Samuel Sloan (railroad executive) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel Sloan
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Early 20th century Crosshatch Portrait.
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| Born | December 25, 1817 Sloan of Lisburn, County Down, Ireland
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| Died | September 22, 1907 (aged 89) |
| Occupation | Importer, Senator, Railroad Executive |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Elmendorf |
| Parent(s) | William Sloan and Elizabeth Simpson |
Samuel Sloan (born December 25, 1817 – died September 22, 1907) was an important American politician and businessman. He is best known for being the president of a big train company, the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (DL&W), for 32 years.
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Samuel Sloan's Early Life
Samuel Sloan was born in Lisburn, County Down, Ireland. When he was just one year old, his family moved to New York in the United States. He went to a special school called Columbia College Preparatory.
Samuel had to leave school at age 14 because his father passed away. After that, he started working at a company in New York that brought goods from other countries. He worked hard and eventually became the leader of that company.
On April 8, 1844, Samuel Sloan married Margaret Elmendorf. They got married in New Brunswick, New Jersey. After their wedding, they moved to Brooklyn, New York. Samuel and Margaret had eleven children together.
Samuel Sloan's Career and Achievements
Samuel Sloan became a supervisor in Kings County (which includes Brooklyn) in 1852. He also served as the president of the Long Island College Hospital. In 1855, he joined the board of directors for the Hudson River Railroad.
He left his importing business in 1857. That same year, he was elected to the New York State Senate, where he worked for two years.
Leading the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad
In 1864, Samuel Sloan became a director of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (DL&W). Three years later, in 1867, he became its president. Before taking this job, he had turned down an offer to be president of another train company, the New York and Harlem Railroad.
Under Sloan's leadership, the DL&W train lines grew a lot. The company became very successful. A big reason for this success was carrying anthracite coal. This special type of coal was mined in areas where the railway had expanded.
More and more people also started using the trains. Many passengers traveled between New York City and the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. The Pocono Mountains were a popular place for vacations.
Samuel Sloan stepped down as president of the DL&W in 1899. However, he continued to serve as the Chairman of the Board. He also worked on the boards of many other companies, including banks and utility companies.
Samuel Sloan's Later Years and Death
Samuel Sloan passed away in Garrison, New York, in 1907. He was 89 years old. During his long life, he had been the president of seventeen different companies.
Samuel Sloan's Legacy
Two places in the United States are named after Samuel Sloan. These are the city of Sloan, Iowa and the village of Sloan, New York.
Statue Honoring Samuel Sloan
A statue was made to honor Samuel Sloan. It was placed in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1899. When it was first put up, the statue faced away from the city's ferries. Some people thought this was strange. The Mayor of Hoboken even joked that Sloan was "turning his back on the great city of Hoboken."
On August 3, 1908, the statue was moved during a construction project at Hoboken Terminal. Now, the statue faces both the town and the train and ferry stations.
The words on the statue read:
1817–1907
FOR THIRTY-TWO YEARS PRESIDENT
OF THE DELAWARE, LACKAWANA &
WESTERN RAILROAD COMPANY
1867–1899
Images for kids
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A statue of Samuel Sloan in Hoboken, New Jersey, near his ferry station.
