SAMUEL W. TATE, a well known engineer in the passenger service on the Memphis division, of the Illinois Central, entered the employ of the company seventeen years ago at Jackson, Tenn. His first work was as clerk in the store room at that place, where, after working six months, he entered the regular road service as fireman on a switch engine under Engineer Alex. Hight, serving for two and a half years in the construction and freight departments, between Jackson and Cairo, and Jackson and Canton. He was then promoted to engineer on a bridge train, and later was on a freight train in the Cairo district for two months.

Going to Water Valley, he ran on an extra and switch engine for six months, and July 4, 1885, entered the regular freight service on the Aberdeen district. He was employed there only three months when he returned to Water Valley, where he remained in the freight service until the spring of 1886. His next work was on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad out of Durant, Miss.

In November 1886 he returned to Water Valley, and remained there in the freight and passenger service until June 1896, when he was appointed to a fast run on engine No. 382, between Memphis and Canton, which he now holds. Mr. Tate is a native of Orange county, North Carolina, and was born February 14, 1858. His father, George W. Tate, a mechanic, still resides there. A brother of our subject is a fireman in the service of the Illinois Central, running out of Memphis, and another brother, who held a similar position, is dead.

Mr. Tate married Miss Ida Gifford, of. Water Valley, Miss., and they are the parents of a bright little son, Wallace. Our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias, also of Division No. 23, B. of L. E. He has served on the board of adjustment, and was a delegate to the convention at St. Louis in 1898, and at Milwaukee in 1900. He has just built a fine residence at the corner of Osage and Preston avenues, in Memphis.