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Thomas N. Carnall

"No occupation at the present day furnishes more examples of successful men than that of railroading, and perhaps none have risen more noticeably than those who began at the operator’s desk. For there are developed qualities which are of highest importance. No man who is not alert and attentive can ever make a trustworthy operator, nor can any man be operator without learning to bear responsibility. His position often seems minor in importance, but if he blunders only once, the consequences may be appalling. So it is that we find that many of the men occupying important places in railroad activities have risen from the operator’s chair.

Thomas Nicholson Carnall was born two miles west of Arlington January 23, 1864, the son of James and Caroline (Nicholson) Carnall, both born in England, the mother being a native of London. They came to Canada in 1851, and located two miles from St. Thomas, buying two hundred acres of land and farming there until 1861, when they came to Fayette county, Iowa, and bought two hundred acres in Fairfield township, where they have since lived excepting for one year at Harper, Kansas, and twenty years at Arlington. Mr. Carnall retired from farming for twenty years, but is now living on the farm again. He has carried on general farming, however, making a specialty of hogs, for he believes that the best market for the farmer’s grain is in the living form and that such a practice will not only put more money in his pocket, but also will constantly improve his land. He has been a Republican except during the existence of the Greenback party; he has never cared to seek office, but has always been quite active in politics. He is liberal in his religious views and was baptized in the Church of England. He has reared a family of eight children.

T. N. Carnall was educated at the country schools of the county and at the Arlington high school, then took a commercial course at Upper Iowa University. He then entered the depot at Arlington as a student, in which capacity he remained one year, served as operator one year, and then went to Waucoma as operator one year. There he met Alice Duffy, and was married to her on June 25, 1889. He next went to New Hall, Iowa, remaining there as agent of the Milwaukee road for three years, then came to Hawkeye in 1892, and has since been agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul here. He has one interesting daughter, Mildred. Mrs. Carnall is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Carnall is a Republican and was formerly a Knight of Pythias. He is the vice-president of the Hawkeye State Bank. He is known as a man of good business abilities and a good companion. He is in every way a leading citizen of his town, and one of whom she is justly proud, as any town would be."

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Ann Borden