty consecutive years. He claims New York as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in North Norwich, Chenango County, August 17, 1859, his parents being John and Rachel (Cook) Sorrell. His father was born on the ocean while his parents were crossing the Atlantic from England to the United States, while the mother of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania. About 1864 John Sorrell removed with his family to Wisconsin, taking up his abode in Sheboygan County, where he remained for about one year and then went to Outagamie County, that state. After fifteen years' residence there the family went to Missouri, in Clinton County, where the father died in the spring of 1881, when about fifty-four years of age. His wife passed away in Eagle Grove, Iowa, in 1886, at age of fifty-six years. In their family are three sons and one daughter, who are yet living: George Adelbert, a resident of Eagle Grove; Mary, the wife of Daniel Collins, of Nebraska; William C, of this review; and Russell E., who is general foreman of the water supply department for the central Iowa division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company and makes his home at Eagle Grove. William C. Surrell pursued his early education in Wisconsin and on leaving the parental roof he entered the service of the railroad company, with which he is still connected. This was in March, 1882. He was first employed as a section hand, working in that capacity for a year and a half, after which he spent two years as engine wiper in the round house. On the expiration of that period he went to Eagle Grove and became fireman on the Northern Iowa division. Three years later he was promoted to engineer on the same division, running between Eagle Grove, Hawarden and Farmer City. During the past ten years he has been running out of Lake City in the freight service. He has been a resident of this place since 1892.
In September, 1881, occurred the marriage of Mr. Surrell and Miss Ellis Gardner, of Clinton, Missouri, and four children grace their union: Myrtle Ellen, Jennie, William and Nora, the last named a resident of Wisconsin. On the 2d of November, 1896, Mr. Surrell was again married, his second union being with Aris Anderson, of Lake City. They have two children: Leona and Oscar. Mr. Surrell is connected with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and in politics is a standing Republican, but he has never sought or desired the honors or emoluments of public office. During the twenty years of his railroad service he has never been in a wreck. He is a very painstaking and careful engineer, discharging his duties with marked ability and his worth is widely recognized. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.541]