ARTHUR W. SOPER
Arthur W. Soper, eldest son of Albert and Esther Soper, was born in Rome, N. Y., July 10, 1838. He was educated at Rome Academy under Prof. Frank Moore, and at the age of seventeen, began work in his father’s office and lumberyard. In 1858 he entered the railway service, beginning as a clerk in the Rome freight office. At the end of three years, he was appointed Superintendent’s clerk. This position he held two years, when he was made a passenger conductor, and the following years appointed Assistant superintendent of the R. W. & O. Ry., under Addison Day. Some four years later Mr. Day was called to St. Louis as Superintendent of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Ry. and soon after his arrival there, offered Mr. Soper the office of Assistant superintendent, which he accepted, leaving Rome in February 1871. At the end of a year, Mr. Day resigned, because of ill health, and Mr. Soper was made General Superintendent, and afterwards for several years, General Manager.
Under his efficient and energetic management, the road was greatly prospered, and became most important and helpful to the business of St. Louis. After some ten years service, Mr. Soper resigned his position as General Manager, to engage in business in New York City. No man ever had more sincere friends and admirers among the leading citizens and business men of St. Louis than Mr. Soper, as was evidenced by their resolutions accompanying a handsome service of silver, which they presented to him upon his retiring from active railway service.
Upon his arrival in New York, he took up with characteristic energy, the management of several important business interests in connection with railroads, which prospered and grew rapidly to large proportions.
About 1889, he became President of the Safety Car Heating & Lighting Co. of New York, which he managed with remarkable success.
In April, 1871, he married Hettie, daughter of Samuel Wardwell, of Rome, N. Y. They have one child, Mary Theresa.
Mr. Soper was endowed with unusual force of character, supported by extraordinary mental and physical vigor. With these are united personal qualities which endear him to his friends, who a host in number. Such a man was bound to be successful in any career he might have chosen.
Mr. Soper’s two brothers, Alexander C. and James P., are the head and front of the Soper Lumber Co. of Chicago, and that sagacity and energy which they share with the subject of this sketch, have made their firm in its department one of the foremost representatives houses of the West.
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