William George Besler

William George Besler (March 30, 1865 - May 20, 1942) was president of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.^[1][2]

Biography

He was born in Galesburg, Illinois, to John Daniel Besler and Anna Chapin. He graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1880 with a degree in Engineering.

He married Effie B Lewis on 10 October 1888. They had three children: Helen Anajane Besler (1892-1989), George Daniel Besler (1902-1995), and William John Besler (1904-1985).^[3] His sons, George and William, went on to make the world's first steam powered aeroplane at Oakland, California, on 12 April 1933.

Bessler started working for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad as a trainmaster's clerk in Chicago. He rose through the ranks to become division superintendent of the company's St Louis Division in 1893. In 1900 he moved to Pittsburgh and Reading, becoming their general superintendent by 1903. The Central Railroad of New Jersey employed him in 1903 as general manager. By 1926 he had become chairman of the board.

Besler was an active member of the American Railway Association and became its president when it was renamed the Association of American Railroads. He was also a director of Gamewell Company, Rockwood Sprinkler Company, Holtzer-Cabot Electric Company, Eagle Signal Corporation, New York Transfer Company, National Railway Publication Company, Lehigh and Hudson River Railway Company, and Davenport Locomotive Works. Besler was also Director and Vice-President of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.^[4]

He died on May 20, 1942.^[5]

References

1. W. G. Besler (1920). "Relations of Railroads". Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science in the City of New York. 8: 165–177. doi:10.2307/1171913. JSTOR 1171913.
2. "Marjorie L. Fountain Will Be Bride in July; Plainfield Girl, a Musician, Is Betrothed to Carlyle Crane". New York Times. April 16, 1939. Retrieved 2010-12-21. William George Besler, chairman of the board of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and Mrs. Besler of this city have announced the engagement of Mrs. ...
3. . Time magazine. April 24, 1933. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2010-12-04. The Inventors are George D. Besler, 31, and his brother William J., 29, sons of Board Chairman George William Besler [sic] of Central Railroad of New Jersey
4. Prominent Families of New Jersey, Volume 1, William Star Myers, Genealogical Publishing Com, 2004, pages 142-143, ISBN 0806350369, 9780806350363
5. "William G. Besler Railroad Head, 78. Board Chairman of Central of New Jersey Since 1925. Also President for 12 Years Began In Field When 16. Was Trainmaster's Clerk on Burlington Line. Ex-Official of State Commerce Chamber". New York Times. May 21, 1942. Retrieved 2010-12-04. William George Besler, chairman of the board of the Central Railroad of New Jersey since 1926, died at his home here this afternoon after an illness of ...