Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 208, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1914 — H. R. KURRIE HEADS MONON RAILROAD [ARTICLE]

H. R. KURRIE HEADS MONON RAILROAD

Selection of Rensselaer Man For Important Office Gratifying to Fellow Townsmen.

Harry R. Kurrie has been clmsen president of the Monon railroad. The confirmation of the rumor of last week was made in the official announcement which Mr. Kurrie received this Thursday afternoon. The selection of Mr. Kurrie was made because the owners of the railroad realized that he was a thorough ’railroad man, equal to the task of continuing the progressive and fair policies established by Fairfax Harrison and Frederick C. Delano, the two men who have preceded him.

The former, Mr. Harrison, left the Monon tobecome the president of the entire Southern system, whili) Mr. Delano was but recently named by President Wilson to be a member of the federal reserve board. Mr. Kurrie, as general attorney for the Monon, has been closely associated with both of these men and hashad their fullest confidence and it is understood that his appointment came at their earnest request and that Mr. Kurrie had never made application for the position. Probably the most important act that brought Mr. Kurrie to the front with the Monon railroad was the purchase recently of the Gifford road by the Monon. Mr. Kurrie is said to have conceived this deal and to haye engineered it from start to finish. He was given local assistance by Attorney Moses Leopold, and it will not be a surprise if Mr. Leopold is later given employment in the legal department of the Monon.

Mr. Kurrie is 39 years of age, one of the youngest railroad presidents in the country. He has acquired his railroad knowledge within the past dozen years, during which time he has been with the Monon, first as assistant general solicitor and since Jan. 1, 1910, as general attorney. His services, however, have not been confined to the legal department of the railroad but he has gradually been developed into an all around railroad man, and his power has been felt and his opinions consulted in every matter affecting the business policy of the road. It is a natural consequence that he should at this time be chosen to the important position of the road’s president. H. R. Kurrie was born at Paoli. Ind., April 26, 1875. He resided there until he had completed the public schools anfi at the age of 17 he entered Indiana Universify, graduating from the law department three years later. He located in Rensselaer that fall, being employed in the law office of Thompson Bros. He was then only twenty years of age. In November, 1906, the firm of Thompson Bros, went out of existence, Simon P. Thompson being elected circuit judge. The firm that succeeded them was Foltz, Spitler & Kurrie, the junior member being H. R. Kurrie. He remained a member of this firm'until February of 1902 when he became the assistant general solicitor of the Monon. He has studied the railroad business from the top to the bottom and his qualifications well fit him for the important office he is now to fill. Mr. Kurrie has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Grace Thompson, oldest daughter of Judge and Mrs. Simon P. Thompson. Their marriage took place in 1907 and she died seven years later. In 1909 he married another daughter of Judge Thompson, Miss Edna. They have two children and reside in the old Thompson home on Work street at the foot of Front street. Mt. Kurrie is expected to come home this evening or Friday. The Republican has heard nothing but highly complimentary things said of Mt. Kurrie by Rensselaer people since is became known two weeks ago that he was likely to be the new Monon president, and our citizens feel that his selection is an honor in which the entire city shares.