E. J. Bouchard

E. J. BOUCHARD, general foreman of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway shops at Parsons, Kansas, has followed railroading for a number of years, and ranks among the foremost mechanics of the present day. He is an Illinoisan by birth, and was reared in the vicinity of St. Louis, Missouri. His father, Stephen Bouchard, was an expert blacksmith and machinist, having charge of the railroad shops of the North Missouri Railway, at St. Charles, Missouri. That road is now a part of the Wabash system.

Deprived of his father by death at an early age, Mr. Bouchard began work in 1870, when fourteen years old. He entered the railroad shops at St. Charles, Missouri, as a machinist's apprentice, completely mastered that trade, and became an unusually fine machinist at the early age of nineteen years. He remained at home with his mother until he reached maturity, working as fireman on the North Missouri Railway, and afterward serving as engineer on the same road.

Mr. Bouchard subsequently accepted a position as machinist on the Chicago & NorthWestern Railway, and was located in Iowa, where he married Ella Fowler, who was reared near Council Bluffs, Iowa. He worked on that system until 1880, and the following year was spent in the same capacity on the Texas & Pacific Railway. In 1881 he entered the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company as gang foreman at Denison, Texas, was promoted the following year to be general foreman, and served as such at Palestine, Texas, until 1887. Returning to Denison, he filled the position of roundhouse foreman one year, and having been again advanced to be general foreman, he filled that position at Greenville, Texas, until 1891. He was then transferred again to Denison, where he continued until October, 1896, when he was advanced to his present important position, that of general foreman of the large and well appointed railroad shops of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, at Parsons, Kansas; he succeeded W. H. Brehm, the present master mechanic.

Mr. Bouchard's task is one of great importance and magnitude. He has from 12 to 15 foremen of the various departments under his direct supervision, and gives personal attention to each: and every department.

The subject of this sketch stands high in fraternal circles. He was given the first Masonic degree while residing in Iowa, and step by step has climbed the rugged path until he now boasts of being a Mystic Shriner. He is a member of the Parsons Commandery, K. T., having been knighted at Greenville, Texas, and of Hella Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S., of Dallas, Texas. In addition, he is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, as is also Mrs. Bouchard, and they are members, respectively, of the K. 0. T. M. and L. 0. T. M. Politically, Mr. Bouchard is a Republican. He has proved to be a valuable adjunct to the success of the system, and the officials of the road value his services highly.