Augustus Ogden Wellman

Augustus Ogden Wellman

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15047420/augustus-ogden-wellman

The Topeka Daily Capital (Topeka, KS), Tues. July 11, 1916, page 1 & 8.

STRICKEN WHILE AT WORK, AUGUSTUS WELLMAN DIES

Assistant Secretary Treasurer of Santa Fe Since 1910.

Prominent In Masonic Circles, He Came to Topeka in 1882

Augustus O. Wellman, assistant treasurer of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway company, suffered a hemorrhage of the brain yesterday morning at 10:30 o'clock. Three hours later he died at the family home at 1208 West Tenth street. He was stricken in his office in the Santa Fe general office building, and was shortly afterward removed to his home and first aid measures administered. Dr. D. T. Nicol was summoned but his efforts were in vain as the sufferer rapidly grew weaker. Mr. Wellman did not lose consciousness but was unable to speak after being removed from the office.

Believed His Health Better.

Mr. Wellman was a large man. Lately he became a golf enthusiast and confided to his friends that the game was doing him good. "I lose a little weight every time I play, and occasionally hit the ball," he recently told a close friend. Last Sunday he remarked that he felt better than at any time in the past ten years.

Augustus Ogden Wellman was born at Brookline, Mass., December 19, 1852. His father, William A. Wellman, was the Boston representative of Baring Brothers, well known London bankers, and also served as deputy collector of the port of Boston for eighteen years. Augustus, the son, was educated in the Brookline high school and later graduated from the Waltham academy, of Waltham. In 1876 he became policy clerk in the offices of the Revere Life Insurance company of Boston. Four years later he came westward to Omaha where he became cashier of the Burlington & Missouri River railroad in Nebraska. This road was a part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system. In 1882 he returned to Boston and became the secretary of Thomas Nickerson, at that time president of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad with headquarters at Boston. He was transferred to Topeka in 1882 and placed in charge of the accounts in the office of the secretary and treasurer of the company. Mr. Wellman has been in the employ of the Santa Fe continuously since that time. For the past six years he was assistant treasurer.

Mr. Wellman was one of the most popular men in the Santa Fe offices in Topeka. E. L. Copeland, secretary and treasurer of the Santa Fe, said: "Mr. Wellman was a popular man. Everybody who knew him was fond of him. He had a big heart and was always ready to help in a good cause. He was a friend of everybody in trouble, pleasant in the vexing affairs of business and efficient and faithful in his work. His record as a citizen and a businessman is without a blemish."

Prominent In Masonic Circles

Mr. Wellman was twice married. The first marriage in 1880 united him with Miss Ida Walker Poindexter, of Chillicothe, Mo., who died in 1895. He was married to Miss Ethel C. Watson, of Topeka, in 1897. His one daughter, Mrs. Carl Brown, lives at Silverton, Ore. Mr. Wellman was prominently identified with Masonry, being a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He was pastmaster of his Blue lodge, high priest of his chapter, past thrice illustrous master of his council, past eminent commander of his commandry. He was also past high grand junior warden of the grand chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the state of Kansas and a grand junior warden of the grand commandry of the Knights Templar of the state of Kansas. He was a member of the Elks, the Commercial club and the Shawnee Golf club. Mr. Wellman was president of the National Society of Railway Financial Officers in 1915, presiding at the annual meeting in Colorado Springs.

Arrangements for the funeral will not be completed pending the arrival of Mrs. Brown from Oregon. He is survived by a wife, daughter and two brothers, F. L., who lives in New York, and A. G., of Boston. A sister, Mrs. Samuel Williston, lives at Belmont, Mass.