Joseph Henry McGoff, mechanical superintendent of the eastern lines of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, whose office is in Topeka, was born at Springfield, Mass., Jan. 25, 1863. His parents are Henry and Ellen C. (Hines) McGoff, the former a retired resident of Clearwater, Neb., and a native of Glasgow, Scotland, while Mrs. McGoff was born in Worcester, Mass. Henry McGoff, the father, came to the United States when a mere lad, alone and empty handed, but perseverance and industry enabled him to become established as a coffee and spice merchant, which business he followed very successfully until his retirement.

Joseph H. McGoff was reared in Springfield, Mass., until eighteen years of age and obtained his early education in the public schools of that city. When thirteen years of age he became an apprentice at the machinist's trade in the United States government armory at Springfield, Mass., and remained there five years, by which time he had sufficiently mastered the trade to take a position. He left Springfield, in 1881, and after traveling about for one year as a journeyman machinist he entered the employ of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Company at Eau Claire, Wis., as a mechanic in the shops, and later became a foreman. He remained in that company's employ until 1888, but from that year until 1902 he was successively employed as a machinist, foreman, general foreman, master mechanic, and superintendent of shops for the Northern Pacific railway, located at Brainerd, Staples and St. Paul, Minn. Since 1902 he has been in the employ of the Santa Fe Company. Beginning in that year as master mechanic in the Santa Fe shops at Ft. Madison, Iowa, he held that position until 1908, when he was transferred to Topeka, where he was made mechanical superintendent of the eastern lines.

Mr. McGoff was married Feb. 24, 1887, to Miss Thea Elise Maylum, of Eau Claire, Wis. She was born in Christiania, Norway, June 11, 1865, and came to the United States with an uncle when she was a girl. Mr. and Mrs. McGoff have three children—all daughters: Ellen Margrethe, born March 29, 1888; Louise Josephini, born April 23, 1890; and Thea Lillian, born Dec. 1, 1892. Politically Mr. McGoff is identified with the Republican party, and his church association is with the Episcopal church. He is a Knight Templar Mason and is a member of the Topeka and Commercial clubs.