George Henry Daniels, who in his capacity of general passenger agent
of the New York Central and Hudson River railroad, is probably
better known personally or by repute to the traveling public, than
any other man in this country, was born in Hampshire, Kane county,
Illinois, December 1, 1842. He began his railroad career as a rodman
in the engineering corps of the Northern Missouri railroads, and from
that humble position has risen, not rapidly perhaps, but slowly and
certainly, until he has the passenger transportation responsibilities
on his hands of what is probably the greatest railroad in the United
States. After some years of strenuous work, he became, in 1872,
the general freight and passenger agent of the Chicago and Pacific
railroad, and in 1880 was made ticket agent of the Wabash, St. Louis
and Pacific road. After a number of varied experiences, all of
which were in the west, and were connected with positions of great
responsibility, he acted as assistant commissioner or commissioner
for several roads, and in April, 1889, was rewarded for his years
of faithful service by being appointed to the position which he now
holds. No small portion of Mr. Daniels’s success is due to his personal
tactfulness and unfailing courtesy; or, as someone has put it, he knows
how to grant a favor without placing the grantee under an obligation,
and he knows how to refuse a request without offending the individual
who makes it.